Emotional rollercoaster with cancer
Donation protected
I have known Patricia Reed for many years. Here is what I know. She is dedicated to living a clean life, in all aspects. She is funny, sincere, and wise.
If an obstacle appears in front of her, she will climb over, go around, or blast through it. This time, though she is facing a big hurdle.
Cancer is a big thing to face and it gets bigger when you have to fight the system and the cancer. If you read the page below, you will see what she is up against.
Patricia likes to do things herself, but this time she needs us to step up and walk with her on this journey. If you can, please help financially. If not, send her your blessings. Thanks,
Jodi Christensen
In March 2017, Patricia was diagnosed with Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Breast cancer - Stage 2A Grade 3. She had a bi-lateral mastectomy in April, 2017. She asked her oncologist to do a BRCA test but was denied because she didn't fit the criteria/profile. At another visit with the oncologist, she asked again - also denied. At the end of July she finally got her doctor to agree to send her tumor to a tumor profiling institute if she would agree to assume financial responsibility. Even though she knew the test would be very expensive she felt it was necessary. Good thing she did that - testing showed a BRCA1 gene mutation! A further test revealed this to be an inherited mutation. This put her at very high risk for ovarian cancer and finally made her oncologist sit up and take notice. But sadly this is the same test she had asked for months earlier.
The recommendation was to have her ovaries and tubes removed. That surgery was done in October. Surgery went well but the pathology report did not. A very small cancer was found in the fallopian tube. Both ovaries and tubes were removed. The good news is that the cancer was caught early. But the bad news is that malignant cells had already spread to the peritoneal cavity.
The new oncologist told her she saved her life by pushing to have the tests done. But valuable time had been wasted!
Patricia and her husband know that high dose chemotherapy with its many side effects will weaken her health considerably. After much research they have decided that the best course of action for her is to seek Insulin Potentiated Therapy Low Dose (IPTLD). This is a targeted low dose chemotherapy that will not devastate her overall health, not weaken her immune system and preserve quality of life. This therapy is not available where she lives and is not covered by her high deductible insurance.
Maintaining her quality of life would enhance spending time with her family...2 sons, their wives, and 6 grandchildren along with other activities that are important to her. Asking for help has been very difficult for Patricia and her husband but accumulating medical expenses has made this a necessity. They sincerely appreciate any help given to her. All donations will be used for medical expenses, travel and lodging.
If an obstacle appears in front of her, she will climb over, go around, or blast through it. This time, though she is facing a big hurdle.
Cancer is a big thing to face and it gets bigger when you have to fight the system and the cancer. If you read the page below, you will see what she is up against.
Patricia likes to do things herself, but this time she needs us to step up and walk with her on this journey. If you can, please help financially. If not, send her your blessings. Thanks,
Jodi Christensen
In March 2017, Patricia was diagnosed with Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Breast cancer - Stage 2A Grade 3. She had a bi-lateral mastectomy in April, 2017. She asked her oncologist to do a BRCA test but was denied because she didn't fit the criteria/profile. At another visit with the oncologist, she asked again - also denied. At the end of July she finally got her doctor to agree to send her tumor to a tumor profiling institute if she would agree to assume financial responsibility. Even though she knew the test would be very expensive she felt it was necessary. Good thing she did that - testing showed a BRCA1 gene mutation! A further test revealed this to be an inherited mutation. This put her at very high risk for ovarian cancer and finally made her oncologist sit up and take notice. But sadly this is the same test she had asked for months earlier.
The recommendation was to have her ovaries and tubes removed. That surgery was done in October. Surgery went well but the pathology report did not. A very small cancer was found in the fallopian tube. Both ovaries and tubes were removed. The good news is that the cancer was caught early. But the bad news is that malignant cells had already spread to the peritoneal cavity.
The new oncologist told her she saved her life by pushing to have the tests done. But valuable time had been wasted!
Patricia and her husband know that high dose chemotherapy with its many side effects will weaken her health considerably. After much research they have decided that the best course of action for her is to seek Insulin Potentiated Therapy Low Dose (IPTLD). This is a targeted low dose chemotherapy that will not devastate her overall health, not weaken her immune system and preserve quality of life. This therapy is not available where she lives and is not covered by her high deductible insurance.
Maintaining her quality of life would enhance spending time with her family...2 sons, their wives, and 6 grandchildren along with other activities that are important to her. Asking for help has been very difficult for Patricia and her husband but accumulating medical expenses has made this a necessity. They sincerely appreciate any help given to her. All donations will be used for medical expenses, travel and lodging.
Organizer
Patricia Reed
Organizer
Sturgeon Lake, MN
