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I never shared this story publicly out of respect for my aunt, but this might do good for someone else so here it is.
It all started when my nephew noticed a blood stain on my aunt's shirt. When confronted, we saw her entire both breasts covered in scabs. (1/n) https://twitter.com/avcielo/status/1127568374572052480
It all started when my nephew noticed a blood stain on my aunt's shirt. When confronted, we saw her entire both breasts covered in scabs. (1/n) https://twitter.com/avcielo/status/1127568374572052480
Not even peau d'orange. Her breasts were rock hard from all the scabs, and they were oozing blood. Needless to say I was so astonished.
It turns out, she has that going on for 7 years. 7 fricking years. I was speechless, baffled and furious. (2/n)
It turns out, she has that going on for 7 years. 7 fricking years. I was speechless, baffled and furious. (2/n)
Holding back my shock, I asked her why she didn't tell us about it. She was a dentist. She should've known better. I didn't understand.
She told us that she was seeing a doctor to have it treated, and she's been going there for 2 years now. (3/n)
She told us that she was seeing a doctor to have it treated, and she's been going there for 2 years now. (3/n)
Next day, she said she was going back for her regular treatment. So I accompanied her with my other relatives. When we got there, I couldn't believe what I saw.
Rows of chachexic people, receiving intravenous vitamins. INTRAVENOUS VITAMINS WHICH COSTED P3,000/dose. (4/n)
Rows of chachexic people, receiving intravenous vitamins. INTRAVENOUS VITAMINS WHICH COSTED P3,000/dose. (4/n)
My aunt was next in line. So she went on to have her 4th dose of her IV vitamins. She's spent P12,000 on vitamins at this point. She was also prescribed with mineral oils to apply on her wounded, bleeding breasts.
You could imagine how angry I was at this point. (5/n)
You could imagine how angry I was at this point. (5/n)
I was so baffled, how she, a dentist who'd presumably know better, got to this point. I learned that her teammates of doctors and nurses who were with her during medical missions suggested the treatment.
Not surprisingly, those people owned/worked at that clinic. (6/n)
Not surprisingly, those people owned/worked at that clinic. (6/n)
Trying to hold back my anger, I confronted the doctor who was there (I think he owned the place).
He knew it was breast cancer (at this point, who wouldn't). He scared my aunt so she wouldn't see an oncologist. He made sure she'd buy into those "natural treatment". (7/n)
He knew it was breast cancer (at this point, who wouldn't). He scared my aunt so she wouldn't see an oncologist. He made sure she'd buy into those "natural treatment". (7/n)
Explaining that I was an RN and a med student, I asked for a logical explanation of the treatment, and I got the most BS answer.
"Humans have natural immunity. We give vitamins to feed the good cells so it becomes strong enough to fight the bad cancer cells". (8/n)
"Humans have natural immunity. We give vitamins to feed the good cells so it becomes strong enough to fight the bad cancer cells". (8/n)
and that "Since chemotherapy also attacks the good cells, it is better to give vitamins than chemotherapy".
My aunt, after much convincing, finally saw an oncologist.
Invasive ductal carcinoma, with lung and liver metastasis. At that point, her breasts were inoperable. (9/n)
My aunt, after much convincing, finally saw an oncologist.
Invasive ductal carcinoma, with lung and liver metastasis. At that point, her breasts were inoperable. (9/n)
Imagine how alone must've my aunt felt undergoing expensive "treatments" alone, knowing she had cancer. How she regretted what she has done to herself.
Imagine how helpless my family felt. How baffled they were, not knowing why she couldn't tell us. (10/n)
Imagine how helpless my family felt. How baffled they were, not knowing why she couldn't tell us. (10/n)
Those people from the clinic took away the opportunity for my aunt to be treated. They knew. They didn't care, all in the name of greed.
To this day, I am still furious about this and I am shaking as I type all of these.
But my aunt fought and she fought hard. (11/n)
To this day, I am still furious about this and I am shaking as I type all of these.
But my aunt fought and she fought hard. (11/n)
I was there, when my mom suggested they cut her hair, when she started her chemo, because her hair started falling one by one. She was never really dressy, but she loved her hair. I've never seen her cry until that day.
(12/n)
(12/n)
Through all that, she still managed to take care of her nephew, until she couldn't stand anymore. She fought through chemo, no matter how hard it was for her.
But stage IV cancer was no easy feat. It got to her bones. (13/n)
But stage IV cancer was no easy feat. It got to her bones. (13/n)
Last April, after the long battle, she rested. Just 9 days before my revalida.
She was there for me since I was little, all the way to med school. Went out of her way to see that I was okay, because I lived in Manila alone. It sucks she never got to see me as a doctor. (14/n)
She was there for me since I was little, all the way to med school. Went out of her way to see that I was okay, because I lived in Manila alone. It sucks she never got to see me as a doctor. (14/n)
And that’s just a fraction of what they took away from us, including what life could’ve been for her, if she got to beat the cancer.
Even if she wouldn’t, it would’ve spared her so much suffering, and given her more time. (15/n)
Even if she wouldn’t, it would’ve spared her so much suffering, and given her more time. (15/n)
To this day, I am furious about what happened. And I am shaking as I type this thread.
The health literacy is low in this country. Healthcare is also expensive and sometimes deemed unreliable. So people are more easily convinced to turn away. (16/n)
The health literacy is low in this country. Healthcare is also expensive and sometimes deemed unreliable. So people are more easily convinced to turn away. (16/n)
So it is our job as healthcare professionals to guide patients into the right path. Educate, no matter how hardheaded or uneducated you think your patients are. It doesn't matter, you educate. If it's not working, then you're not effective. (17/n)
Remind yourself that majority of the Filipinos aren't as privileged or equipped with resources as you are.
There are a lot of evil people ready to wrong our patients. So when they fall for them, don't laugh at them. Don't judge them. Educate. That was what my aunt needed. (18/n)
There are a lot of evil people ready to wrong our patients. So when they fall for them, don't laugh at them. Don't judge them. Educate. That was what my aunt needed. (18/n)
I'd like to end this thread by reminding everyone to tell their loved ones about the importance of breast cancer screening. When screened early, most breast cancers have excellent prognosis. (19/19)
