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Dollores is a 59-year-old teacher from the Philippines who needs $1,058 to fund a breast mastectomy to treat cancer.

Dollores
34%
  • $368 raised, $690 to go
$368
raised
$690
to go
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January 5, 2023

Dollores is a hardworking 59-year-old woman from Philippines. She was an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, and then worked as a call center agent. Unfortunately, in October 2022, she was dismissed from her job due to being medically unfit. Now, she lives with her daughter and family, and the sole breadwinner is her son-in-law, who works in finance.

In June 2022, Dollores noticed a mass on her right breast. At her initial examination, she was told that the mass was benign, but in a follow-up biopsy, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, or a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been recommended to remove the cancer and prevent it from metastasizing.

Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Dollores receive treatment. On January 7th, she will undergo a mastectomy at WSFP’s care center. After treatment, Dollores will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Dollores needs help raising $1,058 to cover the remaining cost of her procedure and care.

Dollores shared tearfully, “your help brings relief to my heart and mind. This will ease my worries, especially about the medical bill. I believe that there’s a reason why you’re saving me, and that’s for me to continue with my life. Thank you, WATSI and World Surgical Foundation Philippines! I hope to give back the help that you’ve given me.”

Dollores is a hardworking 59-year-old woman from Philippines. She was an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, and then worked as a ca...

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Dollores's Timeline

  • January 5, 2023
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Dollores was submitted by Abegail Joy Cervania, Marketing and Communications Officer at World Surgical Foundation Philippines.

  • January 7, 2023
    TREATMENT SCHEDULED

    Dollores was scheduled to receive treatment at Our Lady of Peace Hospital in Philippines. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

  • January 9, 2023
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Dollores's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • TODAY
    AWAITING FUNDING

    Dollores is currently raising funds for her treatment.

  • TBD
    AWAITING UPDATE

    Awaiting Dollores's treatment update from World Surgical Foundation Philippines.

Funded by 8 donors

Funded by 8 donors

Treatment
Breast Mastectomy
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $1,058 for Dollores's treatment
Hospital Fees
$159
Medical Staff
$268
Medication
$48
Supplies
$437
Labs
$70
Radiology
$11
Other
$65
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Breast cysts may be found in one or both breasts. Signs and symptoms of a cyst include a smooth, easily movable round or oval lump, discharge, breast pain or tenderness in the area of the lump, or a change in lump size and tenderness.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Having breast cysts doesn't always increase the patient's risk of breast cancer. But having cysts may make it harder to find new breast lumps or other changes that might need evaluation by the doctor.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

In the Philippines, breast cancer is the leading cancer in women. The Department of Health and the Philippine Cancer Society Inc. population-based cancer registries reported an age-standardized incidence rate of 55.1 per 100,000, the highest recorded incidence rate in any Asian population. Along with the high incidence is a high mortality rate.

  • Process
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Risks and side-effects
  • Accessibility
  • Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

A mastectomy is the removal of the whole breast. There are five different types of mastectomy: "simple" or "total" mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy, radical mastectomy, partial mastectomy, and subcutaneous mastectomy.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

After the mastectomy, the treatment may prevent breast cancer from recurring. It will significantly improve the patient's life by avoiding the diagnosis of breast cancer, cancer that can spread, and the pain due to the breast mass.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

As with any surgical procedure, a mastectomy can cause a number of complications. Risks of this procedure include pain or tenderness, bleeding, swelling, redness and warmth at the incision site, suggestive of infection, limited arm movement, numbness, seroma, or fluid buildup beneath the wound site, hematoma, or blood buildup in the wound, and scar tissue.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

The care facility is equipped and accessible to handle this procedure for patients from across the Capital region and those who travel from other parts of the country.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

For patients in whom the size of the primary tumor relative to the size of the breast makes breast-conserving surgery an inappropriate choice, an alternative to mastectomy is preoperative chemotherapy.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Jocelyn

Jocelyn is a loving mother of four from Philippines. She works as a bookkeeper, and her husband works as a part-time sidecar driver while also looking after their children. Despite their hard work, their combined income is just enough for the family's daily needs. Three years ago, Jocelyn began to experience troubling symptoms, including episodes of epigastric pain. Worried about their finances, she chose to defer her checkup. Unfortunately, the symptoms worsened as she began to experience difficulty of breathing, and persistent vomiting. She was brought to the nearest hospital to be given emergency care. The doctor told her to have an abdominal ultrasound. The test showed that she was suffering from gallstones, which can no longer be treated with medicines. Jocelyn has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, her symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Jocelyn is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on February 17th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,128 to cover the cost of Jocelyn's surgery and care. Jocelyn shared, "I'd like to thank WATSI and World Surgical Foundation Philippines for sponsoring my surgery. May you continue helping people who are financially incapable of paying for their surgeries. You are an answered prayer!"

35% funded

35%funded
$398raised
$730to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.