March 2026 update:
Thank you so much for the incredible outpouring of support, love, and encouragement during this challenging chapter. Your messages, calls, visits, and meals have truly lifted my spirits.
I'm happy to report that I've successfully completed the first major phase of medication and will be starting the next course of treatment (Taxol) this month.
The good news is that my body has been responding really well to the chemotherapy so far, and my doctors are very pleased with the progress. The side effects have been relatively minor and manageable—hair loss and a temporary loss of my sense of taste. I'm taking it all in stride, knowing both will return once treatment is complete.
Thank you again for all the love and support. I am deeply grateful.
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Hello, my name is Gina, and I live in the Bay Area with my beloved cat, Kali.
On August 19th, my world changed when I discovered a lump in my right breast. By October 3rd, I received the devastating news that I have stage 3 breast cancer—specifically, invasive ductal carcinoma in my right breast and metastatic carcinoma in a right axillary lymph node.
I am reaching out with humility and hope, asking for help with my medical bills. While I am fortunate to have good insurance, the out-of-pocket costs are already overwhelming, and I simply cannot manage them all on my own.
Since finding the lump, I’ve undergone a whirlwind of procedures and tests, including:
- Ultrasound
- Mammogram
- Ultrasound-assisted biopsy
- MRI
- Genetic testing
- Full bloodwork panel
- PET/CT scan
And there are more ahead:
- Echocardiogram
- Additional biopsies
- PICC line placement
- Chemotherapy
- Prescription medications
- Breast surgery (lumpectomy, mastectomy, and/or reconstruction)
- Radiation
I will begin chemotherapy in January and will be taking medical leave from work during this time. My treatment is at UCSF, and I am deeply grateful for the care I am receiving.
This is, without a doubt, the scariest chapter of my life. My immediate family lives outside the United States, so I am leaning heavily on the love and support of my friends and colleagues here. Their encouragement means everything to me, and I am doing my best to stay hopeful and strong for them—and for myself. I know that my mindset will be crucial in this long fight, and I am determined to face each day with courage. Beyond the immediate treatments, I will likely need immunotherapy for at least a year after chemo, and ongoing scans every six months for several years to monitor for recurrence.
Any support you can offer—no matter how small—would mean the world to me. Your kindness and generosity will help ease the burden and allow me to focus on healing.
Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart.