Amanda Appleby’s Cancer Treatment Fund

From Amanda -

Hey everyone! This post is going to be a little bit long so grab your popcorn .

I was with a hanging friend mid-August and suddenly, and out of nowhere, I had what I thought were severe cramps. In fact it was so painful I became physically sick. I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life. Pain was easily a 11/10. I was very concerned and after careful examination for a few days, the pain was gone and everything was back to normal. I chucked it up to a bad mid-period pain.

Fast forward to last Monday. I was at work, and after eating my lunch, I felt the same pain come and hit me out of nowhere. Of course I was very concerned went into an office, closed the door and then immediately started feeling overheated and got physically sick again. The pain was debilitating, so much so that I asked my dad to come get me from work. For the next 4 days I continued to be sick. I couldn’t keep anything down and ate nothing but 1 bowl of soup and 3 crackers between Tuesday and Friday. I took a COVID test on Wednesday which came back negative. We presumed it was the flu and the pain having my period at the same time. As the week progressed I saw my belly was getting bigger, and my abdomen was in pain because of all the vomiting.

On Friday evening Ami (Twin sister/ER Nurse) came over and after asking me about my symptoms she then asked to feel my abdomen. She then looked at me, and then told me she was taking me to the ER immediately. (Side note: I know I some of you are asking why I didn’t go sooner? The answer is simple -I’m a stubborn as sh*t, okay?! So that’s-that!) When we arrived at the free standing ER they gave me meds for the pain and vomiting. The nurse then told me we needed a CT scan of my abdomen and of my chest. Needless to say, they found fluid in my right lung, fluid in my abdomen, and an unknown abnormality on my uterus! I was then told I would need to be transferred to their main hospital in downtown Dallas to the Surgical Oncology department and see a Gynecological Oncology specialist.

On Saturday morning I arrived at Baylor Scott and White. That morning I had 2 liters of fluid drained from my abdomen and .5 L drained from my right lung. I also had a Pap smear and ultrasound of my pelvic area. The results came back Monday (Labor Day) of the ultrasound and had high reason to suspect that it may have spread to my colon.

Tuesday I had a colonoscopy, and a possible surgery to remove the possible tumor/cyst/cancer. They suspected that it was cancer on my uterus but wouldn’t know until they opened me up. After the colonoscopy the doctor came to me and told me that they would need to remove part of my colon. When I asked if it was cancer. He replied, “yes, it looks like it”. My world then stopped.

About 2 hours later I had the surgery. As suspected it was cancer on my uterus and was too large to save my uterus. So they preformed a total hysterectomy, and removed two different sections of my colon. It's looking like stage 4 colon cancer. They also found cancer in a portion of my abdomen. After I’m finished healing we will be starting chemo- at LEAST 4 weeks to recover.

I’ve only reached out to some family, and some close friends about this. I also want to thank all of you for the support and love I’ve received over the last 5 or so days! The wonderful team here at Baylor Scott and White are absolutely incredible. They have been the most kind, helpful and truly empathetic people. I feel blessed to have such amazing support!

I also want everyone to know I’m going to fight like hell to kick the mother fucking shit out of this!!! Don’t feel bad for me and stay positive with me! All I ask is for continued love and support from you. Thank you LOVE YOU ALL! Always

FUCK CANCER!

*** Funds will be used for treatment cost