Breast Cancer Stage IV with Bone Metastasis: Help save my mom, Rosalia Jacinto

To those who want to help via G-cash here's my mobile number: 09774402808 (Jake Jacinto) Thank you!

*I will add all the help sent via different means in the fundraiser itself.

*This is the second time I've created a fundraiser for my mom. The first time around, we were able to receive enough help to complete her chemotherapy cycles, thanks to the generosity from everyone.

How it began:

It was around 15 years ago when all this began. I was in 3rd year High School at the time. My mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer Stage IV in 2007. Then from there, it metastasized to her liver, and after that, to her left femur. She couldn't even walk during those times. My dad needed to carry her from our house, to the car, then to the hospital. When the doctors required a sample from my mom's bone, the doctor just scooped the bone without any effort as the bones have deteriorated to a point that it's as soft as mush.

My mom is one of the lucky ones, she survived all through the treatment, pain and suffering. Just after a few years from then on, she was walking again and was as active as ever. The cancer never truly goes away and it resurfaces from time to time but our doctor was always ahead and treated it as soon as it resurfaced.

2 years ago, the deterioration started yet again. She was feeling weak, and slowly her legs gave up again. She underwent not one, but two treatments of radiotherapy in a span of two months. Since my father was getting old as well, it became my duty to carry her from our house to the car, then to the hospital. Every time I carried her in my arms I just wished that this will be all over soon and she'll return back to her normal self. I just wanted my mom to get better.

(This was her prior to the chemotherapy sessions 2 years ago)

During this time, her humerus snapped in two from opening a jar of mayonnaise. I remember hearing the snap and her screams from the other room and all of us had no idea that her bones were so brittle that this seemingly mundane task would crack her bone but it did. We rushed her to the hospital immediately afterwards.

(X-ray of her arm)

Her arm was put in a cast and for weeks we were back and forth with her check-ups for her oncologist and for her orthopedic doctor. All the while she was enduring chemotherapy sessions every few weeks.

(This was her during the chemotherapy sessions with her cast) Stay strong mom!

Because of the fundraiser and the kindness of so many people, relatives, friends and strangers online, we were able to push through the chemotherapy cycles needed 2 years ago.

Present day:

Recently, my mom's latest bone scans have revealed that the cancer have spread yet again to different parts of her body. Mainly in the bones of the spine, shoulder and the skull. Our doctor has expressed that if we do not act immediately it will be too late.

(Her latest lab results)

The good thing about this though is that our doctor has assured us that the chances of success if very high. The chemo drug that will be used is Halaven.

(Her medical prescription of 4 vials of Halaven for cycle 1)

The medical expenses for 4 vials of Halaven that will be used for 1 cycle is 100,000. But thanks to a charity program, we will only need to pay for 2 of the 8 cycles needed. Which would equate to P200,000. My brother and I are able to cover the daily expenses of the medications, medical bills, doctor's fee and such but we just do not have enough money to fully pay for the chemotherapy drug.

($1,339.56 is the online market price of the chemo drug Halaven which equates to P69,842.24 for 1 vial but the cost here in the Philippines is 51,525.76 for 2 vials)

That is why I am turning to everyone's generosity one more time for the sake of my mom.

(Snapped a picture of my mom today after her trip to the hospital. Note that her fractured humerus bone on the left arm has fully healed since then!)

I hope you would be able to help us during these trying times.

Thank you for taking the time to read my mom's journey so far. Hopefully it will continue!