Help Hannah fight stage IV breast cancer
Donation protected
I can't believe I'm making another one of these. But, because cancer has a special place in its cold heart for my family - and because our healthcare system is expensive and, to be frank, broken - my family is asking for help yet again.
In short: My 35-year-old cousin and mother of two is fighting for her life against stage IV breast cancer. Funds raised here will go towards:
- Medical expenses and consultations not covered by insurance
- Treatment not covered by insurance (including a potentially life-saving treatment for her gene mutation)
- Travel expenses visiting specialists in and out of state (such as Mayo Clinic and Dana-Farber)
- Counseling for her kids and other family members
- Living expenses, for when she or her husband miss work beyond their allotted sick days/PTO
The longer story: Many people in our family have a BRCA2 gene mutation, which increases their risk of several types of cancer - particularly breast. Research shows this mutation can cause women to develop breast cancer at younger ages. Unfortunately, my cousin is part of that statistic.
Hannah was first diagnosed with breast cancer at age 30 in 2018. For the medical gurus reading this, she had er/pr+, her2- stage 2b grade 3 ductal breast cancer. For the non-medical gurus reading this, the cancer was bad - but localized - and required chemo and targeted radiation.
To help prevent the cancer from ever returning, Hannah underwent a double mastectomy and hormone therapy. She was cancer-free for almost five years, returning to her normal life as a bilingual speech pathologist while raising her 5-year-old daughter (Olive) and 9-month-old son (Gabe) with her husband, Mike.
Then, in 2022, infrequent migraines, chin numbness and back pain prompted Hannah to get a brain MRI. That's when the nightmare began.
After undergoing a liver biopsy, several CT and MRI scans, a bone scan, and a lumbar puncture, Hannah discovered she has metastatic breast cancer that has spread to her skull, sternum, spine, liver and lungs. The cancer in her skull is of particular concern because it is impinging on her brain.
After several consultations, she started a treatment plan in December 2022 that consists of:
- 2 shots/mo of Faslodex and 1 shot/mo of Lupron (both hormone therapies)
- 1 bone infusion/mo of Zometa
- 2 pills/day of Verzenio, a treatment specified for metastatic breast cancer
- Potential radiation to her skull, pending guidance from her radiation oncologist
She also requires a PARP inhibitor, an anti-cancer drug that is "particularly effective against tumors carrying mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 tumor suppressor genes." Unfortunately, there's a high chance insurance won't cover this treatment, which may cost Hannah $7-8k/mo out of pocket.
Why this cancer returned - and with a vengeance - is beyond me. Why this happened to someone as bright, creative, thoughtful and loving as my cousin is unconscionable. But we aren't here to make sense of cancer - we are here to help her fight this thing and live as happy and healthy of a life as she can.
Whether you spread the word of this fundraiser and/or contribute yourself, please know you are helping Hannah and her family immensely. Thank you for your love and support.
Oh, and f*** cancer.
With love,
Sarah and the entire Petitt family
Organizer and beneficiary
Sarah Angela Petitt
Organizer
Schaumburg, IL
Hannah Hodgson
Beneficiary