Fight for Phoebe
Donation protected
Our dear friend, sister and co-worker, Phoebe Stanga, is the most loyal, hard working, independent, brave and loving young lady you will ever meet. Her strength and courage daily is an inspiration to us.
On December 14, 2012, at the age of 38 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She went thru a bi-lateral mastectomy and complete reconstructive surgery in early 2013 while continuing to work full-time and raise 2 sons ages 11 and 8 at the time. After the reconstruction, she continued to do a Zoladex implant injection in her stomach every 4 weeks for 5 years. In January of 2020 she was 7 years cancer free. During this 7 year period Phoebe was passionate at encouraging her friends and co-workers to get their mammograms faithfully.
In April 2020 after having some pain and discomfort on her right side for almost a month she had a chest x-ray thinking she may have bruised or cracked a rib. The x-ray showed that there was a large amount of fluid built up around her right lung. The fluid was drained and tested and on April 29th she was given the news that the fluid contained breast cancer cells, the great challenge is that these cancer cells took on a triple negative hormone characteristic. This means that this type of breast cancer does not respond to hormonal therapy medicines. Only about 10-20 % of all breast cancers are triple negative. A PET-scan showed that her cancer had metastasized and moved to her bones. A triple negative breast cancer is considered to be very aggressive and is incurable, despite this her doctors are very optimistic and our strong friend immediately started weekly chemotherapy sessions (3 weeks on, 1 week off) along with immunotherapy and bone hardener. During this time, every 2 to 3 weeks she continues to have to have the fluid drained from her right lung. After 4 months they performed another PET-scan which showed that the treatments were doing their job and shrinking the cancer.
Everything seemed to be going in the right direction until her left eye started to droop. After doing a head MRI she was told on October 13th that her cancer had spread to her brain. She immediately stopped the chemotherapy and started full brain radiation the very next day to attack the 50+ spots on her brain. She is just completing 10 daily treatments of radiation after which she will hopefully be feeling well enough to start back on the chemotherapy weekly.
Although it does not come easy for Phoebe to ask for help, the medical burden and costs of caring for her two boys as a single parent is difficult and TEAM PHOEBE wants to do whatever we can to support and help her on this journey. We are asking for your financial contribution to take her mind off of the financial burden all her to focus on her health and enjoying her boys. A donation of any size helps.
IN THIS FAMILY, NO ONE FIGHTS ALONE!!
On December 14, 2012, at the age of 38 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She went thru a bi-lateral mastectomy and complete reconstructive surgery in early 2013 while continuing to work full-time and raise 2 sons ages 11 and 8 at the time. After the reconstruction, she continued to do a Zoladex implant injection in her stomach every 4 weeks for 5 years. In January of 2020 she was 7 years cancer free. During this 7 year period Phoebe was passionate at encouraging her friends and co-workers to get their mammograms faithfully.
In April 2020 after having some pain and discomfort on her right side for almost a month she had a chest x-ray thinking she may have bruised or cracked a rib. The x-ray showed that there was a large amount of fluid built up around her right lung. The fluid was drained and tested and on April 29th she was given the news that the fluid contained breast cancer cells, the great challenge is that these cancer cells took on a triple negative hormone characteristic. This means that this type of breast cancer does not respond to hormonal therapy medicines. Only about 10-20 % of all breast cancers are triple negative. A PET-scan showed that her cancer had metastasized and moved to her bones. A triple negative breast cancer is considered to be very aggressive and is incurable, despite this her doctors are very optimistic and our strong friend immediately started weekly chemotherapy sessions (3 weeks on, 1 week off) along with immunotherapy and bone hardener. During this time, every 2 to 3 weeks she continues to have to have the fluid drained from her right lung. After 4 months they performed another PET-scan which showed that the treatments were doing their job and shrinking the cancer.
Everything seemed to be going in the right direction until her left eye started to droop. After doing a head MRI she was told on October 13th that her cancer had spread to her brain. She immediately stopped the chemotherapy and started full brain radiation the very next day to attack the 50+ spots on her brain. She is just completing 10 daily treatments of radiation after which she will hopefully be feeling well enough to start back on the chemotherapy weekly.
Although it does not come easy for Phoebe to ask for help, the medical burden and costs of caring for her two boys as a single parent is difficult and TEAM PHOEBE wants to do whatever we can to support and help her on this journey. We are asking for your financial contribution to take her mind off of the financial burden all her to focus on her health and enjoying her boys. A donation of any size helps.
IN THIS FAMILY, NO ONE FIGHTS ALONE!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Jen DeWald
Organizer
Harrisburg, SD
Darla McCrary
Beneficiary