Family Cancer Relief
Donation protected
Flatow Family Cancer Relief page
A Go Fund Me page has been established. Its purpose is to obtain financial assistance that was brought on from a medical hardship stemming from both my father's illness and passing and my own breast cancer which was discovered two days prior to his passing. The cancer operation came to $30,266.00 and the chemo infusions cost $18,000 per infusion and six are needed bringing the total cost to $108,000 of necessary chemo treatment. The infusions take 3.5 hours through the port that was installed just near my collar bone. The cancer fight has been a difficult one. Unfortunately, there is a genetic mutation known as BRCA in my family that puts me into a high-risk category. The gene can be very aggressive as was the case with my father. Other Family members that have been affected by this gene mutation are my sister, my aunt, my cousin and grandfather.
It started first with my sister in 2011 she survived stage four breast cancer followed by chemo and radiation. The experience left her with serious physical side affects.
Then in 2014 My father’s health condition started to waver as cancer was detected on my father tongue. An operation was done to remove the cancer and a skin graft from his neck was applied.
In 2015 new tests confirmed the cancer my father was being treated for had come back. He was on all types of pills to try and combat the cancer, unfortunately it was spreading.
By late summer 2016 my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He went through a special operation known as the Whipple Surgery to help save his life. The Operation was supposed to be just 4 hours unfortunately complications occurred as it was determined the cancer had spread forcing the operation to last for 12 hours and his weight went from 245lb to 140lb. Chemo and radiation followed behind not long after. The doctor had suggested a stronger dosage with hope of fighting the aggressive cancer but even with the treatment it was determined his condition was terminal as the cancer came back and his body couldn’t fight off the infection.
On March 21, 2017 his doctor had called and we explained to him what his health condition was and he had us immediately admit him into ICU at Fawcett Memorial Hospital unfortunately his health took a turn for the worst. His red and white blood cells were not fighting off the infection and unfortunately he passed away March 24, 2017.
During the time that my father was fighting for his life I too was dealing with a possible health situation of uncertainty and I never shared my own health concerns because of their present circumstnaces. I did however ask my father’s doctor to look at me privately on the same evening in ICU because I had could feel a lump under my breast that I was concerned about. I was instructed to get tests immediately.
Due to finances he suggested Virginia B Andes which I was already familiar with. The Virginia B Andes Community Clinic in Port Charlotte assisted me with getting an Ultra Sound, Mammogram and biopsy. Unfortunately, all the tests came back positive for cancer as well.
After the tests were completed I gave Virginia B Andes Community Clinic permission to release all the medical documents to my father’s doctor, he inturn contacted a doctor at Moffitt Cancer Center. And it was determined from all the other tests that I had breast cancer and an operation was necessary. And by May 24, 2017 a Mastectomy operation was performed along with the removal of two tiny lymph nodes. After many more tests it was determined that I am high risk for cancer as I carry what is known as BRCA Gene. Unfortunately, this Gene is Hereditary and has attacked along with my father, my sister, my aunt and my cousin as well.
Over the past few months I have had to learn great deal about my family history due to the new circumstances. I started to think about my whole family. My grandfather passed from colon cancer. My aunt had breast cancer and went through chemo and survived. My cousin also had breast cancer and she too survived. And my Sister whom also had stage 4 breast cancer some years earlier
tried for the past year to get my attention regarding a BRCA test. Part of me shrugged it off but part of me also knew something wasn’t right.
I am also presently undergoing Chemo treatment which cost 18k per infusion. According to the doctors I have a 85 % chance in contrast to my father however I will for the rest of my life be under the watchful eyes of cancer specialist because I have a Gene Mutation.
A Go Fund Me page has been established. Its purpose is to obtain financial assistance that was brought on from a medical hardship stemming from both my father's illness and passing and my own breast cancer which was discovered two days prior to his passing. The cancer operation came to $30,266.00 and the chemo infusions cost $18,000 per infusion and six are needed bringing the total cost to $108,000 of necessary chemo treatment. The infusions take 3.5 hours through the port that was installed just near my collar bone. The cancer fight has been a difficult one. Unfortunately, there is a genetic mutation known as BRCA in my family that puts me into a high-risk category. The gene can be very aggressive as was the case with my father. Other Family members that have been affected by this gene mutation are my sister, my aunt, my cousin and grandfather.
It started first with my sister in 2011 she survived stage four breast cancer followed by chemo and radiation. The experience left her with serious physical side affects.
Then in 2014 My father’s health condition started to waver as cancer was detected on my father tongue. An operation was done to remove the cancer and a skin graft from his neck was applied.
In 2015 new tests confirmed the cancer my father was being treated for had come back. He was on all types of pills to try and combat the cancer, unfortunately it was spreading.
By late summer 2016 my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He went through a special operation known as the Whipple Surgery to help save his life. The Operation was supposed to be just 4 hours unfortunately complications occurred as it was determined the cancer had spread forcing the operation to last for 12 hours and his weight went from 245lb to 140lb. Chemo and radiation followed behind not long after. The doctor had suggested a stronger dosage with hope of fighting the aggressive cancer but even with the treatment it was determined his condition was terminal as the cancer came back and his body couldn’t fight off the infection.
On March 21, 2017 his doctor had called and we explained to him what his health condition was and he had us immediately admit him into ICU at Fawcett Memorial Hospital unfortunately his health took a turn for the worst. His red and white blood cells were not fighting off the infection and unfortunately he passed away March 24, 2017.
During the time that my father was fighting for his life I too was dealing with a possible health situation of uncertainty and I never shared my own health concerns because of their present circumstnaces. I did however ask my father’s doctor to look at me privately on the same evening in ICU because I had could feel a lump under my breast that I was concerned about. I was instructed to get tests immediately.
Due to finances he suggested Virginia B Andes which I was already familiar with. The Virginia B Andes Community Clinic in Port Charlotte assisted me with getting an Ultra Sound, Mammogram and biopsy. Unfortunately, all the tests came back positive for cancer as well.
After the tests were completed I gave Virginia B Andes Community Clinic permission to release all the medical documents to my father’s doctor, he inturn contacted a doctor at Moffitt Cancer Center. And it was determined from all the other tests that I had breast cancer and an operation was necessary. And by May 24, 2017 a Mastectomy operation was performed along with the removal of two tiny lymph nodes. After many more tests it was determined that I am high risk for cancer as I carry what is known as BRCA Gene. Unfortunately, this Gene is Hereditary and has attacked along with my father, my sister, my aunt and my cousin as well.
Over the past few months I have had to learn great deal about my family history due to the new circumstances. I started to think about my whole family. My grandfather passed from colon cancer. My aunt had breast cancer and went through chemo and survived. My cousin also had breast cancer and she too survived. And my Sister whom also had stage 4 breast cancer some years earlier
tried for the past year to get my attention regarding a BRCA test. Part of me shrugged it off but part of me also knew something wasn’t right.
I am also presently undergoing Chemo treatment which cost 18k per infusion. According to the doctors I have a 85 % chance in contrast to my father however I will for the rest of my life be under the watchful eyes of cancer specialist because I have a Gene Mutation.
Organizer
Ron Flatow
Organizer
Punta Gorda, FL
