Ang's Fight For Her Life - Terminal Breast Cancer
Donation protected
This is the last thing I want to be doing at the start of a new year. But time waits for no one and I desperately need your help.
I've decided to create this Go Fund Me on behalf of my gorgeous, courageous, incredible childhood best friend Angela. Ang is a strong, proud and independent person who never asks for a thing, yet she's the first to drop everything to be there for anyone and everyone. Ang is way too proud to ask for help so I have decided to reach out on her behalf
To say Angela's had a rough 18 months is an understatement.
Due to dense breast-tissue, Ang has always had very regular breast scans for years. Yet somehow, the cancer markers that eventually led to a ‘breast cancer diagnosis’ were missed after her initial scan.
Ang was first diagnosed with breast cancer exactly one week after her Mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given 3 to 6 months to live. Ang being Ang immediately moved in with her dying Mum to care for her at home right until the very end. She happily did this without complaint all whilst fighting for her own life and enduring intense treatment (including chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and hormone treatment). Heartbreakingly, Ang was also required to be put into medically induced menopause, which meant, at almost 40 years old she would never have the choice of having a child of her own. Ang did all this all whilst continuing to work full time, as having recently separated, it wasn’t financially viable to take time off. She followed every order her oncologist and team gave her. She did exactly as she was told and after months of treatment, was told she was in remission.
Ang had won her battle and was given the all clear. She was excited for the new year ahead and hoped that life could get back to some kind of normal. But her life was about to take another turn.
Less than a month later, and living with less than 60% lung capacity due to the life-saving radiation she had to undertake, Ang went for a routine lung scan to determine what treatment was available to help her with the simple things in life. Simple things like going for a walk around the block, having a night out dancing with friends, sleeping well without struggling for breath. Simple things we all take for granted. Whilst the scan had one intention, another made itself apparent. Ang received a call from her oncologist who informed her that they had discovered spots on her liver during the CT lung scan. Further follow up revealed a life-shattering diagnosis. Ang was told the cancer had spread to her liver, and she had Stage 4 Terminal Breast Cancer with no further treatment options available. She was given as little as 6 months to live and told to go home, write her bucket list, and start ticking it off.
We don’t accept that. She doesn't accept that. This girl is a fighter; she is not going down that easy. Ang made a Bucket List, but Number One on that list are the words ‘SAVE MY LIFE’ and she is totally going to tick that bitch off.
Ang has stopped work (staying alive is a full-time job now) but unfortunately the bills don't stop. Integrated therapy treatments for cancer in Australia are not medicare rebated and don't come cheap at approximately $2500 p/w. So in addition to the ongoing treatment costs for treatments she like the rest of us also has mortgage payments and everyday expanses she will continue to have to cover. Ang’s goal is to stay as healthy as she can for as long she can, this could mean seeking more alternative treatment abroad.
For those who know her well, Ang is resilient beyond measure. She asks for nothing from anyone. She’s strong, self-assured and positive. She’s also ridiculous amounts of fun, with an outlook that defies her bleak situation. But what really stands out is her fight and her ability to always see the light and positives in situations that would frankly crumble most people.
I know that we as a nation are currently in the middle of a catastrophic event where people are fighting for their lives and homes daily, and my heart is breaking for Australia because of it. I know many of us have already donated to this cause; and I thank you for that. I just hope that a few people out there can extend themselves a little further and donate just a few dollars to contribute towards my friend’s fight for her life. We are not ready to say goodbye.
Please follow Ang’s journey on Instagram @living_courageously_curious. She needs all the love and support we can garner to lift her up and push her through this. If many hands make light work imagine what many hearts will do.
I've decided to create this Go Fund Me on behalf of my gorgeous, courageous, incredible childhood best friend Angela. Ang is a strong, proud and independent person who never asks for a thing, yet she's the first to drop everything to be there for anyone and everyone. Ang is way too proud to ask for help so I have decided to reach out on her behalf
To say Angela's had a rough 18 months is an understatement.
Due to dense breast-tissue, Ang has always had very regular breast scans for years. Yet somehow, the cancer markers that eventually led to a ‘breast cancer diagnosis’ were missed after her initial scan.
Ang was first diagnosed with breast cancer exactly one week after her Mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given 3 to 6 months to live. Ang being Ang immediately moved in with her dying Mum to care for her at home right until the very end. She happily did this without complaint all whilst fighting for her own life and enduring intense treatment (including chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and hormone treatment). Heartbreakingly, Ang was also required to be put into medically induced menopause, which meant, at almost 40 years old she would never have the choice of having a child of her own. Ang did all this all whilst continuing to work full time, as having recently separated, it wasn’t financially viable to take time off. She followed every order her oncologist and team gave her. She did exactly as she was told and after months of treatment, was told she was in remission.
Ang had won her battle and was given the all clear. She was excited for the new year ahead and hoped that life could get back to some kind of normal. But her life was about to take another turn.
Less than a month later, and living with less than 60% lung capacity due to the life-saving radiation she had to undertake, Ang went for a routine lung scan to determine what treatment was available to help her with the simple things in life. Simple things like going for a walk around the block, having a night out dancing with friends, sleeping well without struggling for breath. Simple things we all take for granted. Whilst the scan had one intention, another made itself apparent. Ang received a call from her oncologist who informed her that they had discovered spots on her liver during the CT lung scan. Further follow up revealed a life-shattering diagnosis. Ang was told the cancer had spread to her liver, and she had Stage 4 Terminal Breast Cancer with no further treatment options available. She was given as little as 6 months to live and told to go home, write her bucket list, and start ticking it off.
We don’t accept that. She doesn't accept that. This girl is a fighter; she is not going down that easy. Ang made a Bucket List, but Number One on that list are the words ‘SAVE MY LIFE’ and she is totally going to tick that bitch off.
Ang has stopped work (staying alive is a full-time job now) but unfortunately the bills don't stop. Integrated therapy treatments for cancer in Australia are not medicare rebated and don't come cheap at approximately $2500 p/w. So in addition to the ongoing treatment costs for treatments she like the rest of us also has mortgage payments and everyday expanses she will continue to have to cover. Ang’s goal is to stay as healthy as she can for as long she can, this could mean seeking more alternative treatment abroad.
For those who know her well, Ang is resilient beyond measure. She asks for nothing from anyone. She’s strong, self-assured and positive. She’s also ridiculous amounts of fun, with an outlook that defies her bleak situation. But what really stands out is her fight and her ability to always see the light and positives in situations that would frankly crumble most people.
I know that we as a nation are currently in the middle of a catastrophic event where people are fighting for their lives and homes daily, and my heart is breaking for Australia because of it. I know many of us have already donated to this cause; and I thank you for that. I just hope that a few people out there can extend themselves a little further and donate just a few dollars to contribute towards my friend’s fight for her life. We are not ready to say goodbye.
Please follow Ang’s journey on Instagram @living_courageously_curious. She needs all the love and support we can garner to lift her up and push her through this. If many hands make light work imagine what many hearts will do.
Organizer and beneficiary
Skye Palmer-Henzell
Organizer
Underwood QLD
Angela Pershouse
Beneficiary
