Betty's Cancer Treatments and Medical Expenses

Hi, my name is Breanna, the daughter of Betty Cavanaugh. My mother was recently diagnosed with an aggressive glioma brain tumor. Symptoms of the tumor started in late February 2024. After a doctor visit, my mother was sent to the hospital for a possible stroke. Multiple blood tests and scans revealed she had a mass in the center of her brain. She was then transferred to Allegheny General to see neurology and oncology specialists. The original plan of action was to remove 75-80% of the tumor and then start chemo and radiation following the surgery recovery; however, the surgeon reviewed the scans prior to surgery and unfortunately the mass grew at such a fast rate over five days it was no longer safe to perform the surgery.

At this time, we are still waiting to receive the official glioma diagnosis from the pathologist. The specialists are now working together to create a treatment plan of aggressive chemo and radiation that will hopefully shrink the tumor. Once the tumor shrinks to a size that is safe to operate on, the neurologist will reevaluate the surgical option.

Betty is a devoted mother of two children, fiancé and recently retired secretary. She spent her life caring for family and those around her. Her children are now grown with one having their first child and the other graduating college in upcoming May 2024. Prior to her cancer diagnosis, she spent her days with her fiancé attending cover band concerts, traveling, and lounging in their pool. She also started to care for her granddaughter and hopes to be able to continue that in the future. Betty and her family hope with treatments she will be happy, healthy and thriving.

This fundraiser is to provide my mother and her fiancé some financial relief during her treatments. We hope they will be able to use this time to make memories and care for each other.

Update - May 1, 2024:

My mother was unable to sustain the treatments and went home with hospice. She passed on April 30 peacefully surrounded by her loved ones. This fundraiser is now being used to provide relief to the amount of medical bills from Betty's hospital stay and treatments.