Amy Does Cancer

Hello!  My name is Amy Rollo.  On September 15th, 2020 I received a call with the results from a biopsy that revealed a malignant tumor in my right breast. 

I'm 35 and I have breast cancer. 

Why I Need Your Help:

I work as a server in a restaurant in Leavenworth, WA and am currently laid off.  Regardless of whether the economy is open or shut, the doctors have recommended that I don't work for the duration of my treatments because I will be too high risk.  I was planning to work through mid-December, but that is no longer an option and I've already received my last paycheck.

I am fortunate to live in a state where my diagnosis qualified me for health insurance which, in theory, is going to cover the cost of all treatments, office visits, medications, etc.  There may be unforeseen medical costs at some point, but we will cross that bridge when we get to it.  In the meantime, looking at no income for at least the next six months is terrifying.  And that is where I need your help.

The Treatment Plan:

1) 8 rounds of neoadjuvant chemotherapy to shrink the tumor over 4 months
2) Surgery (Lumpectomy)
3) 6 weeks of radiation Monday - Friday
4) Reconstruction surgery (or surgeries)
5) 5 - 10 years of hormone therapy 

Monthly Expenses:

$675   Rent
$125   Phone bill
$215   Car payment
$250   Other Utilities & Bills (electric, insurance, subscriptions)
$300   Groceries
$180   Acupuncture
$50      Gas to get to appointments

Monthly Total:  $1795
Six Month Total:  $10,770

This is literally my basic cost of living and I don't know how I'm going to survive a cancer crisis without a fundraiser.  This doesn't include anything extra like trips to Seattle for care that can't be done locally (we've already spent a small fortune on hotels, gas, tolls, and food in Seattle).

Any additional funding will go to:

1. Trips to Seattle for care that can't be done locally
2. My credit card bill: $200 / month (forgot that one in the initial calculation)
3. Talk therapy: $300 / month (forgot that, too)
4. Recommended supplements -- I don't have the full details of cost at this time
5. If I do get really sick, potentially being able to help my partner, Kyle, take time off work to help me out and not be working with the public (he also works in a restaurant).

I have looked into state aid and it's a massive, classist joke — tips don't count in calculating aid.  Learning that to be the case was a slap in the face as the majority of my income is from tips.  To be transparent, I am currently receiving income from unemployment, but it's just not enough to get by and it will likely run out before I am able to work again.

Please know that literally anything helps.  $5 of gas will get me to and from a chemo appointment or buy some berries or some other small thing.  

Other Ways You Can Help:

1.  Spread the word by sharing this campaign on your social media.

2.  Hire me for a small photo or design project.  My portfolio is here.

3.  Buy me a little cancer gift.  I created a registry on Amazon (never been married or had a baby so a cancer registry it is!).  I'd prefer to support small businesses, so if you know of a registry service that supports small biz, please send me a message.  My Amazon list is here .

4.  Leave me some love under the "Well Wishes" tab on my CaringBridge site here .

Thank you so much in advance.  I really can't believe this is my life now, but I've been feeling the love and know I'll get through this.  It will just take some time.

So much love,
Amy