Friends of Eileen ask Your Help!
Donation protected
We are Friends of Eileen who are reaching out in her cancer battle. Your help can make a difference in her life - your thoughts, care, or a donation. The story of her journey follows.
Laura S - Sandy L - Amanda H - Carol H
In 2001, after not feeling well for two years, Eileen went to Mayo where metastasized pancreatic cancer was diagnosed. At that time surgery removed part of the pancreas and related lymph nodes. Five years later the disease reared its ugly head in the liver.
She has had every procedure available since then to pluck the weeds from her liver. Eight surgeries, countless ablations, embolizations, octreotide injections, nuclear treatments. Three rounds of chemo caused the lesions to enlarge!
Now... 16 years later she is still alive! This is the same rare cancer that took Steve Jobs in four years so Eileen feels incredibly fortunate.
This is the first time the wonderfully independent 'red head' has reached out for assistance. To date, out-of-pocket cancer expenses have totalled over $200,000 which has been paid for by the sale of intended retirement investments and her home in Bozeman.
The myriad trips, endless treatments, and travel have all been self funded. Her personal resources have been exhausted.
The following costs are now needed and are the reason for this campaign.
The cost of one treatment, $8,000 is due by the next treatment in May.
$32,000 - Four treatments @ $8,000 each
1,000 - Four drug copays @ $250 per treatment
3,000 - Follow up, uncovered scans
8,800 - Travel costs - air, lodging, shuttle services - $1100 x 8 trips to Houston
The Bad News
- The cancer has filled her abdomen with numerous lymph masses, spinal and both femoral metastases, and masses in and around the liver, lungs and portal vein. The usual options have come to an end.
- Montana does not have a facility that provides any of these procedures nor physicians experienced with the cancer - She is likely the only patient in the State.
-Thus, all treatment has involved travel costs to Arizona, Oregon, and Minnesota. Insurance has not covered all expenses and has left hefty co-pays.
- She has exhausted all retirement funds and assets, with social security being the sole income at present.
- There has been a treatment(known as PRRT) available in Europe for several years but the FDA has yet to approve it in the US. In simple terms, a radioative isotope is given intravenously. Receptors in the tumors take it in and the radioactivity damages those cells. A specialized PET scan determines whether an individual has the receptors for the treatment. This is good news, but....
- The treatment is costly and not covered by insurance since FDA has yet to approve it.
The Good News
- She is still alive to watch her oldest grandson graduate in June.
-Texas has a "right to try" law. A clinic in Houston, Excel Diagnostics, provides the PRRT treatment with a high success rate. Her local onocologist and Mayo Clinic have both encouraged it as her only option.
- The PET scan results show that she would benefit substantially from the treatment.
The Current News
- She opted to try the PRRT treatment and has just returned with great results from the first one.
-The regimen consists of 4 treatments, one every two months, with consistent followups for two and a half years.
- Resulting in.... numerous trips to Houston and cost of more treatments, expenses beyond her reach.
- Doctors there assure her that it has given people several years of extended life with good quality. She has experienced better days already.
Laura S - Sandy L - Amanda H - Carol H
In 2001, after not feeling well for two years, Eileen went to Mayo where metastasized pancreatic cancer was diagnosed. At that time surgery removed part of the pancreas and related lymph nodes. Five years later the disease reared its ugly head in the liver.
She has had every procedure available since then to pluck the weeds from her liver. Eight surgeries, countless ablations, embolizations, octreotide injections, nuclear treatments. Three rounds of chemo caused the lesions to enlarge!
Now... 16 years later she is still alive! This is the same rare cancer that took Steve Jobs in four years so Eileen feels incredibly fortunate.
This is the first time the wonderfully independent 'red head' has reached out for assistance. To date, out-of-pocket cancer expenses have totalled over $200,000 which has been paid for by the sale of intended retirement investments and her home in Bozeman.
The myriad trips, endless treatments, and travel have all been self funded. Her personal resources have been exhausted.
The following costs are now needed and are the reason for this campaign.
The cost of one treatment, $8,000 is due by the next treatment in May.
$32,000 - Four treatments @ $8,000 each
1,000 - Four drug copays @ $250 per treatment
3,000 - Follow up, uncovered scans
8,800 - Travel costs - air, lodging, shuttle services - $1100 x 8 trips to Houston
The Bad News
- The cancer has filled her abdomen with numerous lymph masses, spinal and both femoral metastases, and masses in and around the liver, lungs and portal vein. The usual options have come to an end.
- Montana does not have a facility that provides any of these procedures nor physicians experienced with the cancer - She is likely the only patient in the State.
-Thus, all treatment has involved travel costs to Arizona, Oregon, and Minnesota. Insurance has not covered all expenses and has left hefty co-pays.
- She has exhausted all retirement funds and assets, with social security being the sole income at present.
- There has been a treatment(known as PRRT) available in Europe for several years but the FDA has yet to approve it in the US. In simple terms, a radioative isotope is given intravenously. Receptors in the tumors take it in and the radioactivity damages those cells. A specialized PET scan determines whether an individual has the receptors for the treatment. This is good news, but....
- The treatment is costly and not covered by insurance since FDA has yet to approve it.
The Good News
- She is still alive to watch her oldest grandson graduate in June.
-Texas has a "right to try" law. A clinic in Houston, Excel Diagnostics, provides the PRRT treatment with a high success rate. Her local onocologist and Mayo Clinic have both encouraged it as her only option.
- The PET scan results show that she would benefit substantially from the treatment.
The Current News
- She opted to try the PRRT treatment and has just returned with great results from the first one.
-The regimen consists of 4 treatments, one every two months, with consistent followups for two and a half years.
- Resulting in.... numerous trips to Houston and cost of more treatments, expenses beyond her reach.
- Doctors there assure her that it has given people several years of extended life with good quality. She has experienced better days already.
Organizer
Laura Stack
Organizer
Great Falls, MT
