Charmaine’s journey to Conquer Cancer

On March 4, 2020 my sister, Charmaine Hall, told us that she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  This devastating news came after her initial biopsy came back negative.  The doctors suspected that there might have been an error with the biopsy as these results didn’t coincide with the results they were seeing from her ultrasound and mammogram.  After a second biopsy my sister was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, stage 2 B which had spread to her lymph nodes.  

Immediately my sister wanted to do everything she could possibly do to fight cancer.  When the doctors gave her the option for a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, Char opted for the mastectomy as this option had the higher rate of success.  Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 pandemic the doctors ended up performing a lumpectomy instead.  

The first lumpectomy was unsuccessful and unfortunately found that cancer cells still remained. A month later Charmaine had to have a second lumpectomy which sadly had the same results.  It was at this point that the doctors told her that she had to have a mastectomy, which is what she had requested in the first place.   Before she could have the mastectomy my sister had to endure 8 gruelling rounds of chemotherapy. On October 19th my sister received her single mastectomy.     Between the chemotherapy and the major surgery my sister underwent, it has taken its toll on her and she is still in the process of recovering. With all my sister had been through, we were hopeful that the pathology report would come back with good news. That sadly wasn’t the case, yet again. It turns out that Char had 25 small tumors that were previously undetected by the mammogram/ultrasound and her nipple possibly contained cancer cells.  Once again, Charmaine’s cancer was more aggressive then they had predicted. On November 18 Charmaine had yet another surgery to remove her nipple. Charmaine’s next hurdle will be her radiation treatment which will begin in December. This treatment will be everyday for 5 weeks. 

The multiple surgeries and chemo that my sister has endured  has taken a toll on her body but definitely not on her amazing spirit.  Throughout this whole journey my sister has remained extremely positive, strong and determined and has continued to be the most amazing mother, sister, daughter, partner and friend.  As Char begins the next stage in her journey to conquer cancer she is hoping to get additional naturopathic treatments to enhance the results of modern medicine in hopes that she will terminate cancer once and for all.   Char is seeking to have the following Naturopathic Treatments from the Cancer Clinic at Integrated Health Clinic in Fort Langley to help enhance her upcoming radiation treatments. 

-Loco-Regional Hyperthermia: this is used to enhance Radiation treatments (2/3x per week) $375 per treatment total cost $5,625
-Mistletoe Therapy: used to boost the immune system to help find and destroy cancer cells. (2/3x week) $208 for 7 injections. Total cost: $416.

Charmaine also opted to pay for the BRCA gene test. This test is to see if she has the gene mutation which indicates her risk of getting Ovarian cancer.  There have been findings that ovarian cancer can develop after having Breast Cancer.  Total cost: $500. 

In about a years time Char will hopefully have her last and final surgery which will be the Breast Reconstructive surgery.  When she has this surgery there will be addition medical costs that are not covered by medical. We are hoping that this will assist her in covering those extra costs.

Thank you for taking the time to read my sisters story.  

Lots of love,
Zoey