Felice's Fight Against Cancer Fund

Felice was first diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in January of 2011. A tumor was found on her colon and the doctors recommended removing that section of it, saying there was a good chance the cancer would be removed. She came to terms with forever living with a colostomy and agreed to have the procedure, thinking this was the solution. Soon after, they found a new tumor on her liver and it became clear that it was not over yet. The doctors gave her 12 months to live. She then began a series of extensive and debilitating treatments; Bio Chemotherapy, High Dose IL2, an experimental Keytruda trial and finally Chryoblation, where they insert a hollow needles close to the tumor in an attempt to use extreme cold to destroy the diseased tissue. These treatments were not successful, and left her weak, nauseous, losing her hair and for a period of time, the control of her legs.

For those that do not know Felice, she is yet another example of the indiscriminate nature of cancer. She has never smoked, has always eaten healthy, always stayed out of the sun, and is the only person we know who brushes her teeth for a full two minutes more than twice a day. Yet, cancer chose her.

Her doctor is now suggesting chemoembolization, but that has a low success rate. She could have surgery to remove the tumor, but unfortunately, due to the unique and tricky location of the tumor, her prognosis would be that it either works or the artery is nicked and she hemorrhages and doesn’t make it out of the operating room.

After given a 12 month life expectancy, she has been fighting this disease for 4 ½ years, living through the ups and downs. But she is running out of options. We want to not only help reduce the financial burdens placed on her, but more importantly, we want to send her to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center for a second opinion. It is our hope to get her in front of a surgeon who has done this surgery before and can give her a fighting chance. We all love Felice and just want her back. Lets not let cancer win this time.