Continuation of the story...

After I went home, I received a call from the hospital. They had scheduled an appointment with me to discuss what will happen. This time, my husband accompanied me to the meeting. ??

This is what the oncologist said: "We need to do a few things first before we can decide on the treatment. She said: what I want to do is a CT scan, to see if the cancer has spread further. She says if the CT scan is good and there are NO metastases, then our goal is to create a plan to cure you. But if the cancer HAS spread, then it's

a completely different story." My husband asked, "What do you mean by a completely different story?" ?? Then the oncologist said, "Well, then we'll have to look further, but if there are further metastases, then the chance of a cure is no longer possible." ?? I was quite shocked. ??

After that, she said, "The second step I want to take is an MRI scan. With a CT scan, we can see if there are more metastases, but with an MRI scan, we can see even better how large the cancer is and whether it's in multiple places." She said, "Given that they can already see metastases under the armpit, her advice is also to undergo chemotherapy. She said: my preference is to do chemotherapy first and then the surgery. And afterwards, maybe radiation. But we can only say that after the surgery."

I asked her, "What happens if I take chemotherapy? Will it get smaller?" She said, "That's what we want, yes! After the chemotherapy, they can feel if it has become smaller. And the surgery is meant to remove the cancer. But we only know after the surgery if there are still some cancer cells left. We can't see that during the surgery."

My husband asked, "Will the treatment be given here on the island? Or does she have to go abroad?" ?? Initially, she said, "The surgery won't be done here, but the chemotherapy will be done here."

I asked, "Will the chemotherapy make me sicker or nauseous?" ?? She said, yes. But after the scan, they'll decide what to do.

After receiving my bad news, I went home, waiting for a call from the oncologist. A few days later, she called to tell me she had submitted a request to the health insurance company (zvk) so that I could go to the Netherlands for treatment. ??

The health insurance company disagreed with sending me to the Netherlands due to the high costs. ?? The oncologist further explained that the health insurance company rejected our request, as they believed I could go to Colombia, Cura?ao, or Aruba for treatment at lower costs. ??

During that time, Colombia was in a black code because of Covid. ?? The scanning machine was broken in Cura?ao, and Aruba didn't have all the necessary equipment. So that wasn't an option.

The oncologist, a Dutch woman, told me she had told the health insurance company staff, "If she (meaning me) is not sent to the Netherlands, then she is no longer responsible for me. She will withdraw from this case." ????

My husband said to me, "I don't think we're going to the Netherlands." I said to him, "It's still early, but let's give Almighty God the space to work. Because I am convinced that we are going to the Netherlands. But let's start packing our bags."

Late in the afternoon, my phone rang. A hospital staff member called to inform me that they had approved my request. So, I'm going to the Netherlands. ?? Five minutes later, my phone rang again. This time it was someone from the health insurance company. She said to me, "You need to come to us now so we can arrange your papers because you're going to the Netherlands. Who will accompany you to help? My husband said, "I'll go with her." It was a Friday afternoon. ??♂???♀?

In a rush, my husband and I went to the health insurance company to submit a copy of our passports and receive the travel documents. ??♂???♀?

The staff told us we had to leave for the Netherlands the next day. The health insurance company staff arranged everything for us, from accommodation to food. ????

We left the next day, Saturday; we arrived in the Netherlands on Sunday, and on Monday, November 8, 2021, I already had my first appointment at the UMC in Amsterdam at 1:30 pm with a nurse from the day treatment on reception W, fifth floor in the outpatient clinic. ????

The nurse explained the treatment to me and what I could expect. During the conversation in the Netherlands, I was told I would need 12 chemotherapy treatments. It was as if I had suddenly been hit with cold water.

The conversation lasted about an hour. Following that, the treatment was scheduled for 2:30 pm on the same floor of the outpatient clinic. In the photo below, you can see me waiting in the hospital waiting room.

UMC Amsterdam Waiting Room If you want to read more, click 'support' and share my story with your friends. ??