Courageously Fighting Stage 4

My name is Shiana and on April 15, 2013 I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. It all began after my 25th birthday March 26th. I had began to feel alot of pain in my chest whenever I would lay down on my stomach, when someone made me laugh and when I would do the smallest thing as breathe. I was in a lot of pain,but I thought nothing of it because I was'young and healthy', so I thought. After about a week in pain, I was told to see my physician and I did just that. Only I was diagnosed with something else and given medication.  Before leaving, I asked my doctor if I could have the "cyst" in my right breast removed that I discovered when I was 14.  She ordered an ultrasound and I went to my appointment April 12, 2013. During my appointment I had an ultrasound, which turned into a mammogram and that lead to a biopsy. The doctor sent me home with a paper that said they suspected breast cancer and to return Monday April 15th. Upon my return another ultrasound was performed as well as a biopsy on my left breast.  Then an hour later I was pulled in back to hear " Sorry, the mass we found is malignant." I couldn't believe what I was hearing but told my family and friends as I tried to hold myself together.

My life changed completely as I now was going to the hospital everyday to have scans. That is when I learned it spread to my liver, bones, spine and lungs. I was stage 4. I just knew I was probably going to die after reading everything on the internet. Of course I stopped looking on there because I was scaring myself. I started treatment and lets just say, I did not like it. My face broke out, my hair fell out, I got mouth sores, my feet were swollen amogst many other things. Finally I finished my taxotere and began healing. Two months later I went to have a second opinion and learned the cancer spread to my brain. I broke down, I couldn't handle it. I spoke with my Doctor and she referred me to a radiologist.  I had gamma knife procedure. It appeared to work up to a couple months, then they grew back. I then had whole brain radiation. My hair had began to fall out again, after it had just grown back. My face broke out again, right after it cleared up. I got sick, sometimes I couldn't hold anything down, I had no appetite, I was depressed. I stayed in my room, deleted my facebook for a while and rarely answered the phone when friends would call. I felt ugly all over again. But God!! God brought me out of it. Things were good, then a few months later they began to grow back so I started a clinical trial. The clinical trial was going good until my bloood pressure sent me to the ER, only to find out a new tumor appeared and the others grew. "Lord have mercy,right!" I am now trying a new regimen and it requires me to spend a week in the hospital every other week.

I am no longer full time, not even part time. I receive long term disability which is not enough. This disease has been so debilitating. I am always in pain so I take a lot of pain medication which causes me to be tired all day, along with the medicine from infusions. I am blessed to still be alive to share my story. After months debating to start this page, I finally decided to because I need help. It has become difficult to keep up with bills and just livng expenses period.  Now I will be without health insurance because I will have to give up my job until I am able to fully commit to working full time. The money will be used to cover any medication I need and to assist me with living expenses (rent, electric, gas,phone, food,transportation, etc.).I pray that this finds people who have a big heart and enjoy helping others as I do myself. I really am unsure how long this will be,my treatment have no end date so any help I receive will mean so much to me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.