Help Mama Kim Battle Lung Cancer!

As many of you know, in 2006 I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I underwent a lumpectomy, chemo, raditation, & herceptin.  I was fortunate to catch my disease in it's early stages and am now a 7 year survivor.

However, cancer has struck my family again...but this time ever so quietly. In August 2012 my Mom was complaining that she couldn't breathe.  My sister took her to the ER where they did chest x-rays and found fluid built up around her lungs.  They immediately drained her collecting over a liter of yellow-ish fluid.  They noticed some growths which was then biopsied and we were given the news that our Mom had stage IV advanced lung cancer.

Her insurance was with Kaiser and so that's where we went to get doctor opinions.  She was a candidate for a drug called Tarceva which she started in October 2012.  It stopped the cancer from producing the fluid around her lungs and her energy was back.  In January 2013, she started to mention that it was starting to get a little harder to breathe and she was tired more often.  By late February, her shortless of breath was progressing. Her check-up appointment was Monday 3/18/13 and me and both  my sisters were there by her side.  

As the doctor brought up her new x-ray, you could see the fluid build up and two tumors that had grown.  The Tarceva stopped working - her cancer had advanced.  The advice was chemotherapy.  My Mom sat there in tears.  Me and my sisters sat there fighting them back to be the strong ones for our Mom.

Having gone through this process, I knew we had to get a second and even a third opinion.  As soon as we left the doctor's office, I was on the phone making a call to my Oncologist and Facebook-ing my friends for referrals.  I got two names within minutes (oh, how I love social media).  I was able to get appointments with two doctors that same week.

On Tuesday 3/19/13, we saw the Oncologist who treated my cancer.  Then on Thursday 3/21/13 we drove Mom up to UC Irvine to see another Oncologist.  The doctor at UCI ordered an MRI and PET scan which was scheduled for the next day.  So Friday 3/22/13, we drove back up to UCI and Mom got both tests done followed by the results reading with the Oncologist later that afternoon.

Here's us waiting for the doctor to come in - yes, remember, we're Asian and love to take lots of pics ;)

We sat huddled around the doctor as he showed us the PET scan results.  I'm not a doctor, but the little light bulbs that lit up the screen inside the outline of my Mom's body was obvious.  The cancer had metastasized to her chest, bone, and stomach area. The cancer was taking over her body leaving a trail of light as it stamped it's domain.

We have one more appointment on Tuesday 4/2/13 at UCSD Moore's Cancer Center in hopes that she will start chemo later in the week.  She is frail, tired, and in pain and I'm not sure how much longer she can withstand the symptoms.  We are hoping that the chemo will control the cancer and even shrink some of the tumors that are starting to invade other areas in her body.

My breast cancer medical bills were well over $150,000 - with my portion to pay was roughly $15,000.  I am fundraising, along with my sisters to help offset some of the medical bills that I know my Mom will incur:  Co-pays, advanced medical care, hospice, etc.

Any amount will help!  Even a $5 donation adds up!

I THANK YOU in advance for taking the time to read our story and donating to Mama Kim!

xoxo,

-Meeshie and Family