Agencies/ Institutions where I seek for financial and medical assistance

           Hi guyz, sorry I haven't been around lately in this blogging world, aside from having a poor internet connection at home, I was also busy attending to my father's health condition who was diagnosed with heart aneurysm but now he's okay.
           This post is primarily intended to give idea to cancer patients like me as to where they can seek financial / medical assistance from different agencies. This post is based on my personal experience, opinion and through the help also of my family and co-patients who also shared their experiences during my Big C Battle. There maybe some changes in rules or additional requirements but atleast I can give some insights on where to go or what to prepare before you go to to these agencies.     

          Basically, you will have to prepare these requirements and bring them along with their photocopies.

          - Medical Abstract / Medical Certificate
          - Surgical Pathology / Biopsy Report
          - Record of Operation
          - Official Receipts (Hospital Bill/Professional Fees)
          - Doctor's Medical Prescription of Chemo Meds with stated schedule of cycle
          - Barangay Certificate / Certificate of Indigencies
          - House Utility Bill (Meralco/Nawasa/Maynilad)
          - Latest Payslip of employed family member
          - Photocopy of atleast 2 valid ID's
          - Forms to be accomplished in every agency you'll go
          - Ballpen & Bond Papers - you will need to write letters to the head of agencies or to whoever               you want to seek for financial/medical assistance

          Now these are the agencies/institutions where you can turn to after being diagnosed with cancer.

Public Hospitals - "Mahirap, matagal at kailangan ng mahabang pasensya sa public hospitals" but If I had time I also want to have a second opinion in Philippine General Hospital (PGH). My highschool classmate suggested that most of the cancer specialists are there but my doctor said that my cancer is aggressive and it needs an urgent operation so my mother insisted that I should stay in my hospital where I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. My cousin also had a cervical center last year and was treated in Jose Reyes Memorial Center - most of her chemo meds are almost free, radiation, laboratories and brachytheraphy cost are way cheaper compared to other hospitals.

Philhealth - We all know that this agency is primarily responsible for our healthcare and hospitalization so my piece of advice - prioritize your Philhealth contribution. If you belong to indigent people you can seek for sponsorship in your municipality. If not you can pay for it immediately just like what I did when I was diagnosed with cancer last year. I was not able to use it on my surgical operation and on my 1st and 4th chemo confinement (misunderstanding and shortcomings of philhealth and admin staffs of the hospital) but I was able to use its inpatient benefits on my 5th & 6th onco confinement. I was able to get 7k+ reimbursement too few months after I gathered enough strength to file it in their office. But what I have learned about Philhealth through their website is that there are certain types of cancer under their Z benefits program like breast, colon, cervical and prostate cancer where they give 100% coverage though I'm not sure how it can be availed.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Quezon City- Four sets of chemo meds which costs around P73,200 (P18,300/set) were granted to me by PCSO and If I had a patience and endurance to bear the pain after the operation for three days I would have had at least 50% discount on my operation/hospital bill. "Sa PCSO, kelangan tyaga talaga, 3am ang alis namin sa bahay dahil 5am pa lang mahaba na ang pila pero worth it naman ang kapalit na halaga nito." So if you plan to seek for medical and financial assistance just make sure you have the requirements I listed. "Malaki laking amount ang binibigay nila through guarantee letter sa mga hospital bills and chemo meds."

Social Security System (SSS) - The benefits I had in this agency gave me financial peace of mind after my chemo."Kahit papano nakapagbalik ako ng konting pera sa kapatid ko, nakapagbayad ng konting utang at nagkaron ako ngayon ng panggastos sa mga gamot, pagkain at konting supplements araw araw".  Though my application was decline when I first filed for it, I was granted with both sickness benefit of P33k and disability benefit of P4,750/month for more than a year on my second application in another branch. Just be sure to bring hospital records (medical abstract, record of operation and surgical pathology/biopsy report) when filing for sickness and disability claim.

(Medical) Social Welfare Services - My father was diagnosed with heart aneurysm last month and was confined in an emergency room and the laboratories and hospital confinement bill went up to P38,500 (one day lang yan). We were given 50% discount so the bill went down to P18,750 but since we only had P3,000 I went back to the social worker and asked for an additional discount and they were very considerate and gave me another discount. The bill went down to P1,500 only. Grabe, sobrang thankful kay God that day not only because of the discount that we had but with the good news that my father does not need to undergo on a bypass operation.

         After a week, I also went in our hospital (Taguig Pateros District Hospital) for check up and laboratories. As part of my monitoring CT scan, blood chem and xray are required but they are quite expensive so I opted to to go public hospital where medical social service is present. I was given a C3 rank on a card which is equivalent to 75% discount. So from 16,300 the bill went down to P3,260 (less PWD and Social Service discount).

Persons with Disability ID - This ID is a big help to cancer patients. It has a lot of privileges and discounts on foods, medicines, hospital bills, laboratories etc. and it's easy to apply - just go to PDAO (Persons with Disabilty Affairs Office) in your barangay or city hall and present your medical abstract, barangay certificate and Id picture.

Medical Assistance from DSWD & in City Hall - I also went in City Hall office for financial/medical assistance but they explain to me that they only give guarantee letter in chosen hospitals unfortunately the hospital where I was confined is not included in their list. I've talked to a social worker in our place and they told me that DSWD gives financial assistance to cancer patients. Plus our city government here in Taguig also gives free healthcare services & treatment to breast cancer patients too.

Executive, Legislative, LGU and other government offices - some of my patients I know went to the Office of the Vice President, DOH office, Office of Senators, Mayor or Vice Mayors office to ask for financial help. Guarantee letter in particular were given to them. "Tyagaan at lakasan ng loob tlaga, sabi nila." kaya warriors and fighters talaga yung mga nakilala kong kapwa pasyente.

          Having this kind of illness is really hard. It can drain you physically, emotionally, mentally and financially as well but I guess God has its own way of teaching me a lesson. "Naubos man ang savings ko, naturuan naman ako kung saan at paano makakahingi ng tulong sa ahensya at institusyon ng gobyerno at ang pinaka amazing na ginawa ni God ay yung mahipo nya ang puso ng mga taong hindi ko man kilala at nasa malalayong lugar na tumulong sa akin financially. Salamat sa Diyos at Salamat sa lahat ng tumulong sa akin. "Grabeng kumilos si God talaga."
       
         So there goes my experiences in seeking financial/medical assistance. I guess my piece of advice I can give is to be inquisitive. "Basta magtanong lang ng magtanong - sa mga ahensya at mga empleyado nito, pag nadeny ang application, magtanong sa ibang branch. Magtanong sa kapwa pasyente o kamag anak ng pasyente, maniwala kayo mas marami silang alam.

P.s. My father and I both have regular laboratory expenses done every three months, every six months, and every year ( CT Scan, CT Aortogram, Ultrasound, Blood Chem, CA 125 (tumor marker screening) aside from emergency medical circumstances that I should be prepared for when it happens. But I know that through God's wisdom and God's Grace He'll lead me and find ways to recover again.

Till then. Have a great day!
Merry Christmas & God Bless.

My Sari Sari Store Experience Part 1

         It's been 4 months already since I had my last chemo and I was getting really bored at home. I wanted to find a job, I wanted to do some hard work at home, I wanted to do something else aside from the usual chores at home but my mother keeps on telling me - "Magrelax ka lang, magpahinga o matulog ka lang pag gusto mo or kelangan mong magpagaling muna bago ka magtrabaho." but I can't relax . "Pag nakahiga ako ramdam ko lalo ang sakit ng katawan ko at feeling ko nagsisimula na naman kumalat ang cancer sa katawan since may microscopic element ng cancer na naiwan pa nung nagka-surgical spill during the operation." I think more of cancer recurrence when I'm lying on my bed.  I told my mother I needed to do something else that would occupy both my mind and my body instead of thinking about the cancer inside my body over and over again. That's when I decided to put up a small sari sari store.

           Yes I now have a sari sari store in a small entrance area in our house where our washing machine, shoe rack and other stuff are located. So instead of accumulating some stuffs there I put on a built in cabinet to make the area productive. The built in cabinet materials and labor cost around P 1,600+ and my start up capital on my store is P 2,500+. The profit may not be much since I only put P1.00+ - P3.00+ mark up on every items but its enough to keep me busy.

             I have two major suki in my store - my family and the kids in our area. The concept of self buying is primarily the reason why I put up a store. I've seen the credit card bills of my mother go up and my father and brother usually buy products from other stores. So to control my mother and myself too from unnecessary spending in grocery store I just sell the basic products that we use and buy it in my store when we need it of course with a few cents added on its price ( kelangan may konting kita kahit kami kami ang bibili, heheh). My second reason is for leisure."Nakakalibang sya since a lot of kids were always shouting "Pabili" with one peso on their hand buying only one candy or one stick-o, heheh." And my third reason is for income generating. My family were all against the idea of putting up a store - malulugi ka lang, mauubos ka dyan, uutangan ka lang dyan but I answered them, let me  give it a try. Sari sari stores are everywhere, if others were putting up their store even if they are renting the place why not do the same - siguro may kita sila kahit umuupa.

          I've opened up my store last week and I'm in a process of knowing what products and brands are saleable. Yung tipong bumili ako ng Nescafe 3 in 1, ang hinanap Nescafe creamy white, pagbili ko ng Creamy White ang hinanap, Kopiko Brown, pagbili ko ng Kopiko Brown ang hinanap Great Taste White, Pagbili ko ng Great Taste white, Kopiko Blanca naman, then LA Coffee, then Kopiko Black and so on and so forth, the same goes with other products. That's why I always have notebook on my store to list the products and brands they want. But I am enjoying it and I'm getting more customers lately. I'm getting busier attending to my store and searching for grocery stores that offers the lowest price.
           There goes my new experience in putting up a sari sari store. I hope I'd be able to roll over my puhunan and be able to grow my little sari sari store. Give me some tips and wish me luck guys!!!

            Thank God for giving me an opportunity to enter this new business and pray that He'll continue to guide me.

Have a great week ahead!
God Bless everyone.

ALWAYS TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Going Green & Natural: The Best Things in Life are Free 1

        Libre! Libre Libre! Sa mahihirap na tulad ko, mahilig tayo ng libre! Whenever there are promo products at the mall given for free or whenever there are freebies attached to a product at the store I automatically grab it. Ang sarap pag libre di ba? But in our daily lives we didn't notice that God has first given us freebies that are very essential to our health and these freebies are present everywhere. Here's the list of four freebies that we should take advantage and be thankful for:

1. SUNLIGHT

         We're lucky we live in the Philippines where sunlight is abundant except of course during rainy season. We all know that sunlight is a good source of Vitamin D and doctors usually advise mothers to take out their infants and expose their back skin on sunlight to strengthen their bones. "Noon madalas kong nakikita sa lugar namin ung mga nanay na nagpapaaraw ng baby pero ngayon bihira na." Well, if its best for babies it is also best for adults like us and the good thing is - it is given freely by GOD. So be thankful to GOD if "Haring Araw" strikes his rays in the morning.

2. FRESH AIR

         One of my dreams before is to live and grow old in the province where there are lots of trees and plants around unfortunately we have no place in our province and I live in the city where air pollution is pretty much everywhere. But I am thankful to God that I still see trees around our neighborhood and I can still enjoy breathing the oxygen it releases. We know that oxygen is good for  our brain and lungs so if you happen to pass through an area where there are lots of trees take a deep breath and take advantage of the fresh air that God gave us through those trees.

3. WATER

         I cannot exactly say that drinking water is free although God gave it originally to mankind freely but I guess its the cheapest health supplements I can recommend - Our body needs 2 liters of water to be healthy but its therapeutic if we take 3-4 liters daily. It's what I did 4 years ago that made my cyst smaller and after 1 year it disappeared. And my OB Gyne  before asked me "Anong ginawa mo ba't lumiliit yang cyst? I answered, just healthy routine only (3 liters of water, 1000 steps of walking and vegetables & fruit daily). "Na-stress, nakampante at napabayaan ko lang ang sarili ko sa unhealthy lifestyle kaya nung bumalik na aggressive at malignant na yung ovarian cyst ko.'  So to live a healthy lifestyle, drink lots of water.

4. SOIL

          One of my professors in TUP told us, we're fortunate we live in the Philippines where 80% of our soil is productive if only Filipinos take good care of our land and make use of its benefits. So I realize why not take advantage of the soil and since my doctor gave an advice to me that it is always best to go natural I started planting. I wanted to grow my own foods and herbs in front of our house kahit na sa paso o sa balde lang. "Yung tipong pipitas ka lang kapag kelangan ng gulay o dahon pag kelangan." And that assures me that what I am eating are fresh and organic vegetables. I am thankful that God helped me grow plants through His soil and sunlight that He gave us for free. I now have malunggay, guyabano, lagundi,oregano, serpentina, balbas pusa, lemon grass or tanglad, ampalaya in front of our house. I am still trying to grow upland kangkong, kalabasa and camote tops planted in lumang balde, sana lumago sila, heheh. Again, our soil is free why not take advantage of it, we just need to use organic stuffs like vegetables or banana peels and egg shells to fertilize it.


         There you have it, our freebies from God. We may not be financially blessed but we should always be thankful that God is taking care of us by giving the best in our lives for free. As what the Bible says;

 ²⁶ Look at the birds. 

"They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns,

 for your heavenly Father feeds them. 

And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 

Matthew 6:26 (NIV)

ALWAYS TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

Going Green & Natural: In Search for Natural Way of Preventing Cancer Recurrence

       After finishing six chemo session, I went back to the doctor for check up and she told me that even if the result of my CA 125 (tumor marker) lowered there's no assurance that the cancer will not recur so instead of being happy that day I went back to being sad and paranoid about my condition, "yung tipong sumakit lang ang dibdib ko feeling ko may lung cancer na ko or sumakit lang ang ulo ko baka may brain tumor na ko."  I've met some cancer survivors in the hospital who are now facing secondary cancer and they're on the advance stage of cancer already. I've fear in facing this type of illness and it's hard not worry about second cancer. I cannot rely on my own self anymore in recognizing if there is something wrong inside my body. So I started searching in google and you tube about my condition. I began inquiring for supplements that are being sold in the market. I also asked my doctor if she can recommend any supplements that can fight cancer but she didn't give any. She only suggested that it is always best to go natural.

        That's when my mother suggested that we go to a medical center in a particular province (not going to mention its name & place since I was not able to to finish their protocol) that offers a natural way of treating cancer. I became curious about it and wanted to know what foods are allowed and prohibited for cancer patients like me. So we went there last June and we were given free consultation, a protocol diet and a prescribed detox supplement (their product) . Their explanation was I need to expel the toxins from the chemo meds out of my body system. Well logically speaking, the idea behind their treatment for me is okay but I think its not applicable to all. Some may survive (based on the testimonies they've shown in fb) but I think some wont and I am one those people who was not able to continue their protocol treatment. Here's the prescribed procedure I got:

1. On Foods - No carbohydrates, No fruits, No rootcrops, No sweets, No artificials and No preservatives...and that means - no brown rice, no oatmeal, no bananas, no carrots etc. just organic egg, organic meats, fish with scales (except farmed fish)  and vegetables are allowed to be eaten.

2. On Drinks - No coffee, No green tea or any organic tea, No milk, No chocolate and any other fruit juices both natural or artificial juices - only boiled malunggay, guyabano, guava or avocado leaves  are suggested.

3. On Natural Herbs/Meds - 15 leaves of guyabano, 15 leaves of  avocado, 15 leaves of lagundi, 15 leaves of ashitaba (freshly picked/not dried), 3 gloves of garlic, 1 palmsize of ginger, 3 pcs of siling labuyo and baking soda  - blend together, extract their juices and drink 30 minutes before eating.

4. On their products - I bought their prescribe product from their store and vitamin C that I should drink 30 minutes after eating.

5.On Hygiene - No soap, No shampoo, No toothpaste, No cologne or fragrance and No make-up - only baking soda is used as cleaning agent....and jewelries are not allowed to be used also.

6. On condiments & cooking agents - No catsup, No Vinegar, No Soy Sauce, No Patis, No Sauces and No artificial flavors, only salt & pepper and coconut oil are allowed to be used for cooking and flavoring.

        I was advised to do this protocol for one month and guess what I did it for 3 days! Yes, 3 days only - di ko na po kinaya - di ko kinaya ang lasa ng blend na dahon at nanghina talaga ako. So I went to the doctor on the fourth day because I felt something's not right and yes the doctor told me that the diet I did triggered my hyper acidity which resulted to acid reflux. The doctor told me, "Bakit ka nagda-diet e kailangan mo ngang magpalakas at magpakondisyon ng katawan after ng chemo. Pakalmahin mo muna ang sikmura mo, mag balanced diet and regular exercise ka lang muna para lumakas ka."

       Though my experience in following this particular protocol diet is not quite good, I can still see the benefits of going natural. I believe that God is showing me the wisdom behind all the experiences I had in searching for what's best for my health and I always end up with one conclusion - the answer is just around us and the best thing about it is that they are free. (See my next blogpost).


Have a great day ahead!!!
God Bless everyone.

ALWAYS TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

Big "C" Battle: CA 125 blood test & PT Consult

          Last Saturday, I went to the hospital for CA 125 blood test and I still feel bad about needles. "Nakikita ko pa lang ang karayom, umuurong na ang sikmura ko." It's one of my fears that I always face when I go to the hospital. After the blood test, I heard an announcement with regards to the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week and some freebies about it and because I was not able to hear the full details I ignored it and decided to eat in their canteen first and go home afterwards. Luckily, on our way out of the hospital we saw some some people falling in so we decided to inquire and that's when we learned about what they were offering.

         And since I am experiencing some kind of joint pains lately I went there and fall in line too to avail their freebies and here's what I got:

1. Free Peripheral Bone Dexa Scan - atleast the result is normal for now but my bone health will suffer in the future - as one of the side effects of having my ovaries removed. They also gave me flyers about osteoporosis.

2. Free consultation & starter dose of prescribed medicine - the doctor focused on my plantar fascitiis, referred me to PT and gave me a free medicine for pain.

3. Free one session of Physical Theraphy Session - after the session I was given some instructions as to how I can relieve myself from the plantar & pelvic pain I am experiencing.

 REALIZATION

          I may not be blessed financially but God is giving me a lot of blessings and wisdom today. As what the doctors told me after the surgery. "Pagkatapos mo ng battle mo sa cancer ma-aappreciate mo na lahat ng tao at bagay sa paligid mo - ultimong maliit na halaman sa eskinita at hanging di mo nakikita mapapansin mo ma-aappreciate mo." Just look around and God will show the way.

"ALWAYS TO GOD BE THE GLORY"

HAVE A GREAT DAY!