Legaspi Trip with the Ramirez

Thank you Tito Tony and Auntie Ruth and Ate Tonette and Ate Tina for the Trip. We have FUN!

Cycle Two

Start of my Second Cycle Chemo & Radio Therapy last December 17, 2015.

My therapy cycle unusually starts on a Thursday so after a day of therapy I have two days off on friday and saturday. A relief for my kidney with all those chemo tablets and anti side effects tablets. 

On Monday, December 21, I went to the hospital for the Chemo IV style. The nurses had a hard time picking the right vein for the IV so I was needled three times before they finally find a match. I hate needles so imagine how was that for me. 

I have three nurses taking care of me. Two Filipno nurse and an Indian nurse. I have them all by myself that day because I was the only one admitted that day. Most of the other patients came early. I was there as instructed at 3pm. Actually I was already in the hospital 9 in morning. They took some blood for me for testing. Fortunately the results are all good.  But I requested if I can go home because I did not bring my chemo gadgets that is my fully charged phone where my music are. I also have to bring some food and extra clothes in case. 

My chemo IV lasted for about 3 hours, that including my bouts to the CR to pee :-). I slept a little maybe for about 30 minutes while listening to Byahe Collection Songs by Noel Cabangon. Pang relak lang.

I also watched my all time favorite sitcom Friends. I downloaded it in my phone. All 24 episodes of the 2nd Season. Nothing beats a good laugh my old Friends :-) Phoebe never fails to make me laugh. The episode I watched was the one where Ross tried to convince Phoebe about Evolution but it turns the other way with Phoebe succeeding in making Ross doubts his beliefs. Laughtrip. :-)

Of course, I also had a call from my wife but it was not that long because I was really very sleepy. The nurse told me it is one of the medicine they gave me.

The needles pricked in the non matching veins are a bit swollen and some medicine which they put in the IV are a bit painful. But all in all, I was good. And after eating the dinner the nurse gave me (Rice, Beef Mushroom with sauce, Salad, Boiled Veggie and Jello with fruits,

I was off to go back to our accommodation. I called up my very good Indian friend Melvin to pick me up. 

And by the way the  nurses are all talking about the Miss Universe that day. Miss Philippines lost and won at the same time (a couple of minutes apart and in that order)  :-)

The Doctor gave me 4 days (Tuesday to Thursday) sick leave, but I decided to go to office instead. I rather go to office because time passed by faster while I am working. So after my trip to my Radiotherapy, i go straight to work with my big lunch bag (thanks to the sponsor (Manny) of my new lunch bag). Now I can bring a lot of food and drinks to the office.

Before my 2nd cycle, I had an appointment with my Oncologist last December 19 (Saturday). I though because it is a weekend, there will be few patients. But I was wrong. My appointment was 520pm but the doctor saw me at around 7pm. Although that day was therapy off day, I feel tired during those time. The doctor told me that after the therapy treatment, I have to wait for 8 weeks then if there are still find tumor, surgery will follow. But I BELIEVE, there will be no need for surgery. The tumor and cancer will be gone by that time. I BELIEVE.

I may also try to squeeze in my delayed vacation during those 8 weeks off. Hopefully the radiation in my body had subsided and the doctors will allow me to have my vacation.

Especially these three

And So It Began .... A Blessing in Disguise

Thursday, December 10, 2015 was the start of my chemo and radiotherapy for the treatment of my colorectal cancer.

I am actually apprehensive to share this situation I am in but then again I decided to share my experience ( at least what its been for now).

October 25, 2015 was when I got the news that I have this type of cancer. And like most people (I  think), who received such news, I was also shocked. The hospital where I had my Haemorrhoids surgery on October 19, 2015 called me up and told me to go to hospital because the doctor needs to talk to me about my surgery. They sounded very concern so from that moment alone I knew something was wrong but I am not expecting it to be about cancer. Paano naman ako magkakaroon ng cancer eh wala naman akong bisyo. I make it a point to eat healthy as much as possible.I exercise and go to the gym at least 4 times week. I do not smoke and I do not drink. The last time I had a drink was last May and that was after maybe 2 years after the last one I had. 

Siguro yun ang dahilan kaya ako nagkacancer. Because I tried living too healthy :-)

Here are some of the test report

Pictures below are from my first chemo via IV in Al-Manah Hospital. I am going to have this every monday for 4 or 5 weeks. Aside from this, I had to take chemo drug called Xeloda 1500mg in the morning and 1500mg in the evening everyday except Mondays and weekend (that is friday and saturday here in KSA).

In parallel with the chemo, I am also undergoing radiotherapy everyday at SAAD Specialist Hospital. Picture below of the radiotherapy room I am at everyday until January 18, 2016.

In this machine I had to lie face down for about 10-15 minutes. I am planning to take a video of the procedure if the hospital will allow.

I have finished one cycle of my therapy and so far so good, meaning I have not felt any major side effects. The doctors said that eventually I will feel the side effects maybe after two weeks, but I would like to believe that I will not. I tried as much as possible to eat right and keep my immune system as good as possible.Except for a mild constipation and feeling tired, nothing more complicated had happened so far.

I am still going to work and I planned to still go to work as long as I can still manage. I was supposed to take my Christmas Vacation last December 6 but the doctor advised me to postponed it so I can have the treatment immediately. Well, there are more vacations I can take once I survived this (which I WILL) so tiis tiis muna for now.

Siguro ang pinakamahirap in my situation is dealing with the treatment alone since my family is not here with me. In any case, I know they are always with me and I have my friends here to help me.

And GOD will heal me.

For now please join me in my PRAYER FOR HEALING below:

Heavenly Father, I adore You and praise You as my God and Creator. I thank You for the innumerable blessings, both spiritual and temporal, that You have given to me during my lifetime. Now I turn to You again for still another favor, for to whom else can I go? You alone are God, the Giver of all good gifts. I beg You to please grant me, Your unworthy servant, a complete and total healing - a healing of my spirit and soul; of my mind, heart and will; of my emotions, memory and imagination; of my nerves, bones and body - my entire being from the tip of my head to the soles of my feet. I desire this so that I can truly be in life what You want me to be and to do in life what You want me to do. But I need my health, strength and energy in order to more perfectly fulfill the duties of the state of life to which You have called me from all eternity.

I asked for this healing in the name of Your Son, JESUS. He has earned an infinite amount of healing graces and powers by His terrible passion and death on the cross. "Upon Him was the chastisement that make us whole. By His wounds we were healed." Your Son, the Divine Physician, apply these healing powers Himself.

Thank You for answering this prayer in this very moment in which I ask it, for I truly believe Your Son's words. "Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you." Of course I know that while Your answer is "YES I will do it", I may have to wait for this healing to be completed. So I place myself confidently in Your hands, knowing that you are deriving much good from this illness. I only ask that my healing will bring You much honor and glory, that it will sanctify myself and others and that it will serve to build up faith and hope in all Your people. AMEN.

Pabebe Wave

Star Wars

Mommy in Tagaytay

With her HERBALIFE Friends

Date with Tita Joy