Mother of 4 Battling Stage 4 Cancer
Donation protected
MOTHER OF 4 BATTLING STAGE 4 CANCER
Our beautiful Mother Donna Farrage has been battling Cancer since 2006. She was first diagnosed with stage II breast cancer; she was treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. She was also placed on a drug called tamoxifen for 5 years to prevent the re-occurrence of the disease. Due to her resilience and strength she overcame that vile disease.
In 2011 she had her annual physical and was tested with a pap smear. The results of the test were never disclosed to our mom until April 2012 when it was revealed to her that her test from seven months earlier showed "atypical cells". A new biopsy of the uterus revealed that the cells are now cancerous. Doctors stated that the tamoxifen drug most likely caused the cancer. In Ontario, unlike other jurisdictions, women taking this drug are not tested for the possibility of uterine cancer until "bleeding occurs and then dealt with"!
Our mother had to endure another surgery in May 2012, a bilateral hysterectomy. A month later the pathology report showed early stage endometrial cancer. However, she kept complaining to her surgeon about pain in her groin... he looked at it with another doctor, blew our mother off saying "I haven't seen anything like it in forty years...it's probably nothing...we'll keep an eye on it...”
Four months later, a biopsy and CT scan showed the disease is disseminated in her abdomen, and the surgeon staging it as stage 4 endometrial cancer.
Soon after, we found out that her surgery was not completed as required. After much debate and research, our parents flew to Arizona to have corrective surgery. The costs for the travel, surgery, accommodation and daily expenses for a month were about US$75,000. This was a huge financial burden for the family.
She returned and resumed chemotherapy until May 2013 when she was told she's in remission.
The battle continued for us when our mother experienced relapse disease and continued with a clinical trial. In the Fall of 2014 she was hospitalized for 3 weeks due to blood clots and other complications from the disease.
Chemotherapy resumed but unfortunately did not help kill the Cancer. In May 2015 it was determined that the chemotherapy is no longer effective. The doctors suggested further "standard treatment"... more of the same, more chemo...
We consulted doctors in the US and elsewhere, the requested PET Scans, her doctors here would not offer it, so we had to go to Buffalo to get it and supply it to her doctor in Arizona. He recommended radiation therapy. The doctors here would not offer it nor would they collaborate with her Arizona doctor.
In addition to this ongoing battle, our Father also was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and the both of them endured in Radiation therapy together in Arizona. Our mom sustained 28 fractions and our Father experienced 28 fractions of radiation with Dr. Gordon Grado of Southwest Oncology.
Unfortunately our Mother could not complete her treatment as a result of her condition and she flew back to Toronto. Soon after she arrived home she has been admitted to Princess Margaret Cancer Institute and is suffering from bowel obstructions, low sodium and breathing issues as a result of this devastating disease.
Throughout these past couple of years our family has experienced overpriced hospital parking, strenuous flights to the USA, high-priced accommodations, exorbitant therapies and surgeries which at the end of the day are all more than worth it but it comes to a point where finances become an issue and American medical attention is considerably expensive. This last journey to Arizona has costed $100, 000 for 48 days and the hospital bills are still rolling in on a daily rate.
Another major factor in all of this is that 3 out of 4 children are studying at York University which is also a major financial burden for our family and makes it that much harder to pay for all elements of this frustrating situation.
We are reaching out to anyone who is able and willing to help support previous and future medical expenses. Any contribution, big or small would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for all of your continued support, prayers and well wishes to our family. It is truly appreciated.
Our beautiful Mother Donna Farrage has been battling Cancer since 2006. She was first diagnosed with stage II breast cancer; she was treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. She was also placed on a drug called tamoxifen for 5 years to prevent the re-occurrence of the disease. Due to her resilience and strength she overcame that vile disease.
In 2011 she had her annual physical and was tested with a pap smear. The results of the test were never disclosed to our mom until April 2012 when it was revealed to her that her test from seven months earlier showed "atypical cells". A new biopsy of the uterus revealed that the cells are now cancerous. Doctors stated that the tamoxifen drug most likely caused the cancer. In Ontario, unlike other jurisdictions, women taking this drug are not tested for the possibility of uterine cancer until "bleeding occurs and then dealt with"!
Our mother had to endure another surgery in May 2012, a bilateral hysterectomy. A month later the pathology report showed early stage endometrial cancer. However, she kept complaining to her surgeon about pain in her groin... he looked at it with another doctor, blew our mother off saying "I haven't seen anything like it in forty years...it's probably nothing...we'll keep an eye on it...”
Four months later, a biopsy and CT scan showed the disease is disseminated in her abdomen, and the surgeon staging it as stage 4 endometrial cancer.
Soon after, we found out that her surgery was not completed as required. After much debate and research, our parents flew to Arizona to have corrective surgery. The costs for the travel, surgery, accommodation and daily expenses for a month were about US$75,000. This was a huge financial burden for the family.
She returned and resumed chemotherapy until May 2013 when she was told she's in remission.
The battle continued for us when our mother experienced relapse disease and continued with a clinical trial. In the Fall of 2014 she was hospitalized for 3 weeks due to blood clots and other complications from the disease.
Chemotherapy resumed but unfortunately did not help kill the Cancer. In May 2015 it was determined that the chemotherapy is no longer effective. The doctors suggested further "standard treatment"... more of the same, more chemo...
We consulted doctors in the US and elsewhere, the requested PET Scans, her doctors here would not offer it, so we had to go to Buffalo to get it and supply it to her doctor in Arizona. He recommended radiation therapy. The doctors here would not offer it nor would they collaborate with her Arizona doctor.
In addition to this ongoing battle, our Father also was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and the both of them endured in Radiation therapy together in Arizona. Our mom sustained 28 fractions and our Father experienced 28 fractions of radiation with Dr. Gordon Grado of Southwest Oncology.
Unfortunately our Mother could not complete her treatment as a result of her condition and she flew back to Toronto. Soon after she arrived home she has been admitted to Princess Margaret Cancer Institute and is suffering from bowel obstructions, low sodium and breathing issues as a result of this devastating disease.
Throughout these past couple of years our family has experienced overpriced hospital parking, strenuous flights to the USA, high-priced accommodations, exorbitant therapies and surgeries which at the end of the day are all more than worth it but it comes to a point where finances become an issue and American medical attention is considerably expensive. This last journey to Arizona has costed $100, 000 for 48 days and the hospital bills are still rolling in on a daily rate.
Another major factor in all of this is that 3 out of 4 children are studying at York University which is also a major financial burden for our family and makes it that much harder to pay for all elements of this frustrating situation.
We are reaching out to anyone who is able and willing to help support previous and future medical expenses. Any contribution, big or small would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for all of your continued support, prayers and well wishes to our family. It is truly appreciated.
Organizer
Anton Farrage
Organizer
Maple, ON
