Having the support of one’s family and friends when one is undergoing a life- threatening sickness is of paramount importance. Getting the best medical treatment coming from the best doctors is equally important. But I think the best antidote to depression, loneliness, fear, bitterness and hopelessness which a person in dire situation usually experiences, is having the proper perspective in life. – CESAR DOMINGO
Cesar Domingo has always been a firm believer of hope and has always been motivated to take on challenges. He chose to work hard and move forward especially when he encountered obstacles. This same trait stimulated him at a time when he needed it most, a time when cancer weakened his body. Cancer became his silent enemy which attacked him at the most unexpected time. There were no early symptoms for Cesar like a pain or a lump. He only noticed that he had difficulty swallowing. This occurrence became too frequent and Cesar would have a hard time keeping the food down.
This impelled Cesar to consult with Dr. Peter Jarin. Dr. Jarin discovered a mass in his throat and surgery was scheduled right away. The day after the surgery, Dr. Jarin came in with some bad news, the mass was malignant. Dr. Jarin then referred him Dr. Daniel Alonzo, a head and neck surgeon focused on treating patients with benign and malignant tumors.
Dr. Alonzo required more tests to determine the specific type of cancer in Cesar’s throat. Three more doctors studied the biopsy result before it was concluded that Cesar had basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC), a rare and aggressive kind of cancer that primarily arises in the upper aero digestive tract. Due to its aggressive nature, a correspondingly aggressive treatment was also planned. Cesar underwent a second surgery that lasted for twelve hours to remove the tumor. He also underwent radiation treatment for a total of six weeks.
Five years aIer his diagnosis and treatment, Cesar was considered cancer free.
Cesar really admired the demeanor of Dr. Peter Jarin when he broke the sad news. He saw a genuine concern from a doctor to a patient. He knew right away that this was a man he could trust. Cesar truly valued his honesty when Dr Jarin included another specialist to the team. On the other hand, Dr. Daniel Alonzo conveyed his expertise clearly through his amiable and confident demeanor. These two men whom Cesar never met before in his life became his bulwark, his refuge in distress. His experience was not as daunting as one could expect because he firmly believed in the capability of his healthcare team and in God’s providence and enduring love.
