Let’s Beat My Sister’s Cancer

My sister's name is Ana Lilian Bargas Rominque. She's 36 years old. I call her Ate Liane... or just 'Te Li'. She's my favorite sister and my favorite sibling. But truth be told, she's my only sibling. Hihi. We get along well in a lot of things - binge-worthy shows, yoga (her influence), coffee, food deliveries, being OC with grammar, and many more.

More than being an awesome sister, she's also a mother of two very cute and energetic girls, who are just starting their formal schooling at 4 and 6 years old. She's a loving wife to her husband who's working abroad. She's also a very caring daughter and granddaughter. She has a lot of great qualities which also include being strong, healthy, kind, and positive. Very little did we know that a plot twist was headed her way.

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It started with some back pain last December 2023. Then there was a time early in January 2024 she had symptoms pointing to a urinary tract infection. When the pain reached the lower side of her abdomen last January 12, 2024, it then seemed like an acute appendicitis already. She was confined and scheduled for an emergency operation on January 13, 2024 (coinciding with our mother's 61st birthday). But it was deferred when the imaging showed a normal appendix. A suspicious mass on the cervix was noted though.

Last February 14, 2024, which happens to be both Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day, my sister's biopsy result came out. Turns out, the mass in her cervix reads as 'squamous cell carcinoma'. In short, it's cancer.

At first, we thought it was still operable, since on ultrasound last January 2024, it just measured around 3 centimeters (it seemed small, but I was informed at that size for the cervix, it was already inoperable too). When we did her follow-up tests, as advised by her Gyne Oncologist, the MRI of her abdomen showed it's already 6cm, with calcified surrounding lymph nodes. There's also a possibility of bone metastasis as her lumbosacral spine showed 'brightening signals' and the result said metastasis is not ruled out.

On consult with her Gyne Oncologist, it was staged as IIIC (we noted that further working up the bone would delay treatment).

The treatment plan was then advised. She would have to undergo chemoradiation (chemotherapy once a week and radiation 5 days a week) for 6 weeks. And then this would be followed by brachytherapy once a week for 4 weeks.

Last March 1, 2024, she had profuse vaginal bleeding which prompted her to go to the emergency room. Fortunately, the bleeding was controlled and her hemoglobin levels were not too low as to require blood transfusion. She was discharged with medications and was advised to proceed with emergency radiation after a few days.

We are thankful that on March 6, 2024, she was finally able to start with her radiation treatment. She's had three sessions already. And so far, it's proving to be really challenging. Her pain's increasing and she might eventually need to see a Pain Specialist as other meds like celecoxib and tramadol are no longer providing sufficient relief. She'd be awoken every 1-3 hours at night. My mother would be able to hear her crying even when my sister’s staying in our ‘granny shed’ at the back of the house. Seeking the help of a Pain Specialist might be the next plausible step to address this concern as she undergoes more of the prescribed treatment regimen.

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It's going to be an arduous journey. We still don't know what will follow after the initial chemoradiation and brachytherapy. At this point, we're hoping Ate Liane can tolerate continuing the radiation, especially once the chemo has started.

It is in these times that our faith would be tested more. Thank you to all our prayer warriors, including the many friends we have from me and my mom's ministries in church. From a perspective of questioning God why he would give my sister such a terrible illness, we have to shift and hold firm to the faith that he will not forsake us and that he will not give this challenge to someone who cannot handle it.

In the past weeks, we are overwhelmed with the support received from relatives and friends, both emotional and financial. We're doing everything we can to cope with the expenses especially since the fight is far from won. Having said that, I write this story because we can still benefit from all the support we can get. I believe in the power of people's kindness - and this is a big door to knock on. Your donations will be greatly appreciated. An addition... or an equally powerful and valuable alternative would be to offer a prayer for our family and for Ate Liane's health and healing. God bless us all!

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The alternative channels for donation, GCash and BPI, are as follows:

GCash - 09267566668

BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) - Andrei Jose M. Bargas - 6086193475

NOTE: Funds raised in these accounts are tracked as the sum 'raised offline'.