My Mom’s Fight Against Cancer

So let me tell you something about my mom, Nelia. She's the type of woman you'd instantly love the first time you meet her. There's something about her that gives you the impression that she's easy to get along with which she really is! She's the kindest, caring, understanding, compassionate, and coolest woman you'll ever meet. She's a single mom of 5 and she raised us all on her own. She's the strongest woman I've ever met. She's very compassionate and it's in her nature to always be a helping hand to others. She's probably the most optimistic person you'll ever meet too. Even the hardest battle that we are now fighting with her doesn't stop her from choosing to be positive and we all admire her for the strength she continues to give us when we ourselves don't know how to be strong.

It was all so fast. After two major surgeries, doctors confirmed that my mother has Stage 4 Gastric Metastatic Cancer and that she was strongly advised to undergo chemotherapy. My mom was very hesitant at first but it was something she had to accept. You could really tell it was hard for her and we were all worried because we all know how chemotherapy takes a toll on someone's health. Everyday we're thankful because mom's been keeping a positive attitude but you can tell that she's really trying her best to make everyone feel at ease. She's really fighting. I can't even imagine wrapping your head around the fact that you have cancer and I know she's been battling with the same thoughts in her head.

We love mom dearly and we appreciate all the prayers and visits from our close friends and family. We decided to put up this fundraising page in hopes that our friends, family, or anyone would help us raise funds due to high medical costs and other expenses regarding my mom's health.

If you do wish to donate, we would like to thank you because you're helping us fight this battle with mom. Sharing this post would also mean a lot to us. Big big thank you!

You may also get in touch with me if you need help on donating on this page or if you want to know more about her condition. Yam Gallo - 09260362169. Again, thank you.

****************************************************

Mom's Fight Against Cancer Story

My mother started experiencing stomach pain and felt a lump around her lower abdominal area late last year. She went to a clinic to have it checked where she was advised to get an ultrasound, CT scan, and a transvaginal ultrasound. It was later confirmed that she had Myoma.

We consulted an OB-GYNE first, and was later referred to a GYNE-ONCOLOGIST regarding her Myoma. After a couple of consultations, she was then scheduled for a procedure called Total Abdominal Hysterectomy - Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy, to remove her Uterus, Ovaries, Cervix, and Fallopian Tubes to totally get rid of her Myoma.

After the procedure was done, the Doctor told us that upon examination, she discovered another mass near her stomach but was unable to ask help from other surgeons because it was a holiday and an on-call surgeon would take most likely an hour to get to the hospital and my Mom would bleed out if they had waited. She did tell us not to worry first about the other mass, and that our Mom has to recover first before we take action on the second mass.

A photo of her Myoma measuring 10 x 8 x 7 cm.

Two weeks after the operation, we received the results of the Biopsy and found out that her Myoma was malignant. During the same week, my Mom had been vomiting non-stop (an average of 4-6 times a day). We had to rush her to the Emergency Room at the nearest hospital. The Doctor explained that her vomiting was caused by the mass since it was a gastric outlet obstruction wherein the stomach is completely blocked by a mass. She lost so much weight because all that she drank and ate, she would also vomit. The Doctor said that the mass should be taken out as soon as possible, so they scheduled another operation 2 days later.

Despite their best efforts, the doctors weren't able to remove the mass due to blood vessels attached to it. They had to bypass her stomach to her small intestines and inserted a permanent feeding tube on the left side of her stomach.

Two weeks later - me, my Mom, and my siblings consulted the Oncologist in Perpetual Help Hospital to discuss the results of the biopsy. The Oncologist strongly advised her to undergo chemotherapy to reduce the size of the tumor and hopefully remove it entirely.

Her treatment plan is to take a dosage of medicine for three consecutive weeks, 2 weeks of rest and then undergo another cycle of Chemotherapy. After 3 cycles, she'll be scheduled for a CT Scan to check if the tumor is small enough to be removed. If not, the Doctor will opt for a stronger medicine for her Chemotherapy.

Schedules of mild chemotherapy sessions:

January 8. First session

January 15. Second session

For now, she still has 7 more sessions to complete the 3 Cycles and we're hoping, by the help of friends and family and even anonymous people, we can raise more funds since the majority of our expenses are from our savings.

*************

UPDATE AS OF FEB 7.

Mom started with her 2nd cycle today. Same as the first cycle, she has 3 sessions (one session per week), then after that she'll rest for 2 weeks then her 3rd cycle will start. She'll get a CT SCAN after the 3rd cycle to check if the mass if okay to be removed already. So far mom has been doing good and she's been eating a lot! Prior to the 2nd cycle, she's stronger but she can't walk or do things too long since she gets tired easily. I will still update this page for every session she has. We're still thankful for the amount of support, help, love and prayers by everyone around us. God is truly showering us with blessings and guardian angels!

*************

UPDATE AS OF MARCH 21, 2019

Today is mom´s third (and hopefully the last) chemo cycle (session 3). She´ll be scheduled for a CT Scan most likely next week to check if the mass can now be removed. If not, she´ll be taking another round of chemo sessions but with stronger dosages. But we´re confident and excited because so far, mom has been responding positively to her chemo sessions. She´s been eating well, she´s happy, and she hasn´t been feeling any pain except for the discomfort of her feeding tube. We´re optimistic that the results of her CT scan will come back positive. Konti nalang ma, matatanggal na ung bukol. And even if the results come back negative, we´re still gonna continue fighting beside her.

We can´t explain how thankful we still are, for all the help and prayers we´re getting up until now. God has been showering us with such blessings. Please continue to pray with us for the results of her CT Scan. We´re lifting it all up to God right now. We love you, ma. Kaya mo to!

UPDATE AS OF JULY 25, 2019

On June 27, 2019, after 6 chemotherapy cycles (6 months and 18 sessions), mom needed to get another PET Scan to check the status of her stomach.