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Success! Marie from the Philippines raised $1,294 to fund a partial mastectomy to treat her cancer.

Marie
100%
  • $1,294 raised, $0 to go
$1,294
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Marie's treatment was fully funded on August 24, 2022.

Photo of Marie post-operation

September 1, 2022

Marie underwent a mastectomy to treat her cancer.

Mary Jean’s surgery was successful! She’s so happy and feeling relieved. She’s eager to find new sources of income now that she’s free from pain and worry.

Mary Jean said, “Before, I was so anxious about how to finance my treatment. Now, I don’t have to worry about it anymore, and can focus on how to make my family’s life better. Thank you so much WATSI and WSFP for your big help!”

Mary Jean’s surgery was successful! She’s so happy and feeling relieved. She’s eager to find new sources of income now that she’s free from ...

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April 5, 2022

Marie is a strong 59-year-old woman from the Philippines. She used to work as a fish vendor, but unfortunately, she lost her job due to the pandemic. She has one daughter who works on a service crew.

For about 10 years, Marie has fought breast cancer. Unfortunately, last February, she experienced back pain and noticed the recurrence of a mass in her left breast. She underwent an ultrasound, and her doctor recommended that she undergo a partial mastectomy, or a surgery to remove the cancerous part of her breast.

Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is helping Marie to receive treatment. On April 8th, she will undergo a mastectomy at their care center. After she recovers, Marie will no longer have a mass in her breast and her pain will be healed. Now, she needs help to raise $1,294 to fund her procedure and care.

Marie shared, “the surgery will not only help me physically, but my whole family as well. We will no longer worry about my medical expenses. Thank you so much World Surgical Foundation Philippines and Watsi for your help!”

Marie is a strong 59-year-old woman from the Philippines. She used to work as a fish vendor, but unfortunately, she lost her job due to the ...

Read more

Marie's Timeline

  • April 5, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

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

  • April 8, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Marie received 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.

  • April 12, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Marie's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • August 24, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Marie's treatment was fully funded.

  • September 1, 2022
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Marie's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 25 donors

Funded by 25 donors

Treatment
Breast Mastectomy
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $1,294 for Marie's treatment
Hospital Fees
$348
Medical Staff
$276
Medication
$300
Supplies
$200
Labs
$164
Radiology
$6
Other
$0
  • 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 females. 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 (Ngelangel et al. 1994; Gibson et al. 2009). 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 and the pain due to the breast mass.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

As with any surgical procedure, 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.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.