NOTE: All donations made on Feb 4 (World Cancer Day) will be matched up to $3K by an old friend of mine, whose mom passed away from cancer a few months ago.

Why I’m Asking for Help

Within six weeks, I was diagnosed with two separate primary cancers. I am now facing a long, complex treatment plan that will prevent me from working for much of the next year. I’m asking for support to help cover medical expenses and basic living costs during treatment and recovery.

My treatment is expected to last 9–12 months. The initial fundraising goal of $21,500 is intended to help cover the first nine months of anticipated out-of-pocket medical costs, reduced income, and essential living expenses while I focus on treatment and kicking ass.

What’s Happening

In mid-December 2025, I was diagnosed with DCIS (stage 0 breast cancer). I had no symptoms; it was caught on a routine mammogram.

In mid-January 2026, I received a second, completely unexpected diagnosis: stage 3 rectal cancer, discovered through a diagnostic colonoscopy after mild to moderate symptoms.

After extensive testing, my care team confirmed that one cancer did not metastasize to the other. Instead, I am part of a small percentage of patients (approximately 5%) diagnosed with dual primary cancers—two entirely separate cancers at the same time.

Just when I thought we had a plan, another complication emerged.

At the end of January, a third area of concern in my breast tested positive for IDC (invasive ductal carcinoma). Again, I had no symptoms. This small mass was found only on a post-diagnostic MRI and had not appeared on multiple prior mammograms or ultrasounds.

The full stage of the IDC cannot be determined until the tumor is surgically removed.

Because of this, I am being rushed into breast surgery on February 9th so I can recover as quickly as possible before beginning chemotherapy for rectal cancer. Treatment for these concurrent cancers is expected to span most of the next year.

The shock, grief, and fear of navigating all of this at once has been overwhelming.

Why Support Matters

I have spent much of my life being the helper. Asking for help does not come easily to me at all—but right now, it is necessary.

Your support will help cover:

-Medical bills and treatment-related expenses

-Reduced income during chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and recovery

-Basic living costs while my ability to work is limited

If you feel called to support, there are a few ways to do so:

1. Financial contributions through this fundraiser

2. Practical support via items on my cancer registry (this will be updated over the next many months as needs evolve)

3. Drop all your good book, movie, and TV show recommendations here

This will be a long, multi-stage journey, and I am deeply grateful for every form of care, generosity, and encouragement along the way.

I plan to share more of my journey as I move through treatment—not only to stay connected, but in the hope that sharing openly might help someone else catch something early, ask better questions, or feel less alone. Stay tuned on where to follow that.

Thank you so, so much for being here. Please take this as a loving reminder to schedule your early detection screenings.