Dana's Fight Fund
Donation protected
When you hear the news that someone you love has cancer you become breathless, depressed, worried and angry. You also find yourself becoming stronger. Stronger because you don't want them to see the worry on your face or the tears in your eyes. You become stronger because you know you have to be the rock for them to fall back on, the support they need to help them get through this fight. I've never been the strong one... it has been my sister who has ALWAYS had my back, helped me fight my battles and been the older sister that protected me growing up. So in this I find myself becoming stronger for my sister who has been there for me. Have no doubt, through all of this she still is stronger than I am. Though she is small.... she is FIERCE! This is Dana's story and Dana's FIGHT!
Dana found a lump during a self breast exam. She then went to the Dr. who ordered a mammogram and ultra sound. The mammogram didn't show anything (women beware of mammograms... they do not always detect cancer. Know if you have dense breast and if so demand an ultra sound) but the ultra sound found a mass. The mass showed veins and blood flow. She was referred to a surgeon for removal of the mass. Due to the suspicious signs of the mass the surgeon scheduled her for surgery the next day. It was then confirmed that she had Grade 3 breast cancer. An aggressive and invasive cancer. She was scheduled for an MRI to make sure there weren't signs of more cancer in her breasts. The MRI came back negative. What a relief... right? NO! Then the surgeon notifies her that she has to have lymph nodes removed to make sure that the cancer didn't break off and go into her lymph nodes. So again surgery was scheduled and back under she went for the removal of 4 lymph nodes. The biopsy came back from the lymph nodes and they were clear! We all thought GREAT this must be it.... right? NO! The oncologist had sent the tumor off for more pathology work. With the cancer being Grade 3 meaning it is highly aggresive they wanted to see what the risk is that the cancer may have broken off in the blood and traveled somewhere else and the chances of it recurring are. Well, this is when we were once again blind sided and told that Dana's risk is HIGH. Dana is now facing chemo, she's facing radiation and she's facing the fight head on!
We are still waiting for the BRCA test results. This will tell us whether or not Dana has a mutated gene and the chances of breast cancer recurring or the chance of it being passed down to her daughter. This will also be the deciding factor as to whether or not Dana has a mastectomy and possibly a hysterectomy.
During all of this the Drs. tell you to take care of yourself, focus on yourself and have less stress. Less stress being the key word. Less stress when you have to work full time and take time off for chemo and radiation treatments to fight for your life. Have less stress as you try to juggle your life, treatment, children, husband and job all while trying to decide if it's best to shave your head before chemo or wait until the hair starts to fall out. Have less stress when the Dr. calls you the night before chemo treatment is scheduled and tells you that you need to come to treatment with $5,000..... EVERY TIME, EVERY SESSION! How do they expect people to do that?! LESS STRESS.... how is that even possible?????
Cancer leaves you feeling confused, angry and scared. Just when you think you have good news the Drs. throw you a curve ball. It also leaves you feeling helpless. We are by Dana's side during all of this. Every surgery and office visit you can guarantee her family has been by her side. But what else can we really do to ease her stress. Financial burdens are big ones when facing something like this. Sure she has insurance but with a $17,000 deductible that doesn't really help much. My family and I are trying to help ease some of her stress by easing the financial burden of this. Please, if you can, help us with the one thing we can... the financial stress of Dana's Fight. A fight we NEVER thought she would be facing.... the fight against cancer.
We are surrounded by family and friends and are truly blessed and BEYOND grateful to have an amazing support group. Hug your family and friends tight.... the unreal becomes real before you have any idea what even happened.
Dana found a lump during a self breast exam. She then went to the Dr. who ordered a mammogram and ultra sound. The mammogram didn't show anything (women beware of mammograms... they do not always detect cancer. Know if you have dense breast and if so demand an ultra sound) but the ultra sound found a mass. The mass showed veins and blood flow. She was referred to a surgeon for removal of the mass. Due to the suspicious signs of the mass the surgeon scheduled her for surgery the next day. It was then confirmed that she had Grade 3 breast cancer. An aggressive and invasive cancer. She was scheduled for an MRI to make sure there weren't signs of more cancer in her breasts. The MRI came back negative. What a relief... right? NO! Then the surgeon notifies her that she has to have lymph nodes removed to make sure that the cancer didn't break off and go into her lymph nodes. So again surgery was scheduled and back under she went for the removal of 4 lymph nodes. The biopsy came back from the lymph nodes and they were clear! We all thought GREAT this must be it.... right? NO! The oncologist had sent the tumor off for more pathology work. With the cancer being Grade 3 meaning it is highly aggresive they wanted to see what the risk is that the cancer may have broken off in the blood and traveled somewhere else and the chances of it recurring are. Well, this is when we were once again blind sided and told that Dana's risk is HIGH. Dana is now facing chemo, she's facing radiation and she's facing the fight head on!
We are still waiting for the BRCA test results. This will tell us whether or not Dana has a mutated gene and the chances of breast cancer recurring or the chance of it being passed down to her daughter. This will also be the deciding factor as to whether or not Dana has a mastectomy and possibly a hysterectomy.
During all of this the Drs. tell you to take care of yourself, focus on yourself and have less stress. Less stress being the key word. Less stress when you have to work full time and take time off for chemo and radiation treatments to fight for your life. Have less stress as you try to juggle your life, treatment, children, husband and job all while trying to decide if it's best to shave your head before chemo or wait until the hair starts to fall out. Have less stress when the Dr. calls you the night before chemo treatment is scheduled and tells you that you need to come to treatment with $5,000..... EVERY TIME, EVERY SESSION! How do they expect people to do that?! LESS STRESS.... how is that even possible?????
Cancer leaves you feeling confused, angry and scared. Just when you think you have good news the Drs. throw you a curve ball. It also leaves you feeling helpless. We are by Dana's side during all of this. Every surgery and office visit you can guarantee her family has been by her side. But what else can we really do to ease her stress. Financial burdens are big ones when facing something like this. Sure she has insurance but with a $17,000 deductible that doesn't really help much. My family and I are trying to help ease some of her stress by easing the financial burden of this. Please, if you can, help us with the one thing we can... the financial stress of Dana's Fight. A fight we NEVER thought she would be facing.... the fight against cancer.
We are surrounded by family and friends and are truly blessed and BEYOND grateful to have an amazing support group. Hug your family and friends tight.... the unreal becomes real before you have any idea what even happened.
Organizer and beneficiary
Christy Gunther Cohen
Organizer
Sarasota, FL
Dana Zizak
Beneficiary
