Jennifer Marie J. Yang, MD

June 18, 2022

Update. Chemotherapy session 2 of 4 done today. Earlier in the week: I finally got my Philhealth card (Universal Healthcare) and updated my premium contributions. As I understand it, I can use its benefits starting with chemotherapy session no. 3 in July – by that time I would have paid enough contributions to avail of benefits.

Fr. Radni administered the Roman Catholic sacrament of Anointing of the Sick on Sunday afternoon. He laid his hands on my head and I apologized for getting hair all over his hands and the cloth he used (purificator?) This sacrament was previously named Extreme Unction or “Last Rites” since it was primarily administered to those who are near death, but it is now given to anyone who is sick and needing spiritual strength and healing.

Doreen the breast cancer mascot inspects the chemotherapy medication vials that were delivered to our house (in the refrigerator), and poses for a picture with the meds in an insulated bag + cold gel for transport to the hospital. It is cheaper to get the medications directly from the distributor, compared to having the hospital supply them during the outpatient chemotherapy session. The hospital charges a “corkage fee” instead of charging full price.

My hemoglobin (the iron-bearing component of red blood cells) dropped from 11.7 to 9.7 and caused some fatigue. This condition is called anemia. The medical oncologist prescribed iron supplement tablets and gave me the option of moving chemotherapy to later in the week on Friday… which is 4 days from today. I declined, since I was feeling ok overall and want to get this over with – the sooner the better!

Finally, here is Doreen posing with the La-Z-Boy before I sat in it and shed more hair onto the sheet. All this hair fall is messy: I am tired of getting hair off bed linens and the bathroom floor. The remaining hair will be shaved and gone very soon (today or tomorrow)!