Team Michelle
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Michelle Lemieux was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer on December 5, 2013. She had found a lump on her upper chest and after numerous testing got the devastating diagnosis. After a brave six-month battle of doctor’s visits, chemotherapy, and a double mastectomy, she beat her breast cancer. She was a strong fighter and never gave up with so many loving supporters behind her.
As most of you know, and for those of you who do not, she was very recently diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, which has spread to her lungs. What was just an annoying, persistent cough, ended up being another devastating diagnosis. She has now begun treatment of chemotherapy, along with a cancer fighting diet, and beneficial aromatherapy treatments. Her infusions were every 3 weeks for 6 months. With the love from her family and all her friends she is determined to fight this battle again and not let cancer win!
Michelle had been experiencing some symptoms with her right arm, which consist of the following: difficulty with writing, typing, strange sensations in her arm, inability to hold her toothbrush or utensils etc. Her oncologist ordered an ultrasound to check for a blood clot in her arm. The ultrasound didn’t result in anything. Michelle had a follow-up appointment with my oncologist and she ordered a STAT brain MRI. The results of the MRI were heart breaking; her breast cancer metastasized to her brain. She was told there are four tumors; one very significant large tumor on her left frontal lobe (premotor cortex) which is the one causing paralysis-like symptoms in the arm and the others are in the back of my neck more towards the base of the brain. A treatment plan was quickly put into place, Michelle started radiation on Tuesday, however, as the larger treatment team reviewed her scans and discussed her case, it was recommended she see a neurosurgeon at Maine Medical Center to discuss surgery.
Michelle and Keith met with a neurosurgeon, who wanted to operate on the significant tumor in an attempt to alleviate my paralysis symptoms. They spent a lot of time with him and he provided a very compassionate explanation of what he would like to do and why. He actually picked up on a fifth lesion on the MRI and strongly recommended this surgery. He explained that while he didn't need to rush me to the operating room that moment for surgery, but if we decided to move forward with it, it needed to happen rather quickly. It’s a very aggressive cancer since back in October Michelle’s
brain MRI scan was clear not even a speck could be seen. For those of you wondering how this could happen after seven rounds of aggressive chemotherapy we learned something that we never knew chemotherapy does not reach the brain, there’s a blood blocker barrier that prevents toxins from entering the brain. Something we never knew and all this time there were tumors growing in my brain. The surgeon gave us the night to talk about it privately. We decided to move forward with the surgery. A detailed plan for radiation for after surgery and after a post-surgical scan is completed.
With all my heart Team Michelle knows the battle ahead is going to be very difficult and Michelle will continue her valiant fight. Your continued prayers for Michelle and her family are so very greatly appreciated. Michelle, and Team Michelle, still believe in positivity and prayer. With HOPE, FAITH & LOVE!!
This support page for Michelle was created to inform every one of her journey. A meal plan train link was also created for those of you who would like to sign up (insert link). This GoFundMe page will help with the ongoing hospital and doctor bills that insurance does not cover, support that Michelle and her family will need to help them stay strong by her side, and of course for all the additional care and expenses that Michelle will need throughout her journey. Any and all donations to this page will be greatly appreciated.
Please continue to send all the love, support and encouragement to help her fight this battle again. She is a strong, brave fighter and is going to show cancer who’s BOSS!!
#TEAMMICHELLE #NOONEFIGHTSALONE
**This page might look a little different, as YouCaring and GoFundMe recently merged, requiring Team Michelle to create a new page under GoFundMe!
As most of you know, and for those of you who do not, she was very recently diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, which has spread to her lungs. What was just an annoying, persistent cough, ended up being another devastating diagnosis. She has now begun treatment of chemotherapy, along with a cancer fighting diet, and beneficial aromatherapy treatments. Her infusions were every 3 weeks for 6 months. With the love from her family and all her friends she is determined to fight this battle again and not let cancer win!
Michelle had been experiencing some symptoms with her right arm, which consist of the following: difficulty with writing, typing, strange sensations in her arm, inability to hold her toothbrush or utensils etc. Her oncologist ordered an ultrasound to check for a blood clot in her arm. The ultrasound didn’t result in anything. Michelle had a follow-up appointment with my oncologist and she ordered a STAT brain MRI. The results of the MRI were heart breaking; her breast cancer metastasized to her brain. She was told there are four tumors; one very significant large tumor on her left frontal lobe (premotor cortex) which is the one causing paralysis-like symptoms in the arm and the others are in the back of my neck more towards the base of the brain. A treatment plan was quickly put into place, Michelle started radiation on Tuesday, however, as the larger treatment team reviewed her scans and discussed her case, it was recommended she see a neurosurgeon at Maine Medical Center to discuss surgery.
Michelle and Keith met with a neurosurgeon, who wanted to operate on the significant tumor in an attempt to alleviate my paralysis symptoms. They spent a lot of time with him and he provided a very compassionate explanation of what he would like to do and why. He actually picked up on a fifth lesion on the MRI and strongly recommended this surgery. He explained that while he didn't need to rush me to the operating room that moment for surgery, but if we decided to move forward with it, it needed to happen rather quickly. It’s a very aggressive cancer since back in October Michelle’s
brain MRI scan was clear not even a speck could be seen. For those of you wondering how this could happen after seven rounds of aggressive chemotherapy we learned something that we never knew chemotherapy does not reach the brain, there’s a blood blocker barrier that prevents toxins from entering the brain. Something we never knew and all this time there were tumors growing in my brain. The surgeon gave us the night to talk about it privately. We decided to move forward with the surgery. A detailed plan for radiation for after surgery and after a post-surgical scan is completed.
With all my heart Team Michelle knows the battle ahead is going to be very difficult and Michelle will continue her valiant fight. Your continued prayers for Michelle and her family are so very greatly appreciated. Michelle, and Team Michelle, still believe in positivity and prayer. With HOPE, FAITH & LOVE!!
This support page for Michelle was created to inform every one of her journey. A meal plan train link was also created for those of you who would like to sign up (insert link). This GoFundMe page will help with the ongoing hospital and doctor bills that insurance does not cover, support that Michelle and her family will need to help them stay strong by her side, and of course for all the additional care and expenses that Michelle will need throughout her journey. Any and all donations to this page will be greatly appreciated.
Please continue to send all the love, support and encouragement to help her fight this battle again. She is a strong, brave fighter and is going to show cancer who’s BOSS!!
#TEAMMICHELLE #NOONEFIGHTSALONE
**This page might look a little different, as YouCaring and GoFundMe recently merged, requiring Team Michelle to create a new page under GoFundMe!
Organizer
Michelle Lemieux
Organizer
Minot, ME