Team CY: Cynthia Yamada’s Cancer Fight

Aloha, my name is Rayna Yamada and my mama Cynthia, also affectionately known as “CY,” has been fighting for her life the past few months.

In December 2021, my mama started to experience vision problems in her left eye, which eventually spread to her right eye. After testing, misdiagnosis, and surgery on her left eye, she started to lose her balance, was unsteady, and unable to walk without holding onto me.

Then in August 2022, before her scheduled surgery on her right eye, my mama lost her balance and fell while at home. I called 911 and she was taken to the hospital, where they did a number of scans, as she had weakness on her right leg and had hit her head when she fell. Then we received the devastating news that she had a brain tumor in the left hemisphere, with edema spreading to the right. They also found lymphoma cells in her eyes.

She was then transferred to another hospital to undergo a brain biopsy, spinal tap, bone marrow biopsy, and many other procedures, and was officially diagnosed with Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL), a very rare and very aggressive type of cancer.

She has since completed 8-9 rounds of inpatient high dose chemotherapy, received both inpatient and outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. She went from needing to be spoon-fed and bedridden at the start of this journey, to walking with 2 aides/PTs, to using a walker, and now is able to walk with just a cane! She continues to have some speech and memory challenges, but retains her sense of humor and Japanese language skills. She has had significant shrinking of her brain tumor on her recent MRI. Now we are preparing to leave for Seattle for stem cell transplant in early 2023.

I have been and will continue to be her primary caregiver. This next phase will be very arduous and requires caregiving 24/7. I have not been working since all this happened in August, and my mama retired from Hawaiian Airlines after 40+ years. Unfortunately, we do not have this procedure available in Hawaii right now and are required to stay within 30 minutes of the U. of Washington Medical Center. Our stay in Seattle would be no less than 3-4 months (should there be little to no complications).

We appreciate all of the love, prayers, and support we’ve received so far. If you feel inclined to support us during this time, we would be very grateful. This would help with housing while we are in Seattle, food/groceries, and medical expenses. Mahalo and please continue to keep my mama and our family in your thoughts and prayers.

Follow us on IG: @team.cy.hope for additional updates on my mama’s cancer fight!