Joan's Cancer Fight

Above, was my mom before cancer attacked. Here, is mom on her way to a chemotherapy treatment.

My mother, Mrs. Joan Gordon, has been diagnosed with cancer of the spine. In June of 2016, she began feeling immense pain in her back, which would occasionally move to other parts of her body. Visits to the doctor resulted in suggestions of muscle strain. However, this year, when the pain became unbearable she returned to the doctor and requested that they do additional testing. The doctor ordered an MRI, CT-Scan and biopsy test, which showed that she had many cancerous tumours attached to sections of her lumbar and cervical vertebrae as well as a spot on her lung.

 

Once the results were confirmed her Oncologist put together an aggressive treatment plan to slow the growth of the tumours. She underwent radiation therapy along with the use of associated prescription drugs to minimise the excruciating pain. This was followed by a rigorous chemotherapy programme. Recent tests indicate that the programme has been successful in controlling the tumours and as such the procedures have been modified with the discontinuation of some drugs but continuation with others and hormone treatment.

 

The problem we face at this time is that we have long ago exhausted the coverage provided by her health insurance package. Requests for assistance to a number of public entities have not yielded positive responses, in one case, because of the cost of the drugs. The family’s personal finances are now totally drained. We would appreciate whatever assistance you can offer to allow for the completion of the programme.

 

Current monthly purchases are as follows:

1.     Herceptin – JMD$310,000.00 per dose (approximately USD$ 2422.00)

2.     Faslodex (500mg) – JMD$235,784.00 (approximately USD$1842.00)

3.     Zoledendric Acid – JMD$23,000.00 (approximately USD$180.00)


 
At this time, the remaining rounds of treatment are uncertain and so, we humbly ask for assistance to fund up to six months of treatment.

 

If you ask any of my mom’s friends or relatives to describe her in one word, without a doubt most answers would be “strong” – others would be “loving”, “family-oriented”, “kind-hearted”, “helpful”. My mother is the strongest person I know. Even in her painful state she is still thinking of everyone else’s well-being and wanting everyone to know everything will be okay. Her faith in the Lord has not wavered as she reminds us “What kind of believers would we be if we didn’t praise God even more through the devastating times? Great trials make great testimonies!” This is coming from a woman who is now unable to walk and perform even small tasks we may take for granted because almost all of her spinal bones have collapsed.

 

On behalf of my family and my mother’s parents, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends, I thank you sincerely for helping us in our fight to have her healthy once more.