Cancer-Related Fatigue

Image courtesy of http://absence360.com

Reading a short article about cancer-related fatigue on Medical News Today, and one important fact got my attention: "Tumor Size was a predictor for cancer fatigue." Suddenly, I got a lot of flashbacks in my head for those times when my mom complained about feeling extremely tired, and I shrugged it off as old age. The message is simple: PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BODY. Listen to what it may be telling you. Do not disregard fatigue, headache, pain, etc. These may be symptoms of a more serious disease. See a physician immediately. And a lot of times, we abuse our body. We make excuses not to see the doctor because we're so busy with wok, meetings, chores, etc. We're busy with other people but ourselves. It's a simple message, but it can save lives. 

This and That

Image courtesy of http://jigzone.com

It's been a busy couple of weeks, but I hope to be back in FIGHTINPINK to continue the fight against cancer. Just to update you on my mom's health, she's now on a new protocol called "Gemcarbo", which is a combination of gemzar and carboplatin to treat metastatic breast cancer. It's a Day 1 Day 8 cycle, meaning she'll take the Gemcarbo chemotherapy on the first day, then take a Gemzar push on the 8th day. Then there's a rest period of 1 week, then she'll do the Day 1 Day 8 thing all over again. She started her Day 1 last Tuesday, and was able to use her portacath, which is really less painful but a bit tedious to prepare. The doctor had to make sure that the portacath area was sterile, so a lot of preparations had to be done. It turned out well, but Mom didn't continue with her Day 8 because her WBC was too low. So now, she's resting a bit, and trying to gain enough strength for next Tuesday.

The night before going to the doctor, my mom had a minor anxiety attack. We were praying the rosary, when she stopped in tears and when I asked her what was wrong, she said she felt like God wasn't really listening to our prayers. I had to assure her that God was listening, and He will remain present throughout this entire chemo. She even entertained the idea of stopping chemo, because she felt much happier and more alive without it. But it also came out of her that just won't work, because if she doesn't get treatment, the cancer cells will proliferate. The next day, during our doctor's appointment, I also mentioned this to the doctor. It's really great to have a doctor who cares, and Dr. Querol took the time to assure Mommy that she was doing well, even better than some of her "batchmates". He really believes that my mom will get through this, and I'm really just happy that he gave those reassuring words. What's more, there's a glimmer of hope for triple negative patients. Dr. Querol mentioned a new drug from Sanofi Aventis for triple-negs, which is something that we're really looking forward to.

So that's it for now, thanks to those who continue to visit my site. God bless you all, cheers! :)

Tropical Fruit Guyabano

Image courtesy of http://guyabano.com

Sourspo, or guyabano as we call it, is another wonderful tropical fruit that is known locally to kill cancer cells. I used to think it's native to the Philippines or in Southeast Asia, but I found out from Wikipedia that it was actually brought here from Mexico via the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade. Funny how I don't remember Mexicans in history class, only Spaniards. Well, whoever brought the guyabano here, a million thanks fellas!!! Guyabano is now all over Southeast Asia, and I was even surprised to see preserved guyabano sweets in Bali. Yum! :)

So what does it taste like? Wikipedia describes it as this, which I find totally confusing: "Its flavor has been described as a combination of strawberry and pineapple with sour citrus flavor notes contrasting with an underlying creamy flavor reminiscent of coconut or banana." (To read more, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soursop) Say what?? Well, to be honest, I'm not really that big of a fan of guyabano in terms of taste. It's sweet and sour at the same time, and just thinking about how sour it can be makes my jaw tingle. But if you like eating sour food, you will really enjoy eating this fruit!

More than the taste though, it's the health benefits that are really awesome. A study in 1976 suggests that it actually is tons more powerful than the chemo drug adriamycin. Of course, you can't rely on articles like these, so until there are more evidence from reliable sources, until your doctor says so, chemo's still best. However, if guyabano is available in your country, go ahead and indulge. There's no harm in it. Aside from the fruit, some people also boil the leaves and bark to make guyabano tea. They say that also gives the same healing effect as the fruit.

Portacath Redo

 

The doctor called up my mom the other day, and said they have to redo the operation because upon seeing the x-ray, he wasn't happy with the placement. Of course my mom's feeling low because she'll have to go through the whole thing all over again. Whether it's a mistake or not, I'm just happy that the doctor cared enough to say, "Hey, that's not right!" and is acting on it. That will definitely prevent complications along the way. So we'll go to PGH again tomorrow, this time, at the UP FMAB, which is a private medical center inside the PGH compound. Sadly, surgical redos happen and are part of the journey, and let me tell you, this isn't a walk in the park.

The youtube video above is a glimpse of the chemo journey of a brave lady who calls herself "bizzybeaver". She's taking chemo from a portacath (that's the portacath on her chest).

Mom's Portacath

Image Courtesy of 34andhopeful.blogspot.com

My mom already finished her CMF treatment and we got great results, so she will start a new set of IV therapy in a couple of weeks. While we are sad that appear to be remaining cancer cells in her body, it's really uplifting that her doctor sees her fit enough to go through another set of chemotherapy. Go go go! We're not stopping till she's declared cancer-free! So in order to avoid the needles and having painful and collapsed veins, the doctor suggested that she get a portacath.

What is a portacath? Well, it's a small device that is installed underneath the skin and is connected to a big vein, and that's where the IV meds go through. It lessens the pain on her hands, where everything is performed with needles, even blood tests. It can be either plastic or titanium, but I understand that titanium is better because it elicits less tissue reaction.

Portacath surgeries are performed by vascular surgeons, and they can range from P75,000-P115,000 or roughly 1,800-2,800 USD in private hospitals here in the Philippines. I believe the most expensive is in MakatiMed, and surprisingly, Asian Hospital has good rates. It can be an outpatient procedure,even though it requires a general anesthesia. My mom will have her portacath surgery done in a couple of days by Dr. Catalan, a well-known thoracic cardiovascular surgeon at the Philippine General Hospital. I have absolutely no doubt that he'll take care of my mom. Godspeed Dr. Catalan! Cheers and lots of love to all :)))

Season 2!

Breathtaking Sedona '10

Welcome to Season 2 of the Pink Fighter! Sorry to have been gone for a few weeks. I took a break from blogging when I went to Bali for a conference (Bali pictures to follow), and afterwards I took care of a few things including my mom's PET scan. But now I'm back and on a roll! And I'll be tackling a few exciting topics like the miraculous guava fruit, PET scan, St. Luke's Global City, etc. So stay tuned, and again, many many thanks for visiting my site and for taking part in the fight against the BIG C!

Cheers and lots of love,
Janis

A Meaningful Heart's Day 2012

Before and After Sendong, Image courtesy of lccdo.com

As a project in school, our class sold roses for V-day, and all our proceeds will be for the rehabilitation of Sendong through our partner university in Cagayan de Oro. Sendong is a catastrophic tropical storm that happened last year in the southern part of the Philippines, and it had taken at least 1,257 lives. I sold a total of 6 bouquets, that's about USD220..whee! :) I'm really happy to have taken part in this worthwhile activity, it just feels incredible to help and serve others. Try to google Sendong images, and the results will tell the story of its wrath. Peace and love everybody, and Happy Heart's day to all! :) :) :)

Beat Cancer While Pregnant!

Image courtesy of @teamroxy on Twitter

I love it when I run into these great articles in my own blog. AJC: For Pregnant Women with Cancer, Chemo Possible talks about the safety of pregnancy with chemotherapy, no matter what type of cancer. This will mean the world to a lot of hopeful moms out there who think that having cancer necessitates terminating their babies. If this is your story, I suggest you also follow @teamroxy on twitter. Roxanne is a breast CA survivor who beat cancer while pregnant, and is now blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby girl! Life is indeed amazing! :)))

Ate in Arizona

My Mom and sister Eunice at Evan's mom's house in AZ

We just tearfully bid my sister goodbye, who is now on her way to Arizona to live there and be with her husband. It will be a long flight for her, she'll be landing in LA, and then take another flight to Tucson. We are vigorously rooting for babies, little Lytles, lol!

In addition to the Grand Canyon (which is absolutely breathtaking) and Sedona (another incredible scenic spot), another great thing about Arizona is the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center located in Phoenix/Scottsdale. Affiliated with the National Cancer Institute of the US, Mayo Clinic is a leader in cancer research and patient care. They offer an extensive range of clinical trials for different types of cancers. It really is as amazing as the Grand Canyon! To find out how you could participate in their clinical trials, visit their site cancercenter.mayo.edu.

Oh, and another fave in Arizona? Why, the famous El Guero Canelo, of course! Try their Sonoran hotdogs and other authentic Mexican food. Yum, makes me crave for one right now! :)

Headache??

Headache? Take a quick stress reliever. This is sure to make you laugh. It's so Asian, LOL. Just a note, Siang Pure Oil is like a peppermint or menthol liniment in Thailand. In the Philippines, we have Efficascent Oil and White Flower that help relieve headaches, dizziness and nasal congestion.

Exemestane: Found to Harm Bones

Image courtesy of drugs-expert.com

Heads up on the drug Aromasin (generic name: exemestane), which is taken to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer. New findings show that Aromasin leads to the weakening of bone structure. (READ: NY Times: Cancer Deterring Drug Found to Harm Bones)

Each patient profile is different, and the effects of this drug may vary from one person to the next. It is still best to discuss this and your options with your doctor.

Cheers, and let us continue to the fight against cancer!

New Drugs, Lost Patents Spell Hope

Image courtesy of http://blisstree.com

I just read an article on Roche's new breast cancer drug Pertuzumab (READ: Roche Breast Cancer Drug Pertuzumab Gets FDA Priority Review), and two things got me really excited:

Firstly, another new drug for Her2-positive breast cancer patients that could potentially reduce the risk of a worsening disease. Her-2 breast CA is an aggressive type of cancer, and less prone to hormonal medications. Having more options for Her2-positive patients are exciting and uplifting.

Secondly, and I think more exciting than the first, is that Herceptin (Generic: Trastuzumab) will be off-patent in just a few years. This means that other companies will also be able to produce Trastuzumab, and prices will significantly go down. According to wikipedia, Herceptin costs about USD70,000 for a full course of treatment. The price is inconceivably high, especially where I come from. Even doctors from the UK have questioned the price of Herceptin (READ: The Guardian: Doctors Question the High Price of Cancer Drug Herceptin).With the loss of patent, I can imagine how many more patients worldwide will gain access to this incredibly expensive medicine.

Mangosteen: The Queen of All Fruits

Image courtesy of www.liveinthephilippines.com

The Philippines has an abundance of delicious, tropical fruits that also have medicinal value. One of them is the mangosteen, also deemed "the queen of fruits." Mangosteen is rich in antioxidants, including xanthones, which are believed to help fight cancer. The mangosteen fruit has a dark purple skin, and inside are white pulps that are sweet, tangy and melt-in-your-mouth yummy.

Harvest season is from August to October; it's not that easy to buy. However, there are some mangosteen products available year-round, including juice, jam, tea and health supplements. Of course, the real fruit is still the best!

To know more about mangosteen as it relates to cancer, just click on this link: cancer.org--mangosteen

What are the odds?

What are the odds of getting cancer? The numbers may be against us,but we can do something about it! Stand up, spread the word and fight fight fight! Peace and love everyone, and thank you to my readers from around the world for taking time to read my cancer blog :)))

Chemistry is a Necessity!

 A good match with your oncologist is extremely important. Choosing the right doctor goes beyond his credentials. Because cancer care is lifelong, it is essential to be in the hands of someone you trust and get along with. And that would really depend on your personality and his. Some people may want a no-frills, straight-to-the-point kind of doctor. Others would rather have a nice, caring touch. Two doctors may mean the same thing but are dissimilar in how they say it. That spells a huge difference for a cancer patient. It's pretty much like getting into a relationship. You can't really stick your finger into it, you just know if he's the right one for you. In a word: CHEMISTRY!

Meet Dr. John Querol. He is my mom's oncologist, and he is heaven sent. He's handsome, funny, bubbly, genuinely caring and intelligent. A perfect match for my mom! :)

Where to find him: He has clinic at The Medical City Room 1412, MWTHS 10-12nn. He can also be found at VMMC and Marikina Valley Medical Center.

Overcome Illness with Faith

Image courtesy of http://romeitaly.ca

It is February 5, and today Italy is celebrating the Day for Life. Read comforting words from Pope Benedict as he draws inspiration from Sunday's Gospel through radiovaticana. At this day and age, I still believe in miracles and healing through faith. Cheers to all and have a blessed Sunday! :)

St. Peregrine: Patron Saint of Cancers

St. Peregrine Laziosi Parish, Muntinlupa, Philippines

Happy Sunday Philippines and hello to the rest of the world! :) A little fact about the Philippines: We are the only Christian country in Asia. Weird, isn't it? Credit that to our 300 years of Spanish colonization. Anyway, this morning, our family heard mass at the St. Peregrine Laziosi Parish along National Highway, Tunasan, Muntinlupa. St. Peregrine is an Italian saint, and he is honored by the Roman Catholic Church as a patron saint for cancer patients. He is known for the cancer on his leg, which miraculously healed after a night of prayer. To know more about his life, visit catholic.org.

Allow me to share with you a prayer to St. Peregrine for one suffering from cancer:

"Dear St. Peregrine, I need your help. I feel so uncertain of my life right now. This serious illness makes me long for a sign of God's love. Help me to imitate your enduring faith when you faced the ugliness of cancer and surgery. Allow me to trust the Lord the way you did in this moment of distress. I want to be cured, but right now I ask God for the strength to bear the cross in my life. I seek the power to proclaim God's presence in my life despite the hardship, anguish and fear I now experience.

O Glorious St. Peregrine, be an inspiration to me and petitioner of those needed graces from our loving Father. Amen."

Best time to go to St. Peregrine Laziozi Parish: The Healing mass is at 2:30PM. After the mass, worshipers line up to touch the relics and receive healing.

How to go: Take the South Super Highway, and exit at Susanna Heights. Just follow the road till you reach a stoplight. Turn right, then just go straight about 300-500 meters. You won't miss the church on your right.

Feb 4 is World Cancer Day!

February 4 is World Cancer Day. Stand Up and Do Something! Visit worldcancerday.org to see the cancer awareness events happening around the world. It's actually really cool. And of course, keep visiting this blog, where I post an entry a day on our experiences in fighting cancer, and how you can do it too! Let's all be more vigilant, fight fight fight! :)

QUIT SMOKING!

Image courtesy of helpmestopsmoking.org.uk

This is a very touchy topic for me because it is too close to home. My father is addicted to smoking. He has always been a chain smoker, consuming countless packs of cigarettes a day. Now he limits himself to a few sticks, but he really just can't get himself to go cold turkey. As a child, I remember ripping apart his cigarettes, hiding his lighters and throwing them all away to get him to quit. When I was 9 years old, I got detained by airport officials in the Middle East because they found a lighter in my pocket. It was quite a scary experience for me because it was a foreign land, and the ladies who detained wore black robes, and even their faces were covered with black veils. I recall being separated from my mom and sister, and I was being questioned in a small room.

I was driving when I found out that my mom had a mass in her lung. I got a call from my dad, and I screamed a him and I kept screaming inside the car until I already tasted blood on my throat. I was shaking and crying and screaming the entire trip to the hospital. There was so much anger directed at my father. I love him very much, but I hate the fact that he just can't get himself to quit smoking.

I have never smoked my entire life. My number one rule in dating is that he doesn't smoke. I cringe at the smell of it, and to be honest, it just makes me want to throw up. I went to Hong Kong last December, and I just hated the entire city because everyone was smoking left and right.

To whoever is reading this, if you're a smoker, please quit smoking. Tobacco is the leading cause of cancer in the world. If you can't do it for yourself, please be mindful of others. I'm sorry that I can't relate to your addiction, and I don't know how you feel when you say that it's just so incredibly difficult to quit. But maybe if you think about people who are fighting to live every single day, you would think twice before lighting up.

Pendant for Pain?

Just a few months ago, my mom was experiencing this unbearable pain on her arm. On a scale of 1-10, she would say it was a 10 or 11. She was literally screaming in pain, and while she was given pain killers and underwent physical therapy sessions, that didn't really help to stop the pain completely. It has brought me tears also because I felt I wasn't doing enough to help her. Fortunately, her dear friend Cynthia learned about my mom's condition, and gave her a quantum pendant from Malaysia to be worn everyday. Quantum pendants are said to have scalar energy that in turn boosts energy, reduces pain and protects from harmful radiation. My mom did wear it, and in just a couple of days, NO PAIN. We were shocked.

Now, I'm a natural skeptic, and I must admit, I did have some hesitation into writing this entry because people might think I'm a crazy scammer. But I've seen the effect of the quantum pendant on my mom, and it really does work! BUT I do have to say, be wary of fake pendants, which seem to be everywhere. I don't really know how to check the real one from a fake, but like in all online purchases, buy from a reliable source and do a lot of research. The price of a real quantum pendant would be about 150USD, but to see my mom completely relieved of her pain, priceless! :)

Surgery? Question Everything

Image courtesy of www.howtolandajob.net

Lumpectomy vs. mastectomy has always been such a big debate scientifically and personally. I too, have mixed feelings about it. Each person has a different cancer journey and ultimately, it is the patient's choice, whatever she feels is best. My advice: QUESTION EVERYTHING. Gather all the facts. Pray hard. Do not stop to question until you are absolutely comfortable with your decision. Now, here's a good New York Times article on lumpectomy and repeat breast cancer surgery that's a bit enlightening: Repeat Breast Cancer Surgery Guidelines Are Unclear. While it does raise questions like "Why (the heck) are there still no clear guidelines on CA surgery at this day and age?!", it also takes you through the decision process in breast CA surgeries on an academic approach.

Blessings to everyone in your unique cancer journeys :)

Qi Gong

If you've ever been to China, you will notice that early in the morning, large groups of the elderly gather in parks and perform slow, soothing movements in unison. It's so beautiful to watch, and quite a wonderful thing to experience. Qi gong, also known as shibashi, is widely practiced in Asia for proper breathing, meditation, healing and exercise. We've been taught how to do this since middle school, and after my mom's surgery in 2008, it was the most appropriate kind of exercise for her. Qi gong is a great stress reliever, and it can also be done at home.  You can even buy one of those Chinese meditations CD to feel more authentic :) Try these steps from everyday-taichi.com

Soul Food: Champorado

Image courtesy of http://workwithray.net

My mom got a craving for champorado during her recent chemotherapy sessions. Champorado is a chocolate rice pudding from Spanish influence, topped with condensed milk and usually paired with "tuyo" or dried, salty fish. What makes champorado perfect for chemo patients like my mom is that it's sweet, hearty and warm to the stomach. It soothes the throat and isn't as heavy as a meal of rice and viand. Try out this recipe and other Filipino dishes from workwithray.net. Have a hearty day! :)

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup Sticky Rice
3 cups water (keep adding more if needed)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (add more to taste)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Evaporated Milk (you may use HALF & HALF or you may use condensed milk)
Sugar to taste

COOKING DIRECTIONS:
Place a medium casserole over medium heat.
Add water and sticky rice.
Keep stirring until rice become translucent
depending on the brand of sticky rice, you may need to keep adding water until you achieve rice’s translucency.
Once rice is cooked, stir in cocoa, and vanilla.
Keep stirring until rice become brown in color.
Add sugar to taste.
Top with milk.

Spread Love, Give Back!

Random Story of Hope and Survival

Image courtesy of www.safenetwork.org

I was reading a nice bit on Yahoo News this morning (Read:New Lung Cancer Test Predicts Survival ) when I chanced upon one of the comments of someone who goes by the name 4me2knw:

"I wish they had this test when I got my lung cancer. I had Hairy Cell Leukemia and the doc's did a cat scan on my lymph nodes to see if they were involved, during the test they found the lung cancer. Stage zero! About as big as a marble. That was 8 years ago. My surgeon said "if you're still alive in 10 years give me a call and let me know." This comment is making me think I've got about 2 years left. If I had been able to do this test maybe I wouldn't be thinking this way? Not a comforting feeling thinking you've got 2 years at most. BTW, the leukemia never started to grow. Had my blood drawn every 3 to 4 months for 5 years and it never grew. I had thousands praying for me, worked in 10 prisons and everyone knew. So, had all of them backing me then got a blessing from the Mormon church and an American Indian healing done. I swear, something here worked! This is why the leukemia never grew and I was stage zero. I now believe in the power of prayer!"

No doctor can really predict how long you'll live. In this day and age, "life sentences" for cancer patients are really a thing of the past. Not only are there new medicines and treatments, but also everyday miracles. Happy Monday everyone! :)

Healing Prayer

View from Kennon Road

Good evening Philippines and hello to the rest of the world! To celebrate this blessed Sunday, let me share with you a beautiful healing prayer, which I learned in Monte Maria:

"Lord, look upon me with eyes of mercy. May Your healing spirit rest upon me. It is through Your powers that I was created. Since you created me from nothing, You can certainly recreate me. Fill me with healing power of Your spirit. May Your life-giving powers flow into every cell of my body and into the depths of my soul. Mend what is broken. Cast out anything that should not be within me. Rebuild my brokenness. Restore my strength for service in Your kingdom. Touch my soul with Your compassion for others. Touch my heart with Your courage and infinite love for all. Touch my mind with Your wisdom that my mouth may always proclaim Your praise. Teach me to reach out to You, and help me to lead others to You by Your example. Most loving heart of Jesus, bring me health in mind, body and spirit that I may serve You with all my strength. Amen."

About Monte Maria: Monte Maria is a place of worship founded by Father Fernando Suarez, a well-known healing priest in the Philippines and around the world. Thousands of people go there during Sundays to hear the 10:00AM mass and receive healing from Father Suarez. To know more about his mass schedules, directions to Monte Maria, etc. visit their website: http://www.ourladyofmontemaria.org/

Happy Sunday everyone! :)

An Excellent Piece of Advice

Image courtesy of http://www.americanpharmacyintl.com

Here's an excellent piece of advice from my mom's good friend, who is an oncology nurse at Cedars Sinai Hospital in LA: If your doctors aren't giving up on you, why should you?

Don't give up cancer sisters. You are not alone in this battle. Fight Fight Fight! :) :) :)

Our Lady of Manaoag

On our way home from Baguio, we made a side trip to the Our Lady of Manaoag Church located in Manaoag, Pangasinan. It is one of the most well-known places of worship in the Philippines and surprisingly, we didn't have a hard time finding it passing through the Binalonan route. It was my first time to go there, and I was quite awestruck with what I saw. The miraculous Lady inside the Church looked so magnificent. Her robe was covered with priceless jewels, glass case bullet-proof because of the numerous attempts to rob her. Devotees can, however, touch the back of her robe through a hole in a separate room, which is what we did, only we had to wait in line for about an hour to do so. What was most beautiful and captivating was her face, one could only kneel and feel her presence and pray. The Roman Catholic Church acknowledges the countless miracles that she has granted, and with all humility, I asked for my one wish to also come true--my mom's complete healing from cancer.

A Difficult Decision

Image courtesy of www.blather.net

The cancer journey entails A LOT of crucial, lifesaving decisions: lumpectomy or mastectomy, chemotherapy or alternative medication, conventional therapy or clinical trials, and the list goes on and on. It becomes even more difficult when well-meaning friends and loved ones offer conflicting opinions. "Don't do this, it will kill you." or "Drink this, it will save your life." I often times wish for God to reach down and literally point His finger towards the best path.

A friend of my sister recently underwent mastectomy and got diagnosed with stage 3 ER-PR positive Her2-negative breast cancer, which is the most common type of breast cancer that is not aggressive and highly responsive to medications. Her oncologist recommended the standard chemotherapy treatment, and she will need to take hormone pills for the rest of her life. When she asked her doctor if this will guarantee that her cancer will not recur, her doctor said that there's no assurance. So now, she doesn't want to continue with the treatment anymore.

I wish I could convince her to go ahead with the chemo, because even if there's no guarantee, it's still the best option out there. Go with chemo because there are medications to counter all the nasty side effects--nausea, body pain, vomiting, etc. Go with chemo because thousands of women older and weaker than her have done it and survived. But at the end of the day, it's a personal decision. It's her body, and she has to be 100% comfortable with whatever decision she makes.

Avastin: The Harsh Truth

I froze and I couldn't sleep when I read this article published just a few days ago: Avastin, Sutent increase breast cancer stem cells, study shows. The article says that "tumors treated with (Avastin and Sutent) developed more cancer stem cells, the small number of cells within a tumor that fuel a cancer's growth and spread and that are often resistant to standard treatment." So these drugs worked for awhile, then after a few years, bam! Hello cancer again?!?!

In my mom's case, THIS is our answer as to why my mom's breast cancer recurred. For countless days and nights, we dwelt on this question and blamed different things---lumpectomy vs. mastectomy, bad genes, food, my dad's smoking, inadequate dosage, etc etc etc. Maybe they contributed as well, but from this article, it appears that Avastin is largely to blame for the recurrence. And because Avastin always had the impression of being a grossly expensive "rock star drug" taken as an adjuvant therapy, it never occurred to me to blame Avastin. Not to mention that the side effects that my mom endured to take Avastin are no joke.

The next day, I mustered the courage to tell my mom about what I read. While I didn't want her to look back and regret on having taking Avastin, I felt it was best to tell her the truth rather than have her wonder and even blame herself. On a positive note, it's really good that my mom is responding well to the CMF treatment she is currently taking. She's on her last cycle, and I really pray that all the cancer cells would finally be killed and replaced with healthy cells.

Strawberry Bliss in Benguet--Pictures!

Strawberry Fields of La Trinidad

Here are a few of our pictures at the ever popular Strawberry Farm at La Trinidad, Benguet. Doesn't the ice cream look so yummy? Remember, strawberries are anti-cancer fruits, too! :) Yummy is healthy! :)

The Scarring of Breast Implants

Image courtesy of http://natural-breast-enlargement.org.uk

Take a look at this interesting article from Huffington Post: Women Affected by PIP Breast Implant Scandal 'Psychologically Scarred'. I feel for these women, who have become stressed, fearful and depressed because their breast implants could be faulty. Now, I'm an employee of Johnson and Johnson, that's also in the business of breast implants. But after what's happened to my mom and our family, I strongly advise all women to GO NATURAL. Don't put alien things inside your body that could potentially risk your health. Even a company as "sturdy" and heavy on R&D as J&J makes mistakes and has a lot of product recalls every year. It's just not worth it. And what's more depressing about the whole situation is that women go under the knife for not-so-good reasons: career, aesthetics and self-esteem. It's sad that our perception of beauty is being dictated by media and marketing campaigns.On a more positive note, because of the breast implant scandal, British surgeons are now calling to ban adverts for cosmetic surgery. Wouldn't that be a great development? :)

Strawberry Bliss in Benguet

My birthday cake!

Hello, I'm back from my birthday vacation in Baguio, summer capital of the Philippines! The weather was so perfect--cool but not rainy! Note to self: must go back same time next year. So many places to go to and so little time! I will definitely post more pictures soon! But for now, I'm bringing to you some strawberries from La Trinidad, Benguet, just a few minutes away from Baguio City. The La Trinidad strawberry farm is a popular tourist spot, where visitors can pick strawberries, buy a wide range of strawberry souvenirs, and eat a lot of native strawberry delicacies like strawberry "taho" (soy pudding) and strawberry-flavored "dirty ice cream" (local ice cream sold on the streets). Did you know that strawberries are also a well-known cancer-fighting food because they are high in antioxidants? Antioxidants remove free radicals that in turn prevent the growth of tumors. (Read more on Time Healthland: Can Eating Strawberries Prevent Cancer?) So eat up, because healthy can be yummy too! :)

Cheers!

Another Thai advert, something to make you laugh. Nice message too! :)

Of Selfless Service

Meet Bong, the patient coordinator at the VMMC Cancer Research Center. As a patient coordinator, he deals directly with patients on several capacities: he maintains patient information and medical results, arranges doctor and lab appointments, and instructs patients on home health care and further sample collection. Bong's role is critical in cancer care, since there's a lot of work to be done in it. Bong always has a genuine, caring look on his face, and the twinkle in his eyes bring a lot of hope and optimism. I guess some people just always have a positive energy around them, and that's him. I'm really grateful that he's part of the team that takes good care of my mom. To Bong, Cheers and Be Blessed! :)

More Harm than Good: Hormone Replacement Therapy

Image courtesy of www.lookhealthy.org

Women who feel the discomfort of menopause sometimes consider  taking on a hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which artificially boosts hormone levels estrogen and progesterone. Unfortunately, new evidence shows that links the incidence of breast cancer with HRT.  Read more on ABC News: Hormone Therapy Linked to Higher Breast Cancer Death Risk.

I am no medical expert, but I think that medications that artificially change hormone levels are not worth considering. Let the body work and age naturally. Try eating healthier foods, exercising regularly, managing stress and sleeping more. I'm just in my late 20's, so I can't really say what a woman undergoing menopause feels. What I can say for sure though is that breast cancer sucks, and once it's there, it's a lifelong battle. I would rather get hot flashes than risk myself further to cancer.

Same with oral contraceptives. While there's conflicting data on the link between breast cancer and birth control pills, consider using a condom instead of altering your hormones. Why expose yourself to cancer risk? Because no matter how informed or how financially capable or how strong your are, nothing can really prepare you enough to face the Big C.

Mabuhay Coconuts

Image courtesy of http://filipinolifeinpictures.wordpress.com

Living in the tropics has its advantages, and one of them is the abundance of coconuts! Coconuts or "buko" as we call 'em, can be bought anywhere--in markets, on the streets, in food stalls etc. They're more hydrating than Gatorade and are a good source of energy! Coconuts are a known antioxidant and have numerous health benefits, including better digestion and metabolism, improved kidney function, increased immunity from diseases including cancer, lower blood pressure, and so on and so forth! My mom recently got addicted to them because they're also chemo-friendly--very refreshing, have no metallic after-taste, and they're filling without making the stomach turn.

How to eat: In the Philippines, we can buy the entire coconut nut, which we then chop in half, pour the juice into a pitcher, and then scrape the meat inside. The meat can be hard or soft, and you can actually request it from the coconut vendor. Just by knocking on the shell, he can tell which is it. You can eat and drink the coconut as is, or prepare it as a shake, icicle, salad, etc.

One fun fact about the coconut tree is that we call it "The Tree of Life" because of the endless list of products and by-products that can be derived from all of its parts. Isn't that amazing?

Bald is Beautiful!

Take a look at my mom sometime in 2009, when she lost all her hair due to chemotherapy. Isn't she beautiful?

So ladies, don't fret about losing your hair to chemo. The minute you see yourself shedding hair (happened to my mom right after her first chemo session), cut it really short so you won't get depressed with all the falling hair. Afterwards, when you're ready, have it shaved by your friendly stylist. Then, rock the bald look with a pretty face, nice earrings and a lovely glow to match! Your hair will grow back eventually, but for the moment, be fashionably adventurous--wigs, hats and scarves are the funnest accessories! Cheers and enjoy! :)

For Real Women!

Ladies, stand up and be proud of your body image, size, skin tone, scars and blemishes! Real women look like us, not the photoshopped images on magazine covers. Our imperfections make us unique and beautiful! Take a look at this short clip, and say, "So that's why they're so perfect! Ha!" Cheers to all and be blessed :)

Reducing Body Pain: TENS

Image courtesy of www.sciencephoto.com

Experiencing body aches and pains? Visit your physical therapist. He/she can recommend a suitable program for you. At home, you can also use the TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) machine, which is a nifty little device that transmits electrical impulses through electrodes to specific parts of your body. The electrical impulses produced by the TENS device actually block pain signals to the brain and raise your level of endorphins. It can also lessen the need for pain medications, and that's always a good thing. You will feel a weird and tingly sensation at first, but after a while, it can get really good and relaxing, especially when paired with a heating pad. It is widely used for acute and chronic pain, but it is important to ask your PT how to use it properly. A TENS unit costs around P2000-P6000 pesos, depending on the features, and can be bought at medical shops in Bambang or elsewhere.

My Carewell Contribution

Carewell is a non-profit support organization that provides free services and resources to people living with cancer, including medical consultation and counseling. They also hold wellness activities like yoga and qi gong. Every week, I make a P20 contribution to Carewell through SMS registration, and if you are a SMART subscriber, you can do it too! You too can give a weekly donation of P10, P20, P50 or P100 to Carewell by following these simple steps:

     -To start weekly donation, text CARE<amount> ON to 234 (e.g., CARE100 ON

     -To quit or opt out, text CARE OFF/STOP/CANCEL/QUIT/REMOVE (e.g., (CARE STOP)

In exchange, I get free health tips like what to eat to boost energy or sleep better, etc. Well worth my twenty bucks, I should say!

Carewell is located at the 6th Floor of S & L Building, dela Rosa corner Esteban Streets, Legaspi Village, Makati City Philippines. For more info, visit their website: http://www.carewellcommunity.org/index.php

Read Up on Parabens

some products with parabens

A lot of articles have been coming up about deodorants, parabens and if they cause cancer (READ: TIME and WEBMD). Wikipedia defines parabens "a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives by cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries." A new study on breast cancer shows that parabens are found in 99% of samples from breast cancer tumors. Parabens are found in deodorants, shampoos and moisturizers. This may be being paranoid, but at home, we made a survey of the different products that we use, and found parabens in our lotions--Bath and Body, Victoria's Secret and even the J&J baby lotion. You can also do this by checking the ingredients at the back: methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, isopropylparaben, and isobutylparaben. Now, using these products doesn't automatically mean that you will get cancer, because there aren't enough studies to prove such. However, because my mom already has active cancer cells and we have the genes, we don't want them being triggered. The good news is that there are alternative products that don't have parabens (like the Neutrogena moisturizer), and many deodorants now are paraben-free.

A Rating for The Medical City

with my mom and her doctors at TMC

People who truly care are hard to find, but at The Medical City (TMC), caring is in their hospital staff's culture. With the exception of one nurse (lemon, perhaps?), everyone at TMC made sure that my mom's stay was comfortable and stress-free. Their formula is simple, but it works: 1) they listened to our concerns, 2) took action, 3) provided updates, and 4) they explained properly when our request couldn't be accommodated. Add another ingredient--genuine empathy--and it makes a world of difference in service. I do think it's a corporate culture because practically everyone was really accommodating and professional--from people in the nursing floors to the CT scans and even to billing and discharge. I can't help but compare it with this other hospital in Makati, where we personally experienced the opposite. On other aspects, the room at TMC is small, but it's clean and bright; the food is kind of bland, but that's hospital food for you. Overall, I give them an A for excellent service and facilities.

The Medical City is a tertiary hospital located in Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City, Philippines. It is accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), the world’s most prestigious accrediting body for international health care organizations. For more information on TMC, visit their website: The Medical City Website

Chemo Care Kit

Anya Hindmarch Hot Pink Vanity Kit

First-time to do chemotherapy? It's best to pack a "chemo care kit" with the following essential items:
- bottle of water or juice
- crackers
- candies
- face mask
- stress ball
- your medicines and prescription
- skincare wipes
- brown paper bag

My mom likes using the free confinement kits that we get from her hospital stay mainly because they're compact, light and transparent.

Chemo sessions take 30 minutes to 4 hours; it really depends on the drugs you're taking. So you may want to also bring a small pillow, an iPod or a good book. Of course, nothing beats bringing a caring companion. :) Cheers to all and be blessed!

Story of Hope: Cindi

I want to share an inspiring real-life story that I picked up from www.advancedbc.org. Cindi has been in treatment for NINE years for metastatic breast cancer. It's a battle that she's been fighting beautifully:

 

Image courtesy of www.advancedbc.org

A Message of Hope from Cindi
posted to the BCMETS mailing list, December, 2008:

 

I wanted to pass along my encouraging story and give others a bit of hope for the holiday season.

I've been in treatment for NINE YEARS now for metastatic breast cancer. Several times along the way my doctors have been honest with me about my situation and I prepared for the worst. I have bone mets in 98 percent of my body and even broke a small bone in my foot last year without even knowing it. I always say "Ask me where I DON'T have cancer, it's much easier". I don't worry about it though and keep on doing my physical volunteer work. I'm a zoo keeper and have to lift 50 lb bags of feed, move wheel barrows full of dirt and poop and crawl up ladders to work on the top of the animal enclosures. I rake, shovel and have to stay alert to all the animal care procedures that are always changing. It exhausts me and at times I think I can't do it anymore. I'll be 55 years old this month and most people I work with are under 25 and healthy, LOL.  I love my job though and I feel it's been the reason for my continued survival.  It's almost a mile from parking the car to the area I work it and just getting there is a major feat in inself. There were times when I counted each step, telling myself that I WOULD make my legs keep working and I WOULD find the strength to walk all that way. I was so stubborn, LOL, that I always managed.

Two years ago, the cancer moved in to my bone marrow and I progressively got weaker and weaker. I needed blood (red and platelet) transfusions, sometimes as frequently as every 2 weeks. My skin was yellowish looking, my stomach always bloated and pain seemed to be constant and unrelenting. I began to have migraines that kept me in bed for days too.

Last year the cancer moved to my lungs and liver and my oncologist was very grim in his prognosis. Being a realist, I totally agreed with him and again made preparations for the worst. After a year on Abraxane and Avastin, my tumor markers gradually came down and things seemed to stabilize. Last month I realized that it's been months since I've needed a transfusion. My doctors and nurses just shake their heads and said they've never seen such a turn around with bone marrow disease. I can breathe better now and don't even know I have liver mets.

Just had a bone scan and again, my oncologist shook his head and said he'd never seen a report like mine. It showed that all cancer tumors are dormant and no evidence of activity anywhere. Unbelievable....I've never had a report like that as the cancer has always progressed, year by year. He also can't believe I haven't had any bones break. I drive him crazy telling him about the things I do in my zoo keeper job. He thinks I should quit doing it. I've told him when **** freezes over and that's that.

Of course I realize that this may be temporary but the trick to successfully living with cancer and not letting it take over is to not let it take over. I choose not to spend my time worrying about when things will change for the worse again but instead use the time productively to enjoy every single thing about living. That's not me preaching to anyone but instead, just my way of dealing with it.

I'm no cheerleader, believe me, but I do think that we all need to hear encouraging stories. I remember my darkest days and how grim everything looked. I remember how much I needed to hear that someone else had survived what I was living through.

Sorry this is so long but I wanted to pass along my thoughts and share my story with all of you who are trying to survive another day. I know how you feel.....it's so hard and such a struggle. I hope it helps to hear from someone who has lived with mets for 9 years and managed to have a good quality of life.

Sending prayers (for those of you who will accept them), positive thoughts, gentle hugs and special admiration for all my cancer sisters.  You are such brave, inspirational people.....never forget it.

Love and Happy Holidays, Cindi

Follow Your Passion

A funny take on following your passion, which is one of my new year's resolutions! :) This year, I plan to take painting classes with my mom, an activity we both love. Learn to laugh and enjoy amidst all the trials :)

Clinical Trials

Image courtesy of www.sciencephoto.com

In 2008, my mom entered into a clinical trial called "Beatrice" to test the drug Bevacizumab (Avastin) on early stage, triple-negative breast cancer patients. Avastin has an approved indication for certain types of metastatic colorectal cancer, lung cancer, glioblastoma and metastatic renal cancer. At the time, the decision to enter into a clinical trial was a crucially difficult one. While the medicines, laboratory tests and professional fees were all free, our primary fear was my mom becoming a guinea pig. The doctor also handed us an overwhelmingly long list of possible side effects, which raised our fears and almost made us back off. But we did our own research and sought the advice of different doctors and friends. What convinced me was when a friend in J&J whose line of work was in clinical research for the US and Asia Pacific said that in clinical trials, they give the best medicine plus the test drug.

We now know that just last year (2011) the US FDA revoked its approval of breast cancer indication because they concluded that its not safe and effective for breast CA. Avastin also didn't really work for my mom since her cancer recurred and metastasized, but she doesn't regret entering into a clinical trial at all. Because most clinical trials have safeguards to protect the patients and not cause harm. Health care professionals follow the hippocratic oath "Primum Non Nocere: First do no harm." Some considerations would be the the type of trial, the institution carrying it out, and the country on which the trial is based. Ask and ask and ask questions. In the Philippines, teaching institutions such as the Philippine General Hospital, Veterans Memorial Medical Center and the University of Santo Tomas Hospital have cancer research centers where these trials are available for certain kinds of cancer.

Personally, I think that clinical trials can grant patients access to the latest and potentially life-saving medicines that are not yet available here in the Philippines. Most of the medicines, lab tests and professional fees are free, which could amount to hundreds of thousands of pesos. More so, support of cancer research can save lives at present and in the future. To know more about clinical trials, visit http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/info/understand.