Help Candace Battle Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Donation protected
On June 26, Candace Mabry, my fiancé, was diagnosed with a Grade 3, Stage III, Triple Negative Breast Cancer. We are in the part of her healing journey where we need your help.
An Introduction, by Candace Mabry:
I've always had a fear that I would die by the age of 39. So much so, that when Kapil proposed when I was 37, I started a trauma specific therapy called EMDR.
As exciting as it was to finally be engaged, I was filled with dread of the timing.
You see, my mom & Step Dad were together for years, but didn't get married until my mom was 38. Not a big deal until a year later, when I was 10, she turned ill & died from cancer of an unknown origin.
The math is clear - My mom got married then died. If I get married now, I too will die.
It’s how trauma works, people. It's in our DNA. Well it turns out something was in my DNA, after all. The universe thought it was going to laugh at me, but we are laughing together.
Candace celebrated her 39th birthday August 2, ten days after her first chemotherapy appointment.
I'll give you some backstory. Sorry its lengthy.
My name is Kapil, and Candace and I met in 2015 thanks to a friend of hers' uncanny eye for a connection. 4 years after meeting, we are very much in love. We've been through our share of ups and downs. Won awards for our joint creative efforts in filmmaking. Worked hard. We bought a house. I proposed. Candace and I traveled out of the country for her first time! We found a joint love for hiking, nature, and the national parks system - and made it a point to visit as many of them as we can. Been to more weddings than we can count. Have worked on numerous film projects in our beloved Atlanta, GA. Our dogs have become beast friends. And unfortunately, most recently, we unexpectedly had to say goodbye to and cremate my father.
We have become the definition of family.
It was easy to fall for Candace. She sees the world with so much light and hope. She is an actress, acting coach and spends a lot of time working as a Standardized Patient at Emory University. It's become a huge passion of hers, as she works with Doctors, Residents and students on their communication and examination skills. After Candace's own experiences getting ignored by healthcare, it has become a way for her to feel like she is doing something to give back, and help to fix a broken system.
In early June of this year, We felt something unfamiliar in her left breast. After a month of appointments, and calls to speed up appointments, a mammogram, an ultrasound guided biopsy, full on anxiety attacks, lots of 20 minute hugs and plenty of kleenex to wipe away boogers and tears, Candace was diagnosed with a Grade 3, 89% metabolic rate, Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
What does that mean?
- Grade 3, 89% metabolic rate: This thing is growing fast. It’s incredibly aggressive.
- Triple Negative - Breast Cancer, medical society have learned in the last 20 some odd years, has 3 potential hormone 'locks' and if you have one of those locks on yours, you can use hormone therapy as a key. Triple negative means no locks. So hormone therapy is not an option. It’s more rare as far as breast cancer goes (less than 20% of diagnoses), affects younger women more than other cancers, and has “humbling” numbers as far as recurrence rates and survival rates.
Its aggressive, growing fast, and our options are limited. We are currently following a course of neoadjuvant (pre surgery) chemotherapy, surgery, and then radiation. Its an 11 month process, with a mastectomy sandwiched between 5 months of chemotherapy and radiation bread.
Over the 45 days while waiting to get in for her first chemotherapy, the tumor doubled in size to 10cm (the size of a grapefruit!!!), and started to become inflammatory, meaning it was preventing the lymph system within the breast from moving fluid. This puts her in Stage IIIb category. meaning its huge and aggressive. BUT - we can still cure her.
We have more hope than chemo can offer-
We are looking at several clinical trials that offer new ways of treating cancer. One of them is at one of the best hospitals in the country, MD Anderson, which we are going to next week. If we are accepted into this trial, we will have us temporarily relocating to Houston for 3-4 months for the second course of chemotherapy, a drug called Taxsol, and adding a new immunotherapy drug to the treatment. This drug teaches your own immune system how to recognize the cancer cells and fight them.
Check it out:
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02530489
On top of that, daily appointments and our own supplemental healthcare adds up.
We have always been into clean eating and living healthy, but as believers in alternative medicine, we are adding a ton of natural supplements to Candace’s dietary intake. Pursuing the right food, eliminating some amino acids that seem to help Triple Negative grow. Adding oxygen rich hyperbaric chamber sessions, Infared sauna appointments to move out the chemotherapy after her sessions. The list goes on. It all adds up, and we need some help to get her through this. This is the point in her healing journey where we need to ask for help.
With the work she performs as a standardized patient, its not possible for her to deal with medical exams all day, nor a good idea to put her emotions through the trauma of the “tougher cases” she has to do. As an Atlanta based actress, it’s impossible to be available on the fly as most acting jobs get booked with just a couple of days notice - and chemotherapy takes priority. All that to say, we are functioning on one income, just a year after buying our first house and trying to save up for a wedding.
We have come to terms with our course of treatment. We have come to terms with our diagnosis. We have come to terms with the irony of it all. Don't get me wrong, it took some time. Candace is a crier. Ya' know she cried. But she is also laughing with the universe. We are happy, in love, laughing and staying positive. Of course, there is some fear as well, but our positivity outweigh everything else in front of us. Life has a funny way of reminding you what's REALLY important.
Where your Donation is going?
We will be using these donations exclusively for Candace's healthcare and healing journey.
Our first steps will be to see if she qualifies for the clinical trial in Houston. If she qualifies we aren’t certain our insurance will step up and cover the parts they are supposed to and even if they do we will be churning up medical costs, plus have to pay for housing and living in Houston for 4 months.
If she doesn't qualify for this trial, we will be working to find another trial that gives Candace the best chances for a cancer free life. We will also be keeping up with Candace’s supplemental healthcare and nutrition needs.
We appreciate your time and energy towards supporting us. We truly appreciate your donation. This will be a journey and we will be posting updates on the whole process as we go.
With Love,
Kapil and Candace
An Introduction, by Candace Mabry:
I've always had a fear that I would die by the age of 39. So much so, that when Kapil proposed when I was 37, I started a trauma specific therapy called EMDR.
As exciting as it was to finally be engaged, I was filled with dread of the timing.
You see, my mom & Step Dad were together for years, but didn't get married until my mom was 38. Not a big deal until a year later, when I was 10, she turned ill & died from cancer of an unknown origin.
The math is clear - My mom got married then died. If I get married now, I too will die.
It’s how trauma works, people. It's in our DNA. Well it turns out something was in my DNA, after all. The universe thought it was going to laugh at me, but we are laughing together.
Candace celebrated her 39th birthday August 2, ten days after her first chemotherapy appointment.
I'll give you some backstory. Sorry its lengthy.
My name is Kapil, and Candace and I met in 2015 thanks to a friend of hers' uncanny eye for a connection. 4 years after meeting, we are very much in love. We've been through our share of ups and downs. Won awards for our joint creative efforts in filmmaking. Worked hard. We bought a house. I proposed. Candace and I traveled out of the country for her first time! We found a joint love for hiking, nature, and the national parks system - and made it a point to visit as many of them as we can. Been to more weddings than we can count. Have worked on numerous film projects in our beloved Atlanta, GA. Our dogs have become beast friends. And unfortunately, most recently, we unexpectedly had to say goodbye to and cremate my father.
We have become the definition of family.
It was easy to fall for Candace. She sees the world with so much light and hope. She is an actress, acting coach and spends a lot of time working as a Standardized Patient at Emory University. It's become a huge passion of hers, as she works with Doctors, Residents and students on their communication and examination skills. After Candace's own experiences getting ignored by healthcare, it has become a way for her to feel like she is doing something to give back, and help to fix a broken system.
In early June of this year, We felt something unfamiliar in her left breast. After a month of appointments, and calls to speed up appointments, a mammogram, an ultrasound guided biopsy, full on anxiety attacks, lots of 20 minute hugs and plenty of kleenex to wipe away boogers and tears, Candace was diagnosed with a Grade 3, 89% metabolic rate, Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
What does that mean?
- Grade 3, 89% metabolic rate: This thing is growing fast. It’s incredibly aggressive.
- Triple Negative - Breast Cancer, medical society have learned in the last 20 some odd years, has 3 potential hormone 'locks' and if you have one of those locks on yours, you can use hormone therapy as a key. Triple negative means no locks. So hormone therapy is not an option. It’s more rare as far as breast cancer goes (less than 20% of diagnoses), affects younger women more than other cancers, and has “humbling” numbers as far as recurrence rates and survival rates.
Its aggressive, growing fast, and our options are limited. We are currently following a course of neoadjuvant (pre surgery) chemotherapy, surgery, and then radiation. Its an 11 month process, with a mastectomy sandwiched between 5 months of chemotherapy and radiation bread.
Over the 45 days while waiting to get in for her first chemotherapy, the tumor doubled in size to 10cm (the size of a grapefruit!!!), and started to become inflammatory, meaning it was preventing the lymph system within the breast from moving fluid. This puts her in Stage IIIb category. meaning its huge and aggressive. BUT - we can still cure her.
We have more hope than chemo can offer-
We are looking at several clinical trials that offer new ways of treating cancer. One of them is at one of the best hospitals in the country, MD Anderson, which we are going to next week. If we are accepted into this trial, we will have us temporarily relocating to Houston for 3-4 months for the second course of chemotherapy, a drug called Taxsol, and adding a new immunotherapy drug to the treatment. This drug teaches your own immune system how to recognize the cancer cells and fight them.
Check it out:
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02530489
On top of that, daily appointments and our own supplemental healthcare adds up.
We have always been into clean eating and living healthy, but as believers in alternative medicine, we are adding a ton of natural supplements to Candace’s dietary intake. Pursuing the right food, eliminating some amino acids that seem to help Triple Negative grow. Adding oxygen rich hyperbaric chamber sessions, Infared sauna appointments to move out the chemotherapy after her sessions. The list goes on. It all adds up, and we need some help to get her through this. This is the point in her healing journey where we need to ask for help.
With the work she performs as a standardized patient, its not possible for her to deal with medical exams all day, nor a good idea to put her emotions through the trauma of the “tougher cases” she has to do. As an Atlanta based actress, it’s impossible to be available on the fly as most acting jobs get booked with just a couple of days notice - and chemotherapy takes priority. All that to say, we are functioning on one income, just a year after buying our first house and trying to save up for a wedding.
We have come to terms with our course of treatment. We have come to terms with our diagnosis. We have come to terms with the irony of it all. Don't get me wrong, it took some time. Candace is a crier. Ya' know she cried. But she is also laughing with the universe. We are happy, in love, laughing and staying positive. Of course, there is some fear as well, but our positivity outweigh everything else in front of us. Life has a funny way of reminding you what's REALLY important.
Where your Donation is going?
We will be using these donations exclusively for Candace's healthcare and healing journey.
Our first steps will be to see if she qualifies for the clinical trial in Houston. If she qualifies we aren’t certain our insurance will step up and cover the parts they are supposed to and even if they do we will be churning up medical costs, plus have to pay for housing and living in Houston for 4 months.
If she doesn't qualify for this trial, we will be working to find another trial that gives Candace the best chances for a cancer free life. We will also be keeping up with Candace’s supplemental healthcare and nutrition needs.
We appreciate your time and energy towards supporting us. We truly appreciate your donation. This will be a journey and we will be posting updates on the whole process as we go.
With Love,
Kapil and Candace
Organizer
Kapil Gandhi
Organizer
Anreep, GA