By Tedler D. Depaynos, MD
The 59 year old female has been working as an OFW for quite some time. She felt a “mass” on her left breast but because she was due for vacation the following months, she did not seek any consultation. Besides, seeking consultation was not easy in her place of work due to her tight work schedule and the foreign language in the hospital. Her scheduled vacation was even delayed because the family she was working for went on a tour.
When she finally came home, she underwent an “excision biopsy” of her breast mass. It turned out to be “malignant” but since it was excised already, she said that it was already alright and returned to work according to a brother. In retrospect the brother believed that she had to return without any delay because she might lose her job. After a simple biopsy, it is almost a must that a more intensive surgery for malignant lesions must be done. This was obviously advised by her surgeon.
She was out of the country for more than a year and had been sending regular allowances to her family so that the brother forgot about her sickness. When she suddenly came home looking weak with slight difficulty of breathing, they thought she just developed “asthma”. They brought her to a hospital where they saw a huge ulcerating mass at her left chest practically covering her whole left breast. Her right breast was also with ulceration at the nipple and areolar area and obviously both lesions were cancerous with necrotic tissues. They were foul smelling and the attending MDs could not imagine how she tolerated them. Obviously, a concomitant severe infection was also present.
This was a result of a neglected malignant lesion. She had 4th stage breast cancer. Her difficulty of breathing was due to pulmonary metastasis which was secreting fluid. She then had fluid in the lungs called pleural effusion so that she felt like drowning. A tube was inserted on her right thoracic area for drainage and the surgeon was afraid that this might be permanent.
The family was appraised of her condition and they were in tears mainly because of the great sacrifice she did for her family. For fear of losing her job, she did not seek further adequate medical and surgical treatment.
BCHS CLASS ’66 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Our CONGRATULATIONS to the BCHS CLASS ’66 ALUMNI ASSOC. They graduated from their alumni high school 51 years ago and obviously they are in their senior years. Although most of them are dependent on their measly GSIS/SSS monthly pensions, they were able to raise funds some coming from their classmates out of the country to give joy to children in schools far away from the city. On 2 occasions, they visited Pontino Elem. School headed by the principal, Ms. Bridget Beray at Ambassador, Tublay and gave donations consisting mainly of books and school supplies and sports equipment. They also made their huge television function which had been stuck for years and later provided “merienda” to the whole student population.
Recently, they visited Dorenzo Elem. School at Coroz, Ambassador, Tublay which is made up of 126 students and 7 teachers including the principal, Mr. Albert Cipriano. They served packed lunch to all and again donated books, school supplies and various sports equipment. They were all filled with joy as they saw everybody especially the children voraciously eating with unceasing smiles. The occasions made them feel young and temporarily forgot their arthritic pains. They were very thankful to their classmates who were not able to join them but supported their activities which they plan to do continuously as long as they can.
Again, CONGRATULATIONS!
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