Our First 2010 Miracle! First Breakthrough!

“He moves in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me…”

There is truly sunshine after the rain. If you’ve read my previous posts, you’d know what my wife and our entire family went through this November-December of 2009. The biggest blow was the diagnosis of my wife with breast cancer.

After my wife’s surgery, histopath biopsy results was read as Invasive Ductal Cancer, associated with extensive Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. In fact,the pathologist commented that 80-90% of the 5x5cm mass was Carcinoma In Situ, and that only a small portion was invasive. As such, the stage was stage IIa. If it was purely In Situ, it would be stage 0.

Now, for non-medical peeps, when we say “IN SITU” it means the cancer is CONTAINED and carries a better prognosis than INVASIVE cancer. After surgery, invasive cancer needs chemotherapy, In Situ does not.

So after a lot of tears shed, Joann and I have submitted to the will of God and had peace and joy in our hearts. We prepared for her chemotherapy, which was supposed to be started today, January 8. Part of the preparation entailed sending out the histopath slides for receptor testing (estrogen ER, progesterone PR and HER2) receptors that would influence what type of chemo drugs would be used. We consulted with an oncologist already and prepared ourselves for the possible side effects, such as hair loss, etc.

What would be better was to have ER positive PR positive and HER2 negative results, which is relatively easier and cheaper to treat.
As such, as I called up the lab for results, it came out exactly the opposite/ ER and PR negative, and HER2 positive. This would require a more toxic chemotherapy regimen, and an extra drug, Herceptin, which would cost around Php 90,000.00 per vial. It would have to be given every week for 1 year.

Still, in all things we praised God, and gave thanks to Him, and committed to Him our future.

I went to the lab to get the official result, As I read the result, it stated ER negative, PR negative and HER2 positive. But after HER2 positive, this was written…(IN SITU). I was a little baffled. What we needed was the HER2 status of the invasive part, not the In Situ part.

So I called up the pathologist, who, i didn’t know at the time, was a previous president of the society of pathologists. I asked him what was the HER2 status of the invasive cancer was. He told me “I didn’t see any invasive portion. It was all In Situ.”

My ears popped up. Long story short, I sent him additional slides for review, and still he gave an official report )just this wednesday) DUCTAL CARCINOMA IN SITU.

Joann and I were stirred up. Could this be true? If this was true, she WOULDN’T NEED CHEMO TX at all.

To settle our anxiety, we sent the slides to a 3rd pathologist, also a senior and respected doctor in the medical community. As I drove to the pathologist today, I prayed to God “Lord, let it be that whatever reading this 3rd pathologist says, be the true reading. Whether it be invasive or In Situ. But our hearts desire o Father, let it be In SItu!”

Long story short, I gave the slides (all 25 of them) to the pathologist this morning. I saw him browse through the slides. One by one he looked at them. He looked at me. He told me, “all I see is In Situ. I’ll give you an official result tomorrow but to me it’s In Situ.”

Hallelujah! Praise God! Praise Him! Praise His most holy Name!

I’ll be talking to the oncologist later, but all medical guideline show there is no need for chemotherapy for Carcinoma In Situ. The surgery done was enough management. All we need to do is close monitoring.

God STILL answers prayers. He STILL moves mountains. He STILL parts the waters of the seas. He STILL does the impossible.

This is our first miracle for the year. This is our first breakthrough. And we are expecting more from our Great and Almighty God!

The Hope and Cost of Healing

As we continue to believe, affirm by faith, claim and declare that God’s healing has indeed come upon us, and healed every bit of trace of disease in Joann’s body, the devil keeps on taunting us “is it really that simple?” Just pray for healing and healing will come? Is there no price? Is there no cost?

As we ponder about this, there are times seeds of doubt arise. Sometimes, faith falters. As doctors we have seen how this disease courses through. We have seen the agony of patients. There is even more suffering seen in the treatment modalities… surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy…is this the cost of healing?

I continued to pray today…that God will continue to increase our faith. “Lord, help my unbelief!” is my prayer…God give me the strength and faith to hold on to YOUR PROMISES!!! Strengthen our hearts O God! We still continue to pray that God will crush and dissolve the tumor, and that surgery is no longer needed. God increases our faith and strengthens our hearts.

My brother told me about another doctor he worked with in one medical mission. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer, with lung and liver metastases. She was ready to die, and was even trying on cotton balls on her nostrils to see what she’d look like. But God had plans for her. She didn’t undergo surgery, and was seemingly resistant to chemotherapy. But God’s awesome hand healed her. GOD HEALED HER STAGE 4 CERVICAL CANCER WITH LUNG AND LIVER METS COMPLETELY!!!. She is disease free up to this day…and her healing came almost 8 years ago.

As if THAT testimony wasn’t enough assurance from God. Awhile ago, my classmate, Monica, from way back highschool asked me how i was doing via facebook chat. She and her family are bible-believing christians. She’s now based in Singapore. I have asked her to pray for Joann. As we were chatting, I told her that we believe God’s healing has already come upon us. Then she began to share.

She told me her dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. He didn’t undergo surgery or chemotherapy. HE IS COMPLETELY HEALED! He was healed more than 25 years ago, and is now still strong enough to regularly go to the gym.

Her younger brother, at the age of 2 1/2 yrs old, was diagnosed with Leukemia. He underwent chemotherapy but never lost a strand of hair. He is now 24 years old, a young professional, DISEASE FREE and COMPLETELY HEALED!!!

Her aunt was diagnosed with colon cancer. She didn’t undergo chemotx. She is now ok and living in the U.S. SHE IS HEALED!!!

Her mother is now with a ministry called MORE THAN “C”; more than conquerors, more than cancer. They are ministering to those afflicted with cancer. I was able to talk to her on the phone and she left me with this message;

Believe in the power of God! Try to have communion daily at your home, break bread with the family. And everytime you break bread, remember that this, the body of Jesus Christ, was broken and bruised…that WE MAY BE MADE WHOLE!!!

God told me that “Yes, I have the power to heal you. Yes, pray with faith and you shall be healed. Yes, I am the God that healeth thee.” But God reminded me that it didn’t come at no cost.

The cost is this; Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God, left the heavenly realms, was born in a lowly, dirty manger, was raised up by a carpenter, lived the life of a carpenter. At the opportune age, He preached, He HEALED, He cast out demons, He forgave sins, He changed the lives of fishermen, tax collectors, a prostitute, a pharisee. He fed 3000 people, and again 5000 people. He raised up the dead. And then, after all this…

He was shackled in chains, pulled on a leash like a dog. He was beaten up, bruised, spitted on, whipped and lashed at, shouted and cursed at. He was stripped down, and a crown of sharp, long, penetrating thorns was forced down unto His head. He was made to carry a large plank of wood, which would require multiple med to carry. He was made to walk around the city bearing this cross, stumbling at times, and receiving whips at every stumble. He climbed up a hill, and there He was nailed to the cross. The cross was raised up, and He was given a sponge of vinegar for His thirst. Still, it wasn’t the nails but His love for us that kept Him hanging up on the cross. He died. And then, after all this…

JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD! AND IS NOW SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER! And HE SHALL RETURN SOON!

This is the cost of God’s healing, the victory of Jesus in His life, death and ressurection. God’s healing comes at the most expensive, most unaffordable price; His only Son. But God doesn’t require us to PAY. He only requires us to BELIEVE and have FAITH!

Lord, Thank you for the healing that we now have! You are the God of wonders, and wonderful are Your ways O God!!!

none of these diseases

“And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I AM the LORD that healeth thee.” (Exodus 15:26)

what cancer can’t do

It cannot cripple love

It cannot shatter hope

It cannot corrode faith

It cannot destroy peace

It cannot kill friendship

It cannot suppress memories

It cannot silence courage

It cannot invade the soul

It cannot steal eternal life

It cannot conquer the spirit

copied from http://www.pinkribbonshop.com/survivor_stories/breast_cancer_survivor_leitha.htm

breast cancer

If you are a young lady, in the prime of your career, a mother to very young children, living clean, doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink alcohol, with no previous medical problems, no family history of medical problems, you really won’t think it could hit you.

But breast cancer can hit anyone, and you don’t need to have the risk profile to get it.

Patients usually first notice a palpable breast nodule or mass. Although most breast nodules are benign (>80%), it is still best to have yourself checked by a medical specialist.
There’s a spectrum of breast diseases ranging from benign, to pre-maligant, to frank malignancy. There are a lot of diagnostic modalities available to aid in diagnosis. There’s breast ultrasound, mammography, scintimammography, fine-needle aspiration biopsy and excision biopsy, with the latter most as the most accurate.

Benign and pre-malignant lesions are readily treatable, usually with excision of the mass alone and with close follow up monitoring. However, pre-maligant lesions are a bit more difficult to diagnose, as imaging and biopsy results may yield inconclusive or even conflicting results.

Frank malignant breast mass have to be treated more aggressively. Clues for the patient if the mass is high risk for malignancy are a hard (stony hard), fixed (non-movable) mass, presence of nipple retraction or skin dimpling, presence of nipple discharge which is sometimes bloody. Then again, excision biopsy is still needed to confirm.

With the advent of modern diagnostic machines, it is easier to catch the disease early on, and to apply corresponding management. Early diagnosis, early treatment leads to better prognosis.

So please, if you feel a lump in your breast, don’t delay in having it examined. God moves in mysterious ways, and for those who have breast cancer, nothing is impossible with God. God can move mountains, can raise up the dead, and He is Almighty to heal even the deadliest of diseases.

bargaining for your health

“Doc, magkano po ba yun operasyon? Ang mahal naman po! Pwede po ba discount? Baka pwede pa po bawasan? Pwede po ba kalahati muna? Doc, mag-iwan na lang muna ako promisory note.”

Filipinos are so fond of asking for discounts. In Divisoria, you’ll often hear bargaining for items…

Buyer: Magkano yun blouse?

Seller: 200 pesos. Tapat na.

Buyer: Bawasan mo naman, 120 na lang.

Seller: Di kaya sa puhunan. Lugi. Hanggang 170 lang.

Buyer: Bawasan mo pa konti. 140 na lang.

Seller: Hay naku, sige 150 na lang, Ilan ba kukunin mo?

Buyer: Ok 150! Paki balot yan isa.

In the medical field, you’ll also hear patients asking for “tawad” from doctor’s professional fees. I read an article a few years back written by an anesthesiologist. She and her partner surgeon did an operation on a patient for about 6 hours. It was a life-saving operation the patient couldn’t have lived without. When the patient was about to go home and was billed Php 60,000 PACKAGE price for the surgeon, anesthesiologist, cardiologist and endocrinologist, the patient said, “ang mahal naman doc. Baka pwede 30 thou na lang?” The surgeon, being a dutiful and charitable physician, said ok and agreed to the amount. However, the patient only paid half, 15 thousand, in cash, and the remaining 15 thousand as promisory note.

Why is it when doctors charge big, it is always taken against them? Do you know the cost of being a doctor nowadays? A medical student (i mean their parents) would have to shell out 160-180 thousand pesos PER YEAR for tuition fees alone. Medical books would set you back around 20-30 thousand PER YEAR. If the medical student would live in an apartment or dorm, that’s another 10 thousand per month. Before a medical student would have finished the 4 years in med school, he would’ve spent almost a whopping 1 million pesos. And at this point, the med grad isn’t even licensed yet.

So after 4 years of pre-med, and 4 years of med school, the new med grad has to under go 1 year of post-grad internship in a hospital WITHOUT ANY COMPENSATION. This is a requirement before the med grad can take the medical board exams given by the PRC. After internship, board exams follow, and if passed, one is considered a fully fledged GENERAL PRACTITIONER. If he wants to specialize, say, internal medicine, that’ll take another 3 years of training, then the “specialty” board exams. Then subspecialize into cardiology, that’s another 3 years of training, and another “sub-specialty” board exams. That’s a good 15 years (and 3 major board exams) from college to finally being a cardiologist. Then, now, he gets paid 20-50 pesos for every ECG tracing he reads.

So when a doctor charges a patient, say, 50 thousand pesos, for a life-saving medical intervention, it really isn’t “expensive.” But filipinos will always ask for “discounts,” not because they can’t afford, but it’s just filipino nature. So it will really drive the doctor crazy if the patient asks for 50% discount but the doctor sees the patient and his wife and children all with cellphones all worth more than 15 thousand. And this, the doctor charges for a LIFE SAVING PROCEDURE.

Why is it when a mid-ranged actor or model, doing just a 1-hour photoshoot, charges 100 thousand, it’s acceptable. But when a team of doctors operate on a patient for 6 hours and charges 60 thousand PACKAGE, it’s considered “inhumane” to put a hefty price on medical services. Do you know for every patient a doctor charges, the doctor also sees a patient he doesn’t charge? There may be more patients a doctor won’t charge in his/her entire career.

But as doctors, we do understand our patients plight. And we do give “discounts” and even free medical services. And as a christian i know God has blessed us a special position to help. But i posted this just to show that there is much more than just money a doctor gives when he gives a discount or totally free services. He gives a part of himself. So is it ok to bargain for your health? Yes, to a certain extent. Huwag lang sobrang “barat.” Or your doctors might end up looking like this…

Harassing Doctors

As doctors, we never expected to be “harassed” by anyone, most specially “political harassment”. We bloody toiled for decades studying and training to be what we are today, with grace and mercy of our Lord. So when we are subjected to certain situations we are not accustomed to, it brings us great pressure to decide “is it really worth it…”

A doctor, duly licensed by the PRC, finished specialty training, certified by the specialty board, has a lot of career options. Private practice, plus/or affiliation with a private company/hospital; teaching (yes, we can teach…) at med school, or go into government service as health provider. In government, one md can go into DOH-md’s to the barrios, be DOH-reps, other DOH positions, or government hospital specialist. And also, one can go into local government unit health care as a provincial or city health officer or municipal health officer. In the LGU’s, “political harassment” is often times seen.

A “health officer” (P.H.O., C.H.O. or M.H.O.) is appointed by the local chief executive (governor or mayor) and holds a “key” position as the health officer is in control of all health centers (rural health units). There is no problem if the local chief executive and the health officer are “mag-kakampi”. But if there is a change in leadership, as is seen every 3 years during elections, and a “kalaban” wins, the health officer is often subject to harassment. WHY??? The “kalaban” will want to put his own “health officer” but since the health officer plantilla item is PERMANENT and not co-terminus with the elective official, he cannot simply terminate the current health officer. So instead, he will make life difficult for the health officer to force the poor md to resign then position.

We know of a MHO, in a city just in the outskirts of metro manila. She was doing a fine job, managing over more than 30 health centers thru out her city. After the recent elections, a new mayor took office and started harassing her. They tried to dig up dirt against her, made false accusations and threatened to slap her with admin suits in court. For want of peace of mind, she simply resigned, even though she didn’t do anything wrong. Another MHO, doing great work with her more than 20 health centers, often cited for outstanding accomplishments. The incumbent mayor was suspended, and the vice-mayor took office. The (over) acting mayor appointed his own “executive assistant for health” and this exec assistant started throwing her weight around against the MHO. In the local government code, the mayor is the chairman of the local health board, and the MHO is the vice-chairman. So technically, the exec assistant is out of line in ordering the MHO around.

Nakakalungkot lang isispin na ang propesyon ng isang manggagamot, na itinuturing na isa sa pinaka dakilang propesyon, ay hahaluan ng maduming politika ng mga taong walang inisip kundi ang sariling kapakanan. Lord, kayo na po ang bahala sa kanila. Patamaan nyo na lang po ng kidlat…