57. Lymphedema Gets Real
My weekend trip to Singapore came with an unpleasant – though not entirely unexpected – souvenir: lymphedema. Lymphedema (as defined by the CDC) is swelling due to build-up of lymph in the body. This Cleveland Clinic webpage has a good definition of lymph: it is a collection of the extra fluid that drains from cells […]
Performing Arts Medicine – Singapore Trip
I was chatting with my medical school classmates Fil and Mae about our research project, when Fil (Filomar Tariao, aka “doctor Fil” to his students) mentioned he would be presenting our findings at a local Singapore event: the May 2023 Sports Medicine Association Singapore – Performing Arts Medicine Special Interest Group meeting. I half-jokingly asked […]
Medical Humanities Talk – Faculty Development
Monday morning (May 8, 2023) started off with Conversations that Matter – part of the St. Lukes Medical Center College of Medicine’s faculty development program. We played the video of my talk from the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges conference in 2022, and had a live open forum for questions and answers. In this way, […]
56. Hoppy Birthday
Posting this now, because it is already April 30th in Kiribati – the first country that greets a new day (UTC+14)! Thankful for the year that was, hopeful for the year that will be. Love to all! Breast cancer update: I had appointments with the breast surgeon and the medical oncologist. Both went well. I […]
55. April Screening
Update. April’s screening is done! Seeing the physicians (breast surgeon and oncologist) who ordered the tests next week. Bone scan, blood work, abdominal ultrasound, chest x-ray and finally today… a chest wall ultrasound at the (no-)breast center where all the health craziness of 2022 started in February of that year. At least I didn’t have […]
54. Haircut, Hooray!
Haircut, hooray! Here I am looking absolutely excited about the first post-chemotherapy haircut. Goodbye unruly chia pet hair. Hello hair “trimmed into submission” (thanks to my friend Elaine for that appropriate phrase). Doreen approves.
From the New York Times: When to Try Physical Therapy before Surgery
Some sociocultural commentary:Compared to the American population, I’ve found Filipinos are more receptive to starting with conservative therapy first (e.g., physical therapy or the local indigenous “hilot”). Partly because of the financial cost of medical care: the lack of insurance options, and sub-optimal coverage by Philhealth (universal healthcare), and partly because of surgery and strong […]
53. An Anniversary, and Making Progress
March 31, 2023Doreen the breast cancer mascot celebrates the first anniversary of boobless-ness with one of the foobs from Knits by May. They are also known as “knitted knockers“. April 4, 2023 It’s been a busy couple of days, and will be busy through next week. I will be undergoing all sorts of surveillance tests, […]
52. Chemo Brain and Aphasia
I’ve sent some friends an early draft of this post, and was debating whether I should put it here for everyone to see. Obviously I’ve decided 🙂 so here it is along with Doreen in an oversized bucket hat to represent chemo brain. Two days ago, I realized I am not ready to start seeing […]
51. Goodbye, Portacath!
January 17, 2023 Update. Today’s milestone: portacath was removed this morning. Woohoo! Recall that the portacath was placed back in May 2022 so that I could avoid having an intravenous line (IV line, or IV access) placed at every session for chemotherapy. Since IV access will not be needed at regular, frequent-ish intervals anymore, my […]
