Anna CAN Survive!

I started experiencing chest pains and cough way back 2016. It has already been a month, but my cough won't go away, so we decided to visit a doctor. They did an xray and the results showed that it seemed like I had 2 hearts. The doctor advised me to undergo CT scan so I did. And the result showed that I have a mass on my left chest, just between my heart and left lung. The doctor referred us to a TCVS (thoracic and cardiovascular surgery) doctor and my TCVS doctor advised us to undergo biopsy. We don't have enough money to go to a private hospital so he referred us to a public hospital in Manila instead.

They performed a CT guided biopsy on me. But the result of the biopsy is not clear. It said that the mass is just a reactive inflammatory. The doctor told us that they would give me a call for the next step but they never called back. So I stopped taking medications and decided to continue my studies.

I graduated Senior High School last April 2018 and after that, we decided to visit a doctor again. We went back to my TCVS doctor in Manila. And since we don't have money, he then referred us again to another public hospital in Manila. By the way, we are from Batangas City so it is really far from home. The doctors performed mediastinotomy biopsy. They put a chest tube on me which lasted for 4 days. Again, the results weren't clear and the diagnosis is Mediastinal Mass Reactive Lymphadenitis. The doctor sent us home and advised us to have another CT scan.

June 2018, we went back to my doctor in Manila with a new CT scan result and the doctor told me that there's water in my lungs. So they needed to drain it to clearly see the mass. I had my JP drain for almost 2 months.

August 21,2018 water stopped coming from the jp drain and my chest started hurting too much. My mother had to rush me to the nearest hospital. Luckily, they have a tcvs doctor and decided to operate me. They did another set of CT scan and biopsy.

September 14,2018 the day of my major operation. They performed VATS and Open Thoracotomy on me. I entered the operating room at 7AM and left the operating room at 7PM. When I was on the recovery room, my doctors talked to my mother. They said they weren't able to remove the mass because it was too close to my heart and there are veins that might be affected and damaged which might result to excessive bleeding. Instead, they decided to take a small portion of the mass and perfomed another biopsy. I had to stay inside the ICU for 6 days.

September 26,2018 I got discharged. We waited for the result of the latest biopsy and finally, after 15 days we got a result. It says it was Favor Thymoma. So they advised us to Immunohisto Chemistry Staining, cd99, Tdt, cd3 cd20 and cd10 the specimen so have clear results. Those are done only on private hospitals and we don't have money for those laboratory tests. My mom borrowed money from different people in order for those procedures to be done.

January 3,2019 was when the results came. My tcvs doctor referred us to an oncologist, and the oncologist said that it was Thymoma Stage 3. She said that I need to undergo chemotheraphy right away.

We looked for a cancer foundation but no one accepted us because of the age limit. We went to the public hospital in our province, but there is no available charity room to cater me. We had no choice but to look for a public hospital in Manila since we can't afford a private hospital. Thankfully, we have a health card that somehow helps us lessen my hospital bills but still, it wasn't enough. We always have excess bills.

I already underwent 3 cycles of Cisplatin, Doxorubicin and Paclitaxel and the latest CT scan showed an interval increase in size of the tumor. The doctor told me to undergo 2nd line of chemotherapy: Cisplatin Etoposide with 4 cycles, and possible resection of tumor and radiation therapy.

UPDATE:

JUNE 16,2019 natapos po yung 2nd line ng chemotherapy ko. All in all po naka 7 cycles ako ng chemotherapy at nagpa CT scan po kami at lumabas na medyo lumiit na yung bukol kaya po napagdesisyonan ng Doctor ko na baka pwede na ulit ako maoperahan.

SEPTEMBER 2,2019 noong maoperahan po ako sa PGH at natanggal po yung 70% ng bukol ko bali may tira pa pong 30% hindi na daw po nila kayang tanggalin yun kaya kailangan ko po ulit magchemotherapy ulit at mag Radiation para po dun sa natitirang 30% ng bukol ko.

My chemotheraphy costs 42,000 each session. I need to undergo 6 cycles. The radiation therapy costs 40,000. That's why I am asking for your help. Please, I want to get better. I still have my dreams. I want to live longer. I really need your help.

Konti na lang po gagaling na ako kaya sana po tulungan nyo po ulit ako. Someday po pag magaling na ako makakabawi din po ako sa inyo. Sana po tulungan nyo ako.

" Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. "

For those who will donate in kind, please contact me Annaricha Mae Dalag or my mother, Maria Ronalyn Dalag through these numbers

Globe : 09266146065

Smart : 09292202336

Bank Donations:

BDO SAVINGS ACCOUNT : 005090231126

Account Name: MARIA RONALYN M. DALAG

For Gcash Donations:

Gcash number : 09951656901