Facing the Biggest Scare of My Life (Part 2)

I noticed that all of my March posts are about what I’ve gone through for the past few days that I was missing in action here in my blog. So here’s the continuation of my previous post and finally the last installment. Woohoo! I’ll be back to regular programming after this post.

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So I chose to have my check up few days before dear hubby’s birthday. Feeling ko I gained a lot of courage that time. All I was thinking are pure positive thoughts. I do not entertain nega vibes. Naka-set na ko sa mood na yun and ayokong mawala na naman sa focus.

March 6. I woke up early to prepare to go to the hospital. Our initial plan is that my sister will accompany me but the moment Xian saw us and noticed that I’m not wearing my office uniform (meaning: may lakad ako at hindi sa work ang punta ko) it alarmed the little man, he insisted to go with us. So we also accompanied Inay. In short, para lang kami mamamasyal that time.

Before heading to Mary Mediatrix Medical Center, we dropped by to Redemptorist Church first and in my mind, I put everything in His hands although I know that God knows what’s really on my mind and heart that I will do everything just to be with Xian and Allan.

At the hospital, we went first to my OB. Few minutes before my turn, I’m thinking that hopefully the findings will be fibroadenoma. Keri ko pa yun. Ok lang for me to undergo minor surgery to take the lump out, wag lang talaga breast cancer. I’m willing to face all of my fears now more than ever for the sake of my two boys. While waiting Xian entertain us with his antics to the delight of those people near us.

After few minutes of waiting na di naman nakakainip because the area is wi-fi zone,my turn came. I really like Dra. Diga, the OB who checked me. She’s really one of the best in her field, pretty and smart at the same time. After a series of background and health check and the usual palpation of the breasts, she’s very cool lang about it and although she confirmed that I really have a lump on my left breast she didn’t dropped any alarming words naman so I assumed that everything is under control which lessen my anxiousness, then after a couple of minutes with her she referred me to a surgeon, Dr. Marquino which I am already familiar with since I always cover him during my med rep days a couple of years ago.

So we went to his clinic at the ground floor of that same building, after the surgeon checked the lump with the help of his attendant. His initial reaction is “medyo malaki na nga sya, about 2-3 cm. Kelan mo sya balak ipatanggal?” I instantly answered with “bukas na po” and then as fast as that he said “ok,set kita ng 12noon ha.it’s just a minor surgical procedure, out-patient lang.makakauwi ka na din the same day”

 I was like, wow! So ganun lang pala kadali yun. Then he asked me to have my sonography (ultrasound) and asked me to process my HMO, since I’m under Medicard. After spending the whole day at the hospital with a super kulit toddler in tow, I’m ready for tomorrow!

March 7. I came at 11 AM with my sister and the procedure started 15 minutes before 12:00N. I’m not feeling nervous, sakto lang. Probably because gusto ko na talaga matapos once and for all.

They do the usual OR procedure (hair cap and gown, skin test, checking of vital signs, and everything) since the last time I had an OR experience was when I gave birth to Xian through cesarean section. The next thing I knew I was already on the operating table. Feeling ko that time manganganak lang ulit ako except that hindi baby,kundi lump ang ineexpect namin na matanggal. Weird. The nurse even said few minutes before the operation “mam first time nyo ma-OR?” To which I promptly answered with “hindi,second time na” Pero in fairness, the three female nurses who assisted my surgeon are all friendly and approachable. Then I later on found out that one of them is an alumna of the school where I work.

They just gave me a local anesthesia since it’s just a minor operation. I was awake during the whole duration and I hear all the casual stuffs they are talking about. They really make me feel at ease. The operation took only 15-20 minutes. Ganun kabilis. Dr. Marquino said “ok, almost done. You can go home later” I am being sutured already and bandaged. I was given a slew of pain killers and other medicines to take for seven days.

After that we proceed to the recovery room and there, I rest for 2 hours before they finally allowed me to go out. After settling the hospital bill, my sister and I had our late lunch at Shakey’s “to celebrate” before we finally head home.

And then after a few days, I finally got the final step which is the pathological results and the very good news of all… the biopsy showed the lump to be Fibroadenoma, like what I expected! I felt so relieved as I walked out the hospital. I could not be thankful enough to God, to my boys - Allan and Xian and my whole family and to everyone including you, yes you who knew about this little secret of mine. Praise God!

I have a lot of realizations from this experience after this breast cancer scare, that health is really wealth for us moms. That I can really conquer my fear pala for the sake of my family. Sometimes,ok lang naman maging paranoid.wag lang yung sobra! Haha.

Life is really great.

On a serious note, I may not have had cancer but I know there are a lot of people who are suffering from breast cancer. Let us include them and their family in our prayers to stay strong for their family.

photo source: image from Google