My 3 Years Battle

A Short Story about my Battle and Struggling: (Thyroid Cancer Survivor)

On the same day 3 years ago, 2 days before my birthday, July 16, 2015, I was diagnosed with hypokalemia secondary to hyperthyroidism which means I was suffering potassium deficiency and periodic paralysis because my thyroid glands produces more iodine than I needed daily and blocking some hormones coming from my brain and not distributed to my body properly. Because of that I have been hospitalized more often experiencing periodic paralysis due to the muscle weakness. From that time, I was a regular patient of every nearby hospitals, from Cabanatuan Nueva Ecija (which I am working in a hotel since 2015 to 2017) to Rizal to Metro Manila because of the same sickness which lasted for 3 years. I even broke my left arm and foot due to hypokalemia. Imagine i was in the middle of work when unexpectedly collapsing inside the kitchen... I don't even count how many times I was rushed to the nearby hospitals every time I experienced periodic paralysis. The emergency doctors cannot figure out anything about my true condition that is why they just extracted a blood from me knowing that my potassium dropped to its lowest level and can kill me fatally if my heart stop to beat (since heart is a part of our muscle). Every time I am rushed to the hospital I am always alone in the emergency. All I know is that, my potassium is dropping because of my hyperthyroidism. They just asked me what medicine I am taking which they said it is the right meds for my condition... It lasted 3 long struggling years, because I cannot work to live properly due to my condition. I felt, I only work to sustain my needs for my medicine and afford buying have my medical card for a free hospitalization. That’s my life for the past 3 years. I turned down some international job offers because I am afraid of experiencing the same pity situation abroad and bring me back to the Philippines when I cannot fulfill my job well. Even working here in the Philippines is a struggling thing for me because even I am taking the right medicine I still experienced the same and no choice but to leave the work for a day or two. So I decided to stop working and fixed the damaged part of my body...

Until I decided to consult a specialist doctor (endocrinologist) expert on my case in Medical City, he advised me to have admitted on the hospital to run a series of tests just to figure out what is really wrong with me. After having admitted and run an executive check-up, blood extraction, ultrasound, ECG, X-ray, some results quickly released but some have to wait a couple of weeks before releasing. I have waited patiently as day passes by, hoping that some lab results are fine and negative of other diseases. Unfortunately, some tests are not good. Aside from the fact that I have hypokalemia secondary to hyperthyroidism, I have an adrenal gland tumor (benign) which also affects my blood pressure, mood swing, body weakness and many more...Adrenal glands is located in the kidney. Fortunately, the tumor can be treated with medicine. But the biggest challenged is that, as the lab results came out, it turned out not as simple as many doctors was saying, the tests says I have thyroid cancer that affects my heart, electrolyte, muscles and more... The doctor broke the news to me… I still chose to compose myself about the news. Since I am aware about my suspicion regarding my condition, I wholeheartedly accept the fact about it. I need to be strong and brave. It is just a cancer, I have God beside me all the time guiding and protecting me daily. I kept the news to myself for a little while because if I freak out, I will become weaker than I thought. CANCER is curable this time and I am very optimistic about my wellness and don’t want to ruin my plans… So, I went to see my doctor on a regular basis, take all his advises, took my medicine religiously, call and texted him from time to time and then visited him on my scheduled check-ups. He gave some advice and recommendations and asking me if I wanted to be treated and giving me some options to choose.

Without a blink of an eye I accepted his recommendation without thinking of any risks, the doctor suggested to have my Radiation Therapy when I am ready, Radioactive Iodine 131 is made to thyroid cancer patients all over the world. A procedure of killing the cancer cells attacking only the thyroid gland and let the cancer cell die. I will be exposing myself to a some level of radiation to kill the cancer cell. The procedure will run through my blood stream, chasing every single cancer cell and kill it in a single procedure. Everything was explained to me, the pros and cons of my decision if ever I accepts the treatment. Yes, there is still precautionary measures after the exposure to a high radiation. I have to be isolated for a week, cannot touch what other people is touching, body fluid cross-contamination to others, all the things I used must be rinsed and sanitized after using, meaning, I am cast away from all the people and things around me. No public acquaintance, no food prepping and cooking (no chef’s life for a week)... Despite of that precautionary measures, I still accepted the therapy, besides it is only for a week, and after that treatment, I will be back to my normal life without fearing of losing all the opportunities again and live a life full of hopes and dreams...

I fought a difficult fight during those years without telling my family, some friends and everyone else about the true illness and because I want to live a positive life without the feeling of low esteem and self-confidence and most especially pity coming from others. I just enjoyed my life besides, if worst things might discover, I have no regrets not doing what I have to do or love to do... I have God's pure love and support, I have 100% faith in God though I am not that showy person regarding my faith, because I know God knows my heart and we are talking with the heart and mind from time to time...

The full support of my wife and Allyzza is extraordinary, after my wife's surgery recently removing her uterus due to myoma, here I am now facing my own trials... To my family, sorry for not telling you the truth, because I don't want mama who is 81 years old to have the burdens of worrying about her bunso... and besides this cancer stage is curable... thank you for the unexpected support morally and financially. True, blood is thicker than water and it happened. To all my closest friends out there who happened to be with me during those time of emergencies, thank you for your unconditional support of helping me to stand, walk and lay me to bed wherever I was... you know who you are... thank you all...

Now that the CANCER cell is gone, I can be me again, full of joy, happiness and hopes... Masamang damo matagal pa daw ang buhay na parang pusa... Keep the fire burning!!! Let's get to work!!! I AM NOW READY, AGAIN!!!

Thank You Lord for a gift of second chance of life... I might say, I AM A TRUE SURVIVOR!!! My fight has already ended… I already received the birthday gift for a life time… Will be back to my doctor from time to time to run some tests assuring that all is well… Still need to continue my home medication… Tomorrow I will be free to go out…

List of Hospital confinement and emergencies: * Nueva Ecija (Cabanatuan) - Good Samaritan Hospital - Premier Medical Center - Wesleyan Hospital - Nueva Ecija Doctors

* Rizal - Antipolo Doctors (Antipolo City) - Clinica Antipolo (Antipolo City) - Manila East Medical Center (Taytay) - Binangonan Lakeview Hospital

* NCR: - The Medical City (Pasig) - San Juan De Dios (Pasay)