Fitness, Health, and Wellness. What is that?

PICTURE THIS:

A young woman who was in optimal health and fitness and who was notoriously known for her workout ethic in her hometown of Hamilton, NJ. At one point, she was even the Aquatics Coordinator and Youth Sports Program Director at a local health and wellness center that became her second home for 12 years.

She worked her way up through the ranks and put in more hours, sweat, blood and tears than one can begin to imagine.

SHE LOVED IT.

However, as we all know, seasons come and go and change is inevitable, hard and sometimes even painful, but change also brings new challenges and exciting opportunities.

So this young woman takes a leap of faith in her late 20’s and moves abroad to obtain a medical degree in Mexico. She decides she wants to help those without access to medical care while enriching underprivileged communities because she believes nobody should be denied basic healthcare. A humanitarian since birth.

It would became her life’s greatest work.

STAY WITH ME.

NOW…

PICTURE THIS:

A beautiful, smart and high achieving 32-year-old woman with the world at her feet that is a full-time medical student preparing to enter her intern year, she’s so close to finishing, she’s establishing her career, professional and personal aspirations.

Everything was lining up PERFECTLY.

It was all finally coming together: the lifelong dream, the fairy tale romance, the strong support system she needed as a kid, the friends that turned into family, and so MUCH MORE...

AND THEN HER WORST NIGHTMARE

CAME TRUE.

C A N C E R. CANCER. CANCER!

Patient: Alexandra Natasha Sutherland Langridge

Age: 32

Clinical Stage: 3A, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC), grade 2, molecular subtype luminal B, a multicentric 8.0 cm mass on the exterior lateral quadrant of the right breast and a 2.0 cm mass located in the superior quadrant of the right breast with lymph node involvement. ER+/PR+/HER2-.

HEART BROKEN. DEVASTATED. DESTROYED.

These were the emotions that circulated on repeat like a broken record in her head, constantly taunting her, telling her she’ll never fulfill any of her life dreams, she’ll never get married or have children, she’ll never get to do anything she dreamed of

…she will die by 35.

IMMEDIATELY THE QUESTIONS CAME FLOODING IN:

How could this happen?

What did she do wrong?

She has no family history of breast cancer.

She doesn’t possess the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 oncogenes nor the others most commonly associated.

She has no children.

She’s never breast fed.

THIS CAN’T BE REAL.

This same young woman had no history of serious illness or injury, no family history of disease and no pre-existing conditions.

She didn’t even feel sick….

How could she suddenly have a life-threatening illness?

PLEASE SAY THIS IS ALL JUST A BAD DREAM.

Unfortunately, this was the first time in her life she didn’t have any answers.

To add insult to injury, she was given this news on the same day she had her last two final exams for the semester…she could not reschedule…it was excruciating…

Meanwhile her peers were excitedly awaiting to start winter break and were listing all the wonderful things they’ll do and places they’ll get to see while she could only think to herself:

“I’m going to die.”

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS:

*Nov 5th, 2023: Felt initial lump in right breast. (Had no other signs or symptoms.)

*Nov 21st, 2023: Biopsy comes back positive for breast cancer. She passes her last two final exams of the semester after being told she has cancer.

*Nov 24th, 2023: Meets with treating oncologist and surgical oncologist.

Is clinically diagnosed Breast Cancer Stage 3A, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.

*Nov 25th, 2023: Immediately begins fertility conservation therapy.

*Dec 11th, 2023: Port-A-Cathether Surgery to begin receiving chemotherapy.

*Dec 13th, 2023: Egg Retrieval Surgery:

5 Ovules are successfully preserved.

*Dec 14th, 2023: 1st Lupron Injection.

It’s an ovarian suppression injection that puts the female reproductive system into a dormant state to protect against organ damage and infertility from chemotherapy.

*Dec 15th, 2023: 1st Chemotherapy Session.

Anti-Cancer Chemotherapy Drugs: Doxorubicin/Cyclophosphamide:

4 rounds: dose dense

Paclitaxel: 12 weekly sessions.

(During this time many medications are needed to control symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, headaches, joint pain, muscle pain, general unwellness, neutropenia, control cholesterol and triglyceride levels.)

Example: Filgastrim- used for neutropenia

(Deficiency in production of neutrophils, immune system cells that aid against infection and illness.)

**************************

Chemotherapy makes patients

immune-compromised which can make infections FATAL.

*May 28th 2024: Finish chemotherapy.

*June 29th, 2024: Unilateral Modified Radical Mastectomy with SLNB (sentinel lymph node biopsy) and tissue expander placement.

(a surgical oncologist and a plastic surgeon worked collaboratively.)

*Aug 12th, 2024: 1st High Beam Proton Radiation Therapy. In total this results in 15 sessions.

*Sept 1st, 2024: Begin endocrine therapy.

Letrozole 2.5 mg daily. It’s an aromatose inhibitor. It will reduce the risk of recurrence and not allow the ovaries to freely secrete estrogen by blocking the enzyme aromatase, which converts other hormones into estrogen.

THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR FIVE YEARS.

*Sept 2nd, 2024: COMPLETED all active treatment. Chemotherapy/Oncological Surgery/Radiation.

*Oct 1st, 2024: Begin targeted therapy.

Verzenio - CDK (cyclin dependent kinase) 4/6 inhibitor.

It works by blocking the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 4 and 6, which are enzymes that regulate cell growth and division.

THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR TWO YEARS.

SECOND CHANCES

It is with great honor and joy to announce that that beautiful young woman with big dreams and high aspirations that could touch the sky was given a SECOND CHANCE.

Her life was SAVED.

Her health was RESTORED.

Now she could NEVER GIVE UP.

PENDING:

*Breast MRI

*Breast CT Simple (No Contrast)

*Abdomen/Pelvis CT (With Contrast)

*Electrocardiogram (many anti cancer pharmacological agents can cause cardio toxicity.)

*Echocardiogram

*Blood Analysis

*Urine Analysis

*Biomarkers

*Pre-Operative Studies

*Breast Reconstruction Surgery

*Unilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis Surgery (Paclitaxel is an anti-cancer drug that belongs to the Taxanes family. Due to these treatments being neurotoxic, the peripheral nervous system can be affected, hence causing neuropathy (nerve pain), vocal cold paralysis and other symptoms or late effects.)

WHY AM I NOW SEEKING OUT ASSISTANCE/FINANCIAL AID?

Excellent question.

First, I would like to thank you for reading my story.

The best part is that it’s NOT OVER.

I PRAY TO GET ANOTHER

60 YEARS ON THIS PLANET.

However, in the real world, life continues whether you go on with it or not.

Sad, but true.

I did NOT have comprehensive health coverage.

I only had basic student coverage for accidents or liability, not critical illness or cancer.

MY FAMILY PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR EVERYTHING.

I still owe 50% of the total costs.

COST BREAKDOWN - NOV 2023 to DEC 2024

1.) Initial diagnostic testing/lab/imaging studies: $5,000.00

2.) Fertility Conservation treatment: $20,000.00

3.) Port-A-Cath Surgery: $5,000.00

4.) Ovarian Suppression – Lupron: $5,000.00

5.) Chemotherapy - 16 sessions, 6 months: $30,000.00

6.) Unilateral Modified Radical Mastectomy, Lymph Node Removal Tissue Expander Placement: $25,000.00

7.) Radiation, High Beam Proton Therapy - 15 sessions, 1 month: $10,000.00

8) Ongoing Medical Lab/Imaging Studies throughout treatment: $5,000.00

9.) Medications to manage symptoms and treatment side effects: $20,000.00 (some administered by the hospital through IV)

10.) Hormone Therapy: $6,000.00

11.) Targeted Therapy: $20,000.00

12.) Breast Reconstruction Surgery: $30,000.00

13.) Unilateral Vocal Cord Repair Surgery: $3,000.00

14.) Physical Therapy: $5,000.00

(chemo induced peripheral neuropathy)

15.) Voice Therapy: $3,000.00

16.) Oncological Nutrition Therapy: $6,000.00

TOTAL = $198,000.00 USD

Medical Expenditures 2025

1.) Endocrine Therapy -$6,000.00 (Letrozole)

2.) Targeted Therapy -$30,000.00 (Verzenio)

3.) Ongoing Oncological Screenings/Lab/Imaging Studies -$10,000.00

4.) Medical Appointments - Monitoring to remain disease free -$10,000.00

5.) Medications to manage late effects -$6,000.00

This doesn’t even begin to touch the regular monthly bills that we all use and need to function and live optimally.

As I have elaborately explained and demonstrated above, my absolute need to request help during this time is critical.

I have great pride, and I have never asked for help because I’ve always felt I can do everything.

This past year has humbled me beyond measure to where I now need to ask for help and not feel ashamed, less than, or unworthy.

As I close, I ask of you to please think of your loved ones, your grandparents, parents, children, even grandchildren.

No one should ever be diagnosed with cancer.

Certainly, no young person should ever be told their life may be dramatically cut short due to circumstances that are uncontrollable and unpredictable.

Thank you for all your donations towards my medical expenses, for your words of support, and for your endless love as I rebuild my life once again.

PS: Once I finish medical school and enter my medical residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery, I have decided to become a breast specialist and do a fellowship in oncological breast reconstruction.

God has bestowed upon me a second chance at life, and I must return the favor.

I HAVE DISCOVERED MY PURPOSE AND WHY I WAS SAVED.

Please help me become the living testimony of modern medicine and miracles.

THEY DO EXIST.

Allow me to be the change the world needs.

Thank you,

All my love and light.

Signed,

Future Breast Specialist,

Doctor Alexandra Sutherland