Category: Breast Cancer
My Breast Cancer Journey, a.k.a. The Adventures of Doreen the Pig (breast cancer mascot)
Screening month is finally over (April 2024)
April 29, 2024 Breast cancer update. Doreen and I were busy this month. Medical oncologist visit, chest x-ray, bone scan, whole abdomen ultrasound are all clear (my liver ultrasound says I am fat… yes, I am working on that weight loss!). Next round of screening in about six months.
We’ve Got Your Back! TVUP Webinar #187
About two weeks ago, my INTARMED classmate Dr. Dave Dizon messaged me and asked if I could be a reactor for a webinar at which he would be the main speaker. His talk would be the main entree while my shorter bit would be the accompanying side dish [note: this speaker-with-reactor format is popular in […]
63. Hello from Doreen after a Long Time, and (the lack of) Bone Density
Hello from me and Doreen the Breast Cancer Mascot this Saturday morning, on the way to the hospital for my checkup She also kept me company while waiting to be seen in clinic. Breast surgeon Dr. Aldine Basa met Doreen in real life for the first time today, and like most people she was surprised […]
62. Busy with Virtual Choir and Vocal Changes (Bizz-y, VC, VC)
Our medical school class is putting together a music video as part of our homecoming celebrations next year – 2024 will be 25 years since we graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine in Manila. The song accompanying the video was arranged in four voices for choir: soprano 1, soprano 2, alto […]
61. Doreen Follows Up on the Hair Progress
We haven’t seen [breast cancer mascot] Doreen in a while, so here she is demonstrating my hair progress between October 1, 2022 and October 31, 2023. The photo from today (2023) is a screenshot from Zoom before our (hybrid) rounds with the residents this morning… much easier than trying to position Doreen over my head […]
60. Escorting chemo brain out of the building
I participated in bedside rounds with the residents and a rotating medical student today. One of our residents was using medical-ese to explain to a patient’s mother why her son needed a urinalysis. Recognizing this, I spoke to the mom in simpler, more understandable words (yes I talked to the resident about this after rounds… […]
59. Traveling, one year after breast cancer
July, 2023 marked my first major trip after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment from the Philippines to the United States of America. This is also my first major trip post-pandemic. It is a trip I have made many, many times before the COVID-19 pandemic… but this blog post is not going to dwell on pre-pandemic […]
58. Making meaning out of illness through multiple lenses
Hooray, presentation done! Doreen the breast cancer mascot has made her debut on the international academic conference circuit. Grateful for the opportunity to talk about my breast cancer learnings and experiences (aka the craziness of 2022) at the Asia Pacific Bioethics Education Network Congress 2023, held at St. Luke’s Medical Center at Bonifacio Global City, […]
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 […]
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 […]
