⌛ Living in the PI.

There is an old expression "I would rather spend one day in Heaven, than eternity in Hell" and I repeatedly thought about that before coming here.
My private story is that I have bladder cancer. It is one of those cancers that re-grows every so often, and then the tumor must be removed, only to grow again.
I had an operation in 2000 to remove 3 tumors. I had it again in 2008 to remove another two new ones.
Houston has what is considered to be the best cancer hospital in the world. That is the MD Anderson Cancer Institute. About a 30 minute drive from where I lived.
For those of you that don't know, that operation is a "non-surgical proceedure" meaning they go in through the end of you penis and remove the tumors with two tubes, each the size of a ball point pen. One being the light and camera, the other being the cutting tool.
Very few hospitals in the world can do this proceedure correctly.
I only know that I need this done maybe 24 to 48 hours before it must be done "or else".
Since the plane trip is at least 33 hours to Houston, that pretty much rules out any options. Having all of this knowledge at my disposal, I STILL decided to come here to live. And I will stay here until.......
This is my "one day in Heaven".
Medical care? Not going to happen here for me! But I live a lot on "faith" and "happiness" now.

 

Ron
Your explanation of bladder cancer sounds very dramatic, in reality it is one of the mildest cancers that exist.
In Belgium the "cancer treatment" is done in many hospitals with good result.
In fact mortality for bladder cancer is almost zero.
So if you feel the need for another treatment, just take 2 weeks vacation in Boracay before heading to Houston.
No need to hurry, but of cause it needs follow up and proper treatment

 

In the U.S. it was called Island Fever, often referring to living full time in Hawaii. I never thought I would mind spending all my life in Hawaii, and I probably wouldn't. Well, this is no Hawaii, to be sure. Now that my house is done, we spend each day debating, with little choices other than going to the mall, what should we do today. I have to survive 7 months until our baby is born then we will have a life time project to keep us occupied, until then and not having extra funds to travel around you will see us at the mall frequently. Maybe the sunny days ahead will brighten up the picture for all of us.

 

RonV, sorry to hear your medical report, will keep you in our daily prayers. We are all so glad you found your camelot, I believe your positive attitude and happiness will prevail. You are one tough marine! Hope you can make it over here sometime soon, we have a place you can stay. SF!

 

I thank Firefly for his positive spin. It makes me feel so much better now after 11 years of worry.
However, to corrct his numbers slightly (I hope he won't mind), the 5 year reoccurance rate for bladder cancer is 80%.
The survival rate is 81 to 85%, meaning a mortality rate of 15 to 19%.
In the USA, bladder cancer deaths are about 11,000 plus per year which translates to about 29 deaths per day, all directly from bladder cancer.
The treatment is the direct injection of a modified TB bacteria into the bladder which 50% of the patients treated have a severe reaction to. I am one of those. So that treatment option is not available to me.
These are "good numbers" except if you are on the small side of the numbers. Then the numbers are very bad.
Last, but not least, in the past 11 years, I have come to know a lot of cancer patients, which almost every kind of cancer. All of them (us) would take exception at ANY cancer being called "mild" or "mildest".
Cancer is cancer.
One of my pet peeves is when someone comes to me and says "I know how you must feel". No, unless you have cancer also, you haven't the slightest f--king idea how I feel.
Just a few facts and my opinion folks.
I'm out of here........

 

Ron,
The figures you mention are US figures where mortality is based on lack of cure.
In Belgium everyone has a sick insurance so treatment in a hospital is almost free.
My father had bladder cancer when he was around 78 and he died at 90 of hart failure.
And that was more than 20 years ago. Since then medical science has taken a big step forwarts.
I hope you still can enjoy many years in the Philippines.
Keep positive thinking.

 

Question?

Well after a lot mainly positive posts and One BIG negative ( Firefly, your 6 months in and 6 months out of the PI gives you the Best of both worlds, not many of us can afford this.) opinions are our entitlement. The Question has not really been answered has it. "If some are not happy, why do they stay?" I can see that in the main, those of you who have answered, are prepared to put up with all the negatives, I notice the constant negative posters have remained in their shells, this of course is their privilege. We are all, I think, well aware of the points firefly has made, we will stay and live our life we have chosen. Life is not perfect we know but constant Moaning and slagging our host country will never change things. Thank You all that replied, Happy life to all of you.


Jack P.

 

When I decided to finely come here to the Philippines to live some 8 plus years ago. I knew I was going to stay and make it my home.. at first I made six month trips back and forth to the US, for medical and visitation. But then I found most of my medical could be taken care of here and I wouldnt need to go back to the US to a VA clinic or hospital, so for the last 5 years I havnt left the PI. But about 2 years ago I had a nasty fall and broke my hip. I thought I was getting a good dr because he was a head of the orthopedic department at Silliman Univ. Well to make a long story short.. he messed up big time.... when I got my hip replaced.. he forgot to put in the new socket.. and put in a oversized ball only.. well I havnt been able to walk sinse I broke it and Im stuck in a wheelchair.. the ball he put in is grinding on what is left of my hip bone so it needs to be fixed for that reason and for me to walk again... well I can go to Manila to get it done at a cost of about 12-14000 us dollar plus upto additional 6000 us dollar for med because it is a second time so infection can set in... well I dont really want to spend that much money even if I had it.. so I will make a trip back to the US to either Nellis AFB, in Las Vegas, or to the VA medical center in Dallas Tx. where I can get it done at no cost to me except my fair back and forth..
If it were not for my hip.. I would not be makeing a trip back except to visit maybe.. as I can get all my medicines here shipped right to my door from the VA in Manila and all my other medical needs I can get done here also.
ok put a fork in me Im done

 

SO! There we have it!

Apart from some Hiccups, It as I thought and asked, we,the happy People, are quite happy here! This could go on forever, what I was trying to get to here, is that in the main, we foreigners ARE mostly happy here. It really is, the negative few that made me write this obscure thread in the first place. I feel gratified and satisfied that I have had a chance to, See, Hear and read these happy thoughts from a lot of my fellow members here. My signature to me says it all, Thankyou!


Jack P.

 

That is exactly my view.... love the Phils but I'm also a practical person.
Do not misunderstand me, i have great respect for the country and its people and can count on many filipino friends, the question "would you stay in the Phils if not for your wife or g/f " was actually a honest and heartfelt one and directed to all forum members, including FWO, and not necessarely to myself. My point being that before one can make his mind up, he has to know all facts, positives as well as negatives, then once reached a decision, he can sit back and relax. By the way, I'm italian but live in the UK and I've asked the same question to my pinay wife of 25 years.....would you live in Italy if it was not for me? You see, my question had nothing to do with being negative about the Phils, just being fair and honest to what our true feelings are then move on from there.
Regards.