Lourice's Chemo Campaign

Ishi Ish is organizing this fundraiser.

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UPDATE AS OF MARCH 03, 2016

Now I will be in a 5 year treatment of hormonal therapy and bone mets for 2 years........... :( I thought after chemo it will be over.. now another 5 years..... unbelievable. :(

My name is Lourice Theresa Tesico, 27 years old. My friends call me Ish but my parents and relatives call me Tere. I am an only child of Edgardo Tesico and Lolita Tesico, both 62 years old. My father is a retired bank teller and serves the church as a lay minister and handles the Knights of the Altar in our parish. My mother used to work but chose to be a full time housewife after giving birth to me.

I graduated as a BS Psychology student and continuous to pursue my Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling. As of now, I am working as an HR Assistant in an IT Recruitment firm while finishing my masters.

Last year, July 2014 I was diagnosed with Stage 2B Breast cancer. I had mastectomy and was on hormonal treatment (Tamoxifen and Lupron).

Way back 2012 I already felt a small movable lump on my left breast. I read articles about it and found out that it might just be fibroids. Still I went to see a doctor to get advice about it. The doctor did a physical exam on my lump and said that since it’s movable, it might be fibroids, but to have peace of mind the doctor suggested a biopsy.

During that time I was about to finish my academic requirements with my masters and I feared that a medical procedure might be a hindrance to my studies. I also do not have enough money for a biopsy procedure due to my educational fees. I did not mention this to my parents because I do not want them to worry. They are very old and I know a problem like this will not be good for them. I also do not want them to freak out for something which is still uncertain.

I continued with my masters, I finish my practicum hours, I passed the 3 day comprehensive exam and I felt that maybe this time I can focus on my suspicious lump.

I took a leave from work to enroll for my thesis and to have a sono mammogram, unfortunately, the doctor who did the sono mamogram advised to immediately have a biopsy because the lump is highly suspicious. Instead of paying for my thesis enrollment, I used my money for the biopsy procedure.

During the biopsy, I can’t believe what I was going through. I continuously prayed that even of it is highly suspicious to be cancer, a miracle will happen and it will be benign. I talked to God and told him that though I know I can get through anything, my parents will not be able to accept these things easily. I do not want them to suffer because of a daughter who has cancer.

The result was released and the biopsy confirmed that it is cancer and was advised to see a surgeon to discuss the mastectomy procedure. This time I informed my parents about my condition. The doctors told me that being young, cancer cells are very aggressive and the surgery must be done as soon as possible.

That has been very devastating for me, the thought of surgically removing my left breast for mastectomy is really depressing. I am still single and yes I am conscious of how I look. I was wishing that this is just a terrible nightmare and that I will wake up the next day normal and healthy. But eventually I went on with the surgery.

Our relatives, family friends and my employer helped us with the financial issues and were able to have enough money to pay the doctors and the hospital for the operation. We were very blessed with good people around us.

My friends helped me emotionally. After recovering from my operation, they would invite me to go out to eat, laugh, discuss good things, and take photo walks and try being as normal as possible.

The surgeon gave me an option for the treatment. The first one is chemotherapy because I have 1 node positive, second is to be on hormonal treatment to suppress my hormones to avoid it from feeding my cancer.

Chemotherapy gives a higher percentage that the cancer will not reoccur but it may cause infertility. I want to have children, I want a family of my own, I want to raise my kids, bring them to school and see them grow into adults. These are very simple dreams that might not be possible. Considering the side effects and that it is expensive, I chose hormonal treatment.

My father asked for financial help to sustain my medication. He would fall in line in PCSO, a charity institution, and they provided one of the hormonal medicine which is lupron. My father sleeps in the institution’s building the night before he files the request because there are many people lining up for medical support. I feel so guilty that my father needs to do this for me. He is now old, and I just wanted him to enjoy life, but then he sacrifices a lot for my treatment.

For almost a year now, I went back to my normal routine, I continued to work, but my lifestyle was changed. I have to be careful with what eat, I try to have enough rest as possible and to avoid stress as much as I can. I thought everything was going smoothly with my hormonal therapy. I thought my nightmare had ended. But it seems that my story just don’t end there.

This July 2015, I felt an intense pain in my right rib. It was an extreme pain that I need help to be able to get up from bed and to lay down to sleep. I was not able to report for work for several days. I asked God what was happening to me, all of a sudden an extreme pain came up.

I went to see a medical oncologist, the doctor made several exams, whole body bone scan , blood tests, ct scan, and sono mammogram. It shows that I have a 4 centimeter mass in my right 6th anterior rib. Another biopsy was done. This is unbelievable, another mass, another biopsy, another treatment. I felt so down that time, I cannot understand why these things are happening to me and my family. I cannot understand why I cannot just live a normal life and fulfill my dreams.

We went to a healing nun to ask for prayers and to keep my faith. She was able to revive my spirit to go on and fight cancer.

Now, I needed to take 10 sessions of radiation and chemotherapy……….. all these treatment are very expensive, I pray that good people can help me and bless them as well.

This is an autobiography made by my friend Lourice. Who is in dire need of assistance. This young daughter of 2 very kind and loving parents are seeking assistance to help cover the medical bills needed to complete her chemotherapy. We all know medical bills are a huge thorn in our sides, so any help is appreciated. Even if you cannot donate at this time, please share this page to set the word out. Thank you very much for your time in reading this page, and for sharing.