My Mom's Cancer Treatment
Donation protected
My name is Kasia (Katarzyna) Galica and I am starting a fundraiser on behalf of my incredibly loving, wonderful mom, Halina Galica.
In 2011 my mom was diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer. She underwent three consecutive surgeries which resulted in a lumpectomy and mastectomy of her right breast. Her oncologist said that they removed everything they could and sent her for several treatments of radiation as part of her adjuvant therapy. The radiation was tough, but she made it through and the results of her final CT scan showed that she had gone into remission. We were absolutely over joyed!
As time went on, my mom had developed lymphedema in her right arm. Along with the poorly healed auxiliary scar from the lumpectomy, my mom was in a fair bit of discomfort as both the lymphedema and scar had disrupted her mobility quite a bit putting an even larger strain on her body. Fibromyalgia made doing things she loved such as gardening very difficult.
In October 2015 I ran in the CIBC Run for the Cure in honor of my mom celebrating nearly five years of being in remission where I ran my fastest 5 km to date. I was so happy my mom had been cancer free for so long.
In January 2016, shortly after my mom’s birthday, her left arm had become extremely inflamed. She went to her family doctor who said the inflammation looked like she had an infection. My mom was given antibiotics and all was to be well. Before her appointment with her family doctor, my mom had a routine mammogram scheduled. The clinic was next to the place where my mom had had her biopsies done in previous years. To be proactive, my mom asked if she could sneek in for a biopsy to see if the inflammation was something other than an infection. The lady that was working knew my mom and accommodated her request.
A week or so after the biopsy, my mom received a call from a surgeon’s office. We were told at an appointment with the surgeon that my mom has Inflammatory Breast Cancer. It is the rarest and most aggressive type of Breast Cancer with an automatic diagnosis of Stage III. After a bone density scan and a CT scan it was determined by the oncologist that my mom has Stage IV (Metastatic) Inflammatory Breast Cancer as it has also spread to her bones. We were advised that her cancer is no longer curable, but it is treatable to try and provide her with a decent quality of life. As such, my mom has started a chemotherapy treatment with no end date in site and cycles reoccurring every three weeks.
Chemotherapy causes fatigue and other side effects in anyone, but those with Fibromyalgia have an even greater challenge. I have moved back home to help with the cooking and cleaning and to give my mom any relief I can possibly offer. To help treat the cancer and any other side effects that may come, my mom has simultaneously been doing Ozone Therapy at a naturopath’s clinic encompassing her chemo treatments. These treatments are not covered by health benefits and cost $1,000 a month.
Please help my mom have a fighting chance at living the best quality of life possible.
We are eternally grateful for every dollar given.
Halina and Kasia
In 2011 my mom was diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer. She underwent three consecutive surgeries which resulted in a lumpectomy and mastectomy of her right breast. Her oncologist said that they removed everything they could and sent her for several treatments of radiation as part of her adjuvant therapy. The radiation was tough, but she made it through and the results of her final CT scan showed that she had gone into remission. We were absolutely over joyed!
As time went on, my mom had developed lymphedema in her right arm. Along with the poorly healed auxiliary scar from the lumpectomy, my mom was in a fair bit of discomfort as both the lymphedema and scar had disrupted her mobility quite a bit putting an even larger strain on her body. Fibromyalgia made doing things she loved such as gardening very difficult.
In October 2015 I ran in the CIBC Run for the Cure in honor of my mom celebrating nearly five years of being in remission where I ran my fastest 5 km to date. I was so happy my mom had been cancer free for so long.
In January 2016, shortly after my mom’s birthday, her left arm had become extremely inflamed. She went to her family doctor who said the inflammation looked like she had an infection. My mom was given antibiotics and all was to be well. Before her appointment with her family doctor, my mom had a routine mammogram scheduled. The clinic was next to the place where my mom had had her biopsies done in previous years. To be proactive, my mom asked if she could sneek in for a biopsy to see if the inflammation was something other than an infection. The lady that was working knew my mom and accommodated her request.
A week or so after the biopsy, my mom received a call from a surgeon’s office. We were told at an appointment with the surgeon that my mom has Inflammatory Breast Cancer. It is the rarest and most aggressive type of Breast Cancer with an automatic diagnosis of Stage III. After a bone density scan and a CT scan it was determined by the oncologist that my mom has Stage IV (Metastatic) Inflammatory Breast Cancer as it has also spread to her bones. We were advised that her cancer is no longer curable, but it is treatable to try and provide her with a decent quality of life. As such, my mom has started a chemotherapy treatment with no end date in site and cycles reoccurring every three weeks.
Chemotherapy causes fatigue and other side effects in anyone, but those with Fibromyalgia have an even greater challenge. I have moved back home to help with the cooking and cleaning and to give my mom any relief I can possibly offer. To help treat the cancer and any other side effects that may come, my mom has simultaneously been doing Ozone Therapy at a naturopath’s clinic encompassing her chemo treatments. These treatments are not covered by health benefits and cost $1,000 a month.
Please help my mom have a fighting chance at living the best quality of life possible.
We are eternally grateful for every dollar given.
Halina and Kasia
Organizer
Katarzyna Galica
Organizer
Edmonton, AB