Help Bethany Continue Her Stage 4 Cancer Fight!
Donation protected
As many of you know, Bethany Baum has been fighting a courageous, ongoing battle with colorectal cancer since 2019. In January of 2020, her diagnosis was changed to Stage 4 when the cancer metastasized to her liver. Since then, she has been through multiple surgeries, chemo treatments, and regular trips to NYC for scans and appointments.
Most recently, Bethany had an 11.5 month break from any evidence of disease, but her latest set of scans showed 6 new tumors in her liver. She is starting chemotherapy again today (May 4th) and hoping for some better news for surgical options after a few rounds of chemo. Bethany is also pursuing a living donor liver transplant as a potential option in the future – a very new and exciting option that has produced some amazing results!
For those of you who have been along for the journey, you know how much strength and perseverance she has demonstrated through multiple challenges. For anyone new here – I’ll give some background detail: In 2021 after 11 months with No Evidence of Disease following the spread to her liver, she had a recurrence with 3 new liver tumors and underwent surgery that May which included a new HAI pump placement, followed by 6 months of chemotherapy. Last fall her scans showed an aneurysm in her hepatic artery; as a result she had that artery embolized, which meant her second HAI pump was no longer able to be used. With every bump in the road, Bethany keeps fighting and focuses on the next steps.
It is hard to explain what living with and fighting Stage IV colorectal cancer really involves. Bethany has the best doctors on the case, and that means she takes trips to NYC every 2 months for scans – which involves hefty travel costs. Those scans are essential as they are much higher quality and catch signs of disease sooner than a scan at your standard local hospital. Time is the most critical element in this fight – the sooner tumors are identified, the sooner an action plan can go into place. Being off and on chemo, preparing for and recovering from multiple surgeries and procedures, etc. throughout this time has made it impossible for Bethany to work. Staying ahead of this cancer is only possible with the best doctors and constantly pursuing new treatment options, such as the living donor transplant. The ongoing list of expenses includes appointments, scans, travel, treatment, surgery, and so many hidden costs of cancer.
Bethany was fortunate to have funds raised on her behalf when her cancer initially spread to her liver which helped cover those costs, but has not asked for any additional funds since – though you can see all the unexpected hiccups and additional costs she has had to overcome in that time. She needs our help again as the original funds have already been well-spent on her fight. Those of you who know her well, know she will not ask for anything and has instead taken on much of the burden herself. She is continuing to pursue every option possible, and we need her to be able to do this without worrying about finances.
Throughout it all, she has shared so much of her battle with those around her to help bring awareness to colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is estimated to become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030 for people ages 20-49. It is so important to remind everyone to see a GI specialist at the earliest symptoms – misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis are huge challenges to beating this disease.
I would be remiss not to share how I met Bethany. In December my husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer that had spread to the liver as well. Bethany immediately jumped in to help us understand our options, her experience, and give us a real-life perspective on everything involved in this battle. I can’t tell you what a difference that made for us in such a terrifying time. Even as she has faced anxiety-inducing scans, and this latest battle in her war on cancer, she has continued to check on us and give us her advice and support. We are forever grateful that she came into our lives and would not have been able to navigate this without her. I know she has helped countless others through this as well.
Bethany is selfless and incredibly kind and strong. If you are able to contribute to help her continue this fight, I hope that you will do so. Any amount will be beneficial as she continues to incur travel costs, treatment costs, and as she starts pursuing the option of a living donor transplant. If you are not able to give, please help us share this fundraiser and spread the word.
Most recently, Bethany had an 11.5 month break from any evidence of disease, but her latest set of scans showed 6 new tumors in her liver. She is starting chemotherapy again today (May 4th) and hoping for some better news for surgical options after a few rounds of chemo. Bethany is also pursuing a living donor liver transplant as a potential option in the future – a very new and exciting option that has produced some amazing results!
For those of you who have been along for the journey, you know how much strength and perseverance she has demonstrated through multiple challenges. For anyone new here – I’ll give some background detail: In 2021 after 11 months with No Evidence of Disease following the spread to her liver, she had a recurrence with 3 new liver tumors and underwent surgery that May which included a new HAI pump placement, followed by 6 months of chemotherapy. Last fall her scans showed an aneurysm in her hepatic artery; as a result she had that artery embolized, which meant her second HAI pump was no longer able to be used. With every bump in the road, Bethany keeps fighting and focuses on the next steps.
It is hard to explain what living with and fighting Stage IV colorectal cancer really involves. Bethany has the best doctors on the case, and that means she takes trips to NYC every 2 months for scans – which involves hefty travel costs. Those scans are essential as they are much higher quality and catch signs of disease sooner than a scan at your standard local hospital. Time is the most critical element in this fight – the sooner tumors are identified, the sooner an action plan can go into place. Being off and on chemo, preparing for and recovering from multiple surgeries and procedures, etc. throughout this time has made it impossible for Bethany to work. Staying ahead of this cancer is only possible with the best doctors and constantly pursuing new treatment options, such as the living donor transplant. The ongoing list of expenses includes appointments, scans, travel, treatment, surgery, and so many hidden costs of cancer.
Bethany was fortunate to have funds raised on her behalf when her cancer initially spread to her liver which helped cover those costs, but has not asked for any additional funds since – though you can see all the unexpected hiccups and additional costs she has had to overcome in that time. She needs our help again as the original funds have already been well-spent on her fight. Those of you who know her well, know she will not ask for anything and has instead taken on much of the burden herself. She is continuing to pursue every option possible, and we need her to be able to do this without worrying about finances.
Throughout it all, she has shared so much of her battle with those around her to help bring awareness to colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is estimated to become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030 for people ages 20-49. It is so important to remind everyone to see a GI specialist at the earliest symptoms – misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis are huge challenges to beating this disease.
I would be remiss not to share how I met Bethany. In December my husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer that had spread to the liver as well. Bethany immediately jumped in to help us understand our options, her experience, and give us a real-life perspective on everything involved in this battle. I can’t tell you what a difference that made for us in such a terrifying time. Even as she has faced anxiety-inducing scans, and this latest battle in her war on cancer, she has continued to check on us and give us her advice and support. We are forever grateful that she came into our lives and would not have been able to navigate this without her. I know she has helped countless others through this as well.
Bethany is selfless and incredibly kind and strong. If you are able to contribute to help her continue this fight, I hope that you will do so. Any amount will be beneficial as she continues to incur travel costs, treatment costs, and as she starts pursuing the option of a living donor transplant. If you are not able to give, please help us share this fundraiser and spread the word.
Organizer and beneficiary
Lorelai Mentzer
Organizer
Lovettsville, VA
Bethany Baum
Beneficiary