Dear all,
I am overwhelmed by the encouragements and prayers I have received the past weeks from everybody - relatives (local/international), apos from cousins, high school,college, business colleagues, prayer communities, neighbors, our parish organizations, etc. Now that there is a blog station, I and Olive and technical son, Ryan, can update you on whats the latest with me.
The usual big question which I get is : What do you feel? May pain ka ba?
Ang sagot: May inconvenience sa right pelvic area because I cant spread my legs wide open because of the small fracture in the pubic bone. Usually when getting in and out of the car. Kailangan I have to go out like a lady wearing a mini tight skirt. Legs together. I have no pain and no dificulty in breathing. I still do my dumbells to manintain my piolo pascual upper body and arms. Following the otrho doc, I walked with a cane to protect the healing fracture and to keep away crowd and fans bumping into me. At mukhang kagalang galang, parang sila Marcelo del Pilar at Juan Luna ng nasa Europe.
My weight of 162 is maintained and appetite is great. Will be missing sweets like cakes and ice cream. Dadami na ang tsonggo sa bahay dahil malakas ako sa saging. Yun na ang merienda ko.-ernie
Friday, July 29, 2011
Needles
Today is lung biopsy day, scary sounding procedure but not for Ernie. We stayed overnight here in St Lukes QC and he got wheeled down in bed to Cath Lab at 11am with me following right behind him. Ryan arrived just in time to lock our room and join me at the cath lab lobby. The doctors explained what the procedure would be- amazing how medicine works and how competent Filipino doctors can be- there was a team of 3 mds who performed the delicate procedure.Some biopsies can cause lung to collapse and that was what they were careful about.
Ernie was awake the whole time, and watched everything from a monitor. The whole procedure took an hour.
When we were finally back in the room, I really admired my hubby's wonderful attitude - he detailed the story of what he saw during the procedure-needles and all, like a child with "wonder" telling a story about a magic show he just watched. Moreover he cracks jokes with the nurses and staff that come in and out of the room!!
I really believe Ernie's great attitude and fun spirit will get us through this tough journey ahead.
The tissue the doctors got will be assessed and will be the basis for our oncologist to plan the best therapy for Ernie's healing. Praying hard it will be oral chemo
Ernie was awake the whole time, and watched everything from a monitor. The whole procedure took an hour.
When we were finally back in the room, I really admired my hubby's wonderful attitude - he detailed the story of what he saw during the procedure-needles and all, like a child with "wonder" telling a story about a magic show he just watched. Moreover he cracks jokes with the nurses and staff that come in and out of the room!!
I really believe Ernie's great attitude and fun spirit will get us through this tough journey ahead.
The tissue the doctors got will be assessed and will be the basis for our oncologist to plan the best therapy for Ernie's healing. Praying hard it will be oral chemo
Thursday, July 28, 2011
So confused
In my last post, last few sentences got mixed up. My mind racing fighting negative thoughts. Ernie is such a wonderful patient - happy, positive and funny. Unbelievable!!
14 Hours In and Out of Hong Kong
A positron emmisiion test (PET SCAN) is a cancer test the works on a simple premise. Cancer cells love sugar and feed on sugar to grow. In this particular test, the patient is made to fast for hours beforethe scan and then a radioactive glucose substance is introduced intravenously. If there are cancer cells -it will be rabibly excited to feed on the glucose (sugar) and show up as a bright area in the scan. The brighter the area- and more cancer cells there are.
We left at 540am yesterday for a scheduled PET scan in Ammed Cancer Center in HK and got the results at 3pm and returned back home in the 10pm flight. It wasn't the first time -Ryan had 4 scans in the past in the same hospital.
Ernie whole body was free of bright areas except for the bone fracture in the pubic area and 4 nodules in his lungs, the biggest of which is 3.9 x 2.3 cm. The appearance and brightness is consistent with malignancy. We found the "mother" source - the lungs.
7am Thursday is our appointment to see Dr Charity Gorospe - time is of the essence. She says that Ernie may be given an oral chemo treatment that has less toxicity compared to intrevenous treatment and is known to be very effective in shrinking such tumors (adenocarcinoma) and preventing growth in other areas. But first another lung biopsy tomorrow noon.
We check in tonight.
We trust in God's healing mercy and the power of prayers, prayers and yet more prayers.
We are checking in tonight.
We have identified the "primary source" of the bone metastasis-it started from the lungs.
My heart sank with this result as we were still fervently praying for a negative pet result.
We left at 540am yesterday for a scheduled PET scan in Ammed Cancer Center in HK and got the results at 3pm and returned back home in the 10pm flight. It wasn't the first time -Ryan had 4 scans in the past in the same hospital.
Ernie whole body was free of bright areas except for the bone fracture in the pubic area and 4 nodules in his lungs, the biggest of which is 3.9 x 2.3 cm. The appearance and brightness is consistent with malignancy. We found the "mother" source - the lungs.
7am Thursday is our appointment to see Dr Charity Gorospe - time is of the essence. She says that Ernie may be given an oral chemo treatment that has less toxicity compared to intrevenous treatment and is known to be very effective in shrinking such tumors (adenocarcinoma) and preventing growth in other areas. But first another lung biopsy tomorrow noon.
We check in tonight.
We trust in God's healing mercy and the power of prayers, prayers and yet more prayers.
We are checking in tonight.
We have identified the "primary source" of the bone metastasis-it started from the lungs.
My heart sank with this result as we were still fervently praying for a negative pet result.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Flowers
-Ryan
Monday, July 25, 2011
Unofficial Report Becomes Official Tomorrow
In Januray 2011, Ernie experienced excruciating pain that caused him to half black out while in a supermarket. It was pain coming from the groin. The orthopedic surgeon suspected it might be a strained tendon after xrays and many other tests showed nothing serious. After a bout of painkillers, the pain was gone.
In June 2011, the pain was back in the same spot, and it was even more excruciating. Ernie was in agony. The same ortho surgeon required an MRI which now showed an undisplaced bone fracture, edema, and lesions in his pubic bone. Without any known trauma to the bone, the doctor was very suspicious and we agreed to do an open surgery biopsy.
I was filled with fear and worry - something I know that comes from the devil himself. Prayer is the only weapon I know against fear and worry. And the LORD is the only one who can bring calm in our lives.
Frozen section report showed no malignant cells. I wanted to celebrate and throw a party!! Praise and Thank GOD!!!!
But ephethelial cells (not bone cells) were found in 1 out of 5 slides. More specimen of bone, tissue and marrow was taken. Pathologist suspected that these ephethelial cells came from another organ - and so the word "metastasis" came up over and over again. Could a tumor have developed in another organ and spread "metastasized" to the bone? All other suspected causes such as TB of the bone, infection, osteoporosis, multiple myloma, etc etc were ruled out.
After 3 weeks of staining and culturing and passing around the specimen to various pathologist here
in what is ranked the no 1 hospital in the Philippines-finally a report. It's not official because it just lacks one signature. Ernie has metastatic carcinoma of unknown origin.
Between Ernie, Ryan and myself - I am undoubtedly the weakest one , I crumble to pieces in times like this and am quite amazed I can even write this blog. I reflected much and told myself I have to pull myself together, get my brain functioning right and put on an armour of positive mental attitude if I am to be the BEST wife that I can be to a sick hubby.
We are going for the PET scan in a couple of days P100K for one go at St Lukes, or may have the option for a special discount in Amed Cancer Center in HongKong even if we have to pay for 2 round trip tickets to HK-thanks to Ernie's dear classmate.
The PET scan should give us a pretty good picture of his whole body and therefore give our oncologist the best plan of therapy for Ernie's speedy recovery. Storm the heavens with us with your fervent prayers...that results would be as favorable as possible. Ours is a HEALING and LOVING GOD!
God BLESS!
Olive
In June 2011, the pain was back in the same spot, and it was even more excruciating. Ernie was in agony. The same ortho surgeon required an MRI which now showed an undisplaced bone fracture, edema, and lesions in his pubic bone. Without any known trauma to the bone, the doctor was very suspicious and we agreed to do an open surgery biopsy.
I was filled with fear and worry - something I know that comes from the devil himself. Prayer is the only weapon I know against fear and worry. And the LORD is the only one who can bring calm in our lives.
Frozen section report showed no malignant cells. I wanted to celebrate and throw a party!! Praise and Thank GOD!!!!
But ephethelial cells (not bone cells) were found in 1 out of 5 slides. More specimen of bone, tissue and marrow was taken. Pathologist suspected that these ephethelial cells came from another organ - and so the word "metastasis" came up over and over again. Could a tumor have developed in another organ and spread "metastasized" to the bone? All other suspected causes such as TB of the bone, infection, osteoporosis, multiple myloma, etc etc were ruled out.
After 3 weeks of staining and culturing and passing around the specimen to various pathologist here
in what is ranked the no 1 hospital in the Philippines-finally a report. It's not official because it just lacks one signature. Ernie has metastatic carcinoma of unknown origin.
Between Ernie, Ryan and myself - I am undoubtedly the weakest one , I crumble to pieces in times like this and am quite amazed I can even write this blog. I reflected much and told myself I have to pull myself together, get my brain functioning right and put on an armour of positive mental attitude if I am to be the BEST wife that I can be to a sick hubby.
We are going for the PET scan in a couple of days P100K for one go at St Lukes, or may have the option for a special discount in Amed Cancer Center in HongKong even if we have to pay for 2 round trip tickets to HK-thanks to Ernie's dear classmate.
The PET scan should give us a pretty good picture of his whole body and therefore give our oncologist the best plan of therapy for Ernie's speedy recovery. Storm the heavens with us with your fervent prayers...that results would be as favorable as possible. Ours is a HEALING and LOVING GOD!
God BLESS!
Olive
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| Ernie and I, relaxing with the dogs on a lazy afternoon last Holy Week |
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