My name is Michelle, and this is my story. In 2022, my life, my spouse’s life, and our children’s lives, changed forever. In June of 2022, I was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer that had metastasized to my bones. I’m reaching out and sharing my story to seek support and raise awareness. This is my story…

In November of 2019, I felt a lump in my right breast and went to the doctor for a mammogram. The doctor looked at the images and told me that the lump was probably just a cyst, and it was nothing to worry about, because I was under 40 and had no family history of breast cancer. He explained that cysts can grow and shrink, but as long as it doesn’t hurt, it’s nothing to worry about…. 

The next couple years I monitored the lump in my breast, and it got bigger, but it never hurt, so I didn’t worry about it because that’s what the doctor told me…. In November of 2021, 8 months prior to my diagnosis, I started having an enormous amount of back pain. The pain would come and go, and a few times it was debilitating. At that point in time, there was no reason or cause for the pain. I didn’t fall…. I wasn’t in an accident…. I didn’t understand why.

To alleviate the pain, I tried chiropractors…. I tried massages…. I eventually tried several weeks of physical therapy, but nothing helped. Finally, on May 25, 2022, the pain became so excruciating that I ended up going to the emergency room. Several hours and scans later, the doctor came in and told me that there were lesions all over my bones and he advised me to follow up with my primary care physician for an oncologist referral. Lesions? Oncologist? I had so many questions but the E.R. doctors couldn’t tell me anything, except that there was a large lesion on my spine and that was the likely culprit for my back pain.

I followed up with my doctor the next day. He made some calls and I met with an oncologist the very next day. The oncologist ordered more CT scans. The CT scan showed a large lesion in my back that resulted in a compression fracture in my T4 vertebrae and bone fragments appeared dangerously close to my spinal cord, so the oncologist had me admitted to the hospital. While in the hospital they completed an MRI and a full body bone scan. The scans, and some blood work, confirmed I had cancer, but the source was not yet confirmed. Next, I was sent for a mammogram which revealed the lump, the same lump from 2-1/2 years prior, only this time, at 11 cm in length, it could not be mistaken for a cyst. A few days later I went in so they could biopsy the mass. The biopsy results confirmed I had invasive ductal carcinoma (breast cancer).

My diagnosis: HR-positive, HER2-negative, Metastatic Breast Cancer. My cancer is hormone driven, so as far as treatment is concerned, I immediately started hormone therapy. The first 4 weeks after being diagnosed, I also went through spot radiation treatments to help shrink two large tumors/lesions, one on my hip and the one on my spine (T4 vertebrae). This was done to help reduce the pain. What about surgery to remove the lump in my breast, to remove the source? The doctors said no. Surgery is not an option because the cancer has spread, so my treatment is a lifelong regimen of oral chemo twice a day, anti-hormone pills, anti-hormone injections, injections for my bones, medications to help control the pain, and various other medications to help ease the symptoms of all the other medications. The treatment alone is costly, not to mention the multiple scans every few months, and the doctor visits every other week. These costs will continue year after year for the rest of my life. Insurance doesn’t cover everything and the bills are piling up. 

I’m a very energetic, active person... always doing something and I’ve always been that way. I have 6 children, so staying active, and being energetic, is important and it’s just what I do…. That has all changed…The side effects of all these medications, leaves me feeling exhausted most days, and physically sick some days. I’m a fighter… I push through every day, and I try to stay strong…Most days I push and make it through, but some days it just wears me down. I cannot, and I will not, live like this for the rest of my life.

I have 6 children, Devin, Gavin, Billy, Colton, Madison and Peyton. I want to see them finish school. I want to be there for my children and continue to watch them grow, establish careers, find love, and get married. I want to be there as they start families of their own. I want to be there as their families grow… I want to be a grandma and be able to play with my grandchildren one day. I don’t want to miss out on these milestones.

Our family and friends have put our resources together to help with the medical expenses I’ve already incurred, and now we’re reaching out for additional support. The funds we raise will go towards current, and future, medical expenses not covered by insurance. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Thank you for sharing my story. We thank you, and appreciate you, for your love, support, and generosity.

*Update*

My back pain has been increasing so MRIs were done. They have found 2 more compression fractures in my spine. T7 and T9. I’ve started aquatic physical therapy, I wear a back brace, and I started another round of radiation.  Good news is that the cancer is not spreading.  It has, however, taken a toll on my bones and treatment leaves me exhausted.  We’re almost 3 years in since my diagnosis and we’ve accumulated $28,000 in medical debt.  We remain positive and we are forever grateful for the support that we have received so far. 

Thank you everyone for your love and support! 

Please share my story and spread awareness. God bless you all!