Know your body and trust yourself!

In May of 2013, I had my annual mammogram which came back suspicious. The radiologist conducted additional diagnostic testing concluding that it was nothing. "You can come back next year." she said. By early November, the mass was the size of a twinkie and I was without health insurance.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of a nurse practioner from Planned Parenthood, diagnostic testing was provided. The biopsy concluded I had stage 3, invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. Or, as my breast surgeon likes to say, "The tricky form of breast cancer."

Planned Parenthood only covered me through diagnosis so they put me in touch with a non-profit that generously assisted me in getting treatment started. Sadly, Obama care wasn't yet available and at the rate my tumor was growing I couldn't wait.

So I forged ahead with 16 chemo treatments ($6000 each), 4 Nuelasta injections ($10,000 each), a double mastectomy and six and half weeks of radiation and then, the most beastly reconstruction ever, a DIEP flap. A very expensive venture indeed! 

The true cost of cancer is more than the medical treatments. It's the loss of income from being unable to work. Or, the complimentary therapies that repair the never ending damage chemo left in its wake.

My journey didn't end there unfortunately. I tested positive for the BRCA genetic mutation that causes breast and ovarian cancer. The plan was to remove my ovaries as a preventative measure. Sadly, I developed ovarian cancer less than 12 months after my breast reconstruction and before they could remove the ovaries. The cancer required a complete hysterectomy followed by another dastardly round of chemotherapy for 6 months. Cancer is a gift that keeps on giving!

In 2019, just a few years after my ovarian cancer treatment, I noticed intermittent pain in my ribs. It would come every so often and last for a few days. I thought, perhaps, I had lifted something too heavy or strained a muscle. Then in 2021, the pain moved to my pelvis, and I knew something was wrong. Even with an extremely high tolerance for pain, it was so severe that I my vision was blurred. Eventually, I begged for a scan, which ultimately revealed that my cancer had returned with a vengeance, populating my skeleton with tumors from my neck to thighs. At the time, they gave my two years to live. Luckily, there are new drugs for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer that have extended my life.

My diagnosis has made it impossible to work consistently. I am no longer able to cook meals regularly and often have to conserve my energy just to get through the day. Falling seriously ill during what should have been my best earning years has placed an enormous financial strain on me and my family.

Medical bills have accumulated over years of treatment, and the ongoing costs of health insurance premiums and co-pays continue to add up. On top of that, Dayna relies on a 2003 minivan with nearly 300,000 miles on it—her lifeline to doctor appointments and daily necessities—which is in need of repairs.

Dayna is not someone who asks for help easily. But right now, she needs the support of her community. Funds raised will go directly toward covering long-standing medical bills, insurance costs, and essential transportation needs, helping to relieve some of the overwhelming financial pressure she and her family are carrying.

Every donation—no matter the size—makes a difference. If you’re unable to give, please consider sharing my story. Your kindness, generosity, and prayers mean more than words can express.

Thank you for helping me focus on what matters most: time, comfort, and meaningful moments with the people I love.