Dumaguete Info Search


Suggestion Malignant ovarian cancer

Discussion in 'Expat Section' started by cabb, Feb 19, 2020.

  1. hiddenuser

    hiddenuser Guest Guest User

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    i would suggest that most of us who have a family we are involved with in the philippines will face some form of this issue sooner or later. i think you have to be practical. those who would tell you to go to any length to extend a life are usually not spending their own money whereas here you usually are. if you are doing your best to help your family, and i think most of us are, you still have to set limits because you cannot fix everything. no one can make this decision for you and you should not feel any guilt that you cannot solve every problem. i have contributed to the healthcare costs of four members of my "greater" family, all of them breadwinners. i would not be able to help the person you described in my own family because i just do not have enough resources to do it all. you have to maintain your own mental, physical and financial health first or you are no good to anyone
     
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  2. john boy

    john boy DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster

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    Question; Has the dear lady herself been consulted about her prospects?
    How does she feel about a operation or treatment at her time of life.
    If she is very frail, she may not make it.
    Tough decisions ahead and I admire your compassion.
     
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  3. Crystalhead

    Crystalhead ADMIN Admin ★ Forum Moderator ★ ★ Global Mod ★ ★ Moderator ★ ★★ Forum Sponsor ★★ ★ No Ads ★ Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer Veteran Army

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    My Wife was a Nurse that I retired at 54. We have gone way beyond at assisting her Parents and Siblings with a lengthy list of ever ending needs. We looked after both her Mother and Father during their life threatening aliments (very costly) and it was only because we could afford it (they have now passed) and we also paid for that. Having said such, my Wife is very wise as the norm goes and I asked her take on this issue of yours. ( In her words) If you can not easily afford to drop money for your Mother in-Laws case, as in (disposable monies) just realize at 80 years of age, her oats have been sewed. Maybe a pleasurable trip to a few locations and surround her with loved ones, If indeed you have Cash out the Ying to line pockets for perhaps a few hundred days of life, all the best to you Sir. ( the utmost respect for your compassion and care )
     
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  4. OP
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    cabb

    cabb DI Forum Patron Highly Rated Poster ✤Forum Sponsor✤

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    I can't really say much about her state of mind other than she fears the hospital so her first inclination was to go home when she thought it was cancer. Either she changed her mind or a family member convinced her to get the surgery. The new diagnosis may have also played a role. Last but not least, there is the will to live. It's easy to say, just let me die, but when that times come, I don't think we really know which path we will take. Thanks.
     
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    Last edited: Feb 24, 2020
  5. OP
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    cabb

    cabb DI Forum Patron Highly Rated Poster ✤Forum Sponsor✤

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    As I like to say garbage in, garbage out. Medicine isn't an exact science, that said, who is in a better position to explain and estimate the costs that certain actions might have than the doctor and the hospital. I'm not really getting that kind of information. For example, what is the life expectancy with and without the surgery? What stage of cancer is it? Either the questions aren't being asked or they aren't being answered. It took them three days to get a CT scan read because it was over the weekend. What if this was life threatening, like a bad car accident. Would the patient and doctor just sit there for 3 days waiting on the CT. In my case, the doctor was suggesting ovarian cancer, now the CT scan comes back 3 days later and the radiologist says it's a dermoid cyst. It will still require surgery, but no chemo. This assumes that the operation doesn't find any, because one can lead to another, so cancer isn't off the table yet, but prognosis is better. What about a biopsy to verify the cancer hypothesis?
    Now let's move on to the next road block. They hire a surgeon to come in once a month to do these types of surgeries, so they want to do it on 3/10 or we need to move her to Cebu to get the operation sooner. She is in a lot of pain and this thing is growing bigger by the day. I hope I'm never in Dumaguete and have a serious issue requiring surgery. Most doctors don't want to operate unless the patient is strong. She is in the hospital because she wasn't feeling well. She has a low red blood cell count so the first hurtle was finding 2 units of blood while they tried to figure things out. Oh, geez the blood bank only has one. There maybe also be some infection. All the while the bill ticks up. The majority of the bill so far is the hospital room and the pharmacy and clocking in at 45,000 php, so not much done and already have a nice start.
    I'm currently working and not on a fixed income so I can recover as long as things don't get too far out of hand. The biggest problem is there really isn't good information to make a decision on. Every day there is some new change in direction and at some point you start thinking I'm half way in this thing why stop now, but are you really half way in??
    Now the last thing to vent on. The insurance (PhilHealth in this case) in the Philippines. Do they have it? What does it cover? How do you use it? Now the kicker, my wife's brother has PhilHealth and has his mother and his daughter on the policy. Guess what? The f'ing employer is taking insurance out of his wages and not paying PhilHealth. They need to start putting some pressure on employers so they stop coming up with creative ways to pad their pockets and screw their employees.
    Thanks.
     
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    Last edited: Feb 24, 2020
  6. Crystalhead

    Crystalhead ADMIN Admin ★ Forum Moderator ★ ★ Global Mod ★ ★ Moderator ★ ★★ Forum Sponsor ★★ ★ No Ads ★ Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer Veteran Army

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    At 80 years of age the morbidity rate and mortality rate is high now facing medical procedure. She may face hypertension and dyspnea that are common risks also at that age. From your reply you are going to proceed so I myself having been in that same boat (twice) as you are in now, your main issue it (not to get bilked) Reading your well defined roller coaster ride at this point, I would lock pockets. Best of hopes Cabb but this may be just the beginning.
     
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  7. Roadwitch80

    Roadwitch80 DI Member

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    Hello.

    Other than PhilHealth, there are ways to get financial help for her so you don’t have to slog through those bills solo.
    You can get help from the Congressional medical aid from the district where she is from. The Governors office also dole out financial help for their constituents. Then there is the City Mayor, the councilors and the Provincial Board Members. Just show your hospitalization bill, pharmacy receipts, and a certification from a social worker that she is an indigent or something.
    I have a friend who was in the hospital recently and the wife was able to get financial aid from one of the city councilors and it was Php 60,000 so quite substantial. She was able to get that much because she was a “supporter.” Every bit helps.
     
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