Single mom battles cancer, depression

Reynalyn Ychon

MANILA, Philippines — Instead of being at home with her family, Reynalyn Ychon spent the holidays recovering from emergency surgery at Philippine General Hospital (PGH). After being diagnosed with cervical cancer stage 3B in February 2020, the 29-year-old single mom to three kids and former overseas worker underwent brachytherapy (radiation therapy) and chemotherapy.

But the treatment led to side effects and on Nov. 28, Ychon was rushed to PGH to repair the damage to her kidneys and digestive tract.

Last month, she was again hospitalized for complications although recently, doctors gave her the go-signal to resume treatment as the cancer has spread to other parts of her body.

Once the breadwinner of the family, Ychon has been unable to work and now depends on her immediate relatives for help. Without any means of providing for her children, she has turned them over to their father from whom she is separated.

“It’s been difficult,” her sister and caretaker, Rachel, told the Inquirer. “She has been having hallucinations and now she has depression and anorexia. Every night, I hear her cry … she used to take a lot of pain relievers, but now, they have no effect on her.”

Doctors have recommended a lifetime of chemotherapy for Ychon. Each session costs around P3,000, on top of P1,500 for every bag of blood used for transfusions.

The pandemic has made life more difficult for her family as they try to budget their money for food and other necessities. Ychon’s most recent hospital fees amount to P55,000. Her previous surgery cost them P98,000.

“We’ve used up her insurance, so now we’re trying to raise more money for her other treatments and maintenance,” Rachel said.

Ychon also needs several vitamins and maintenance medications like folic acid, ferrous sulfate and morphine, along with a special diet to treat her anorexia.

“We spend P1,800 just for her Boost milk, and another P1,700 for Prosure milk, which helps with cancer-induced weight loss,” Rachel said.

Donations for Ychon can be deposited into her Metrobank Account No. 0723-0722-76737. Donors can contact her at 0956-0390488.