Fighting for a Cure-Stage 4 Breast Cancer
Donation protected
My cousin Melissa is the most determined person I know. Melissa is a mother of four and dedicated wife, always busy doing events and activities as a family. Everything was going well until four years ago she was first diagnosed with breast cancer and her life began to change drastically. Here is a message from Melissa.
In September 2016 at age 35, I was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Right breast. I battled it with an equally aggressive chemo regimen, bilateral mastectomy, and radiation. The treatments seemed promising, and I thought I was in remission and I was able to return to work. However, in June 2019 I began to experience some difficult symptoms and they discovered that my cancer had returned to stage 4 metastatic lung and bone cancer. I had to stop working again, this time while we were in the process of adding an addition to our home. The treatments I qualified for were limited to chemotherapy and attempted some immunotherapy as well. We thought I was doing well, and I was able to go on 45-60 min walks daily, some hiking, kayaking, bike riding, etc. So we wanted to give my body a break from chemo after being on it for almost a year. But my body started back up immediately with issues. My tumor markers increased, and I became extremely short of breath. We thought I had pneumonia and I spent 5 days in the hospital on IV antibiotics. I endured a lung biopsy followed by a pneumothorax and then a bronchoscopy to find out our worst fears—cancer is back. I am currently on oxygen. My oncologist started me on another immunotherapy, and two new chemotherapy drugs on November 27th, 2020 a day after my 40th birthday.
Melissa was devastated that all that she endured these last few years of unforgiving chemo treatments and regimens resulted in the cancer progressing. The five-year survival rate after diagnoses for people with stage 4 breast cancer is 22%. Her oncologist is starting chemotherapy again, but this will only suppress the tumor cells for some time longer and will not be a cure.
This is not the end for her because she has too much that she needs to do here, and her kids and husband need her!
I sought out additional treatments for her and I have found hope. There is a specialist named Dr. Burzynski in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Burzynski is a Polish biochemist that has made a profound discovery. He found a strain of peptides in human blood and urine that have never been recorded in biomedical research. He discovered that people who were inflicted with cancer lacked these peptides. Over the past 30 years Dr. Burzynski has treated and cured thousands of cancer patients including stage 4 breast cancer by administering these special peptides at his research clinic in Texas.
She is pursuing this treatment, but this means it will be out of pocket and her insurance will not be able to cover it.
My cousin will beat this, and she just needs a lot of help from her loved ones during this time. She will have to travel to Houston Texas at the clinic for the first 3 weeks. At the hospital costs can range between $15,000-$35,000. Afterwards, her continued monthly medication costs and care until she is cured will be up to $25,000/month. We wanted to get this started because this will be a long road ahead.
Anything that you can donate would be greatly appreciated to help save her life!
Below is a link to Dr. Burzynskis clinic and documentary for anyone else that you know that may be struggling with cancer and that would like a second chance.
Clinic
https://www.burzynskiclinic.com/
Documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lvvh1PErwYc
Organizer and beneficiary
Stephanie Sluys organizer of fundraiser for Melissa Hudson and
Organizer
Poulsbo, WA
Diane Wallace
Beneficiary
