Stage 2

After Mama's mastectomy, we found out her cancer was on stage 2. Histopath results found that she had 30% risk of recurrence.

She was given two options for treatment: (a) chemotherapy for six months, then on the seventh month, hormonal inhibition until the fifth year; or (b) hormonal inhibition for five years. The treatment can only lower the risk to, at most, 20%. It will never go down to zero, according to the Oncologist, until Mama has reached her 10th year without the cancer coming back.

Chemotherapy has 2% advantage over hormonal inhibition. Meaning, if she undergoes chemo, her risk will lower to 20%. If she undergoes hormonal inhibition, the risk will be down to 22%. Considering the pain, side effects, and expenses, we decided to take hormonal inhibition. That means, a pill of Arimidex a day, for five years. One pill costs P437.20, which adds up to about P13K a month. Kinda expensive, but I guess we have to be thankful that we're not spending on hospital bills, or something that's more than that.