Karen's Cancer Fight

This is Karen. She is our mom. Recently, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) to be exact. It begins in the milk duct but grows to the surrounding normal breast tissue inside the breast. She is currently Stage 2B, Grade 2 meaning the cells are moderately differentiated and the tumor is 5cm or larger, but has not yet spread to the nearby lymph nodes. Having had previous cysts drained in the area, she went in for a routine mammogram in July, and was told it was most likely a cancerous tumor and not another cyst. It was about 3 cm in diameter then. Her biopsy took place just before Thanksgiving 2017 and the tumor measured in around 5 cm. The rate of growth is high (determined by the Ki-67 test) and fast moving as you can see. IDC is the most common type of breast cancer and can be accompanied by the genetic mutation of the BRCA-1 gene, as is mom’s case. The biopsied tissue also tested positive for the Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) factor and is used to help in determining the types of treatment available. In this case triple negative is not good. The hormones estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 are tested for their receptivity and came back negative. This limits less invasive treatment options and increases the likelihood for chemotherapy following surgery (lump and/or mastectomy) because the therapies that target hormone receptors are ineffective (like hormone therapy). A TNBC diagnosis can also mean that the cancer can be more aggressive and is more likely to have microscopic cancer cells hiding in other organs. We had doctor’s appointments scheduled for December 8th to figure out a treatment schedule. However, due to her current financial situation she does not qualify for financial assistance, even though her income allows only for living expenses. She has reached out during this open enrollment season, but because of pre-existing her options are limited. If you know our mom at all, she is an extremely independent do-it-yourselfer and is not keen on accepting help or charity. She wanted only to ask for minimal living expenses on GoFundMe to get by on her down days where she would be too sick or weak to work. But given that the doctors will not begin any treatment or further consultations until there is a better financial plan, we had to change our plans too. Because life hits us randomly as it does, we are asking for donations to help mom with her medical treatment and costs of living during some of the down time of recovery. A goal is set, but we don’t care so much about meeting or exceeding that as asking for any little bit to help get the treatment started. We deeply appreciate anything you can do, even if it is $1, we are forever grateful. Taci, Whitny, & Seth