Help Allie Beat Breast Cancer

Allie is only 33 years old and was recently diagnosed with a very rare form of breast cancer. But, she is so much more than her diagnosis. She's a vibrant, charismatic and incredibly thoughtful person who has a long, unpredictable road ahead of her. There is no one stronger, and no one more capable, to beat this relentless disease than her.

Allie is a daughter, an aunt, a friend, a teacher, a soul searcher, a thespian, a moon lover...I could go on. She gives freely of herself to others in time, energy, spirit and so much more - if you are lucky enough to pass through Allie’s orbit, you are inevitably changed for the better.

Allie has Stage 2 Triple-Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma that has spread to her lymph nodes. Triple-negative breast cancer is a type of invasive carcinoma of the breast that does not have the three most common receptors known to "fuel" breast cancer, estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2. Triple-negative breast cancers tend to grow and spread more quickly than other types of breast cancer. Because of this, triple-negative breast cancer is more aggressive than other forms of breast cancer.

Over the next 6-8 months, she'll go through intensive chemotherapy once a week for 12 straight weeks, followed by immunotherapy. From there, her surgeon will assess how well the tumor/s responded to the chemo and make a decision about what type of surgery she will need, either a lumpectomy coupled with radiation, or a mastectomy. Allie also has to go through fertility treatment (an additional cost) to harvest her eggs so she has a chance at having a family after fighting cancer.

Because of Allie’s aggressive treatment plan, she will need to be on long-term disability from her job as a school teacher in Harlem. She is fortunate to have access to some of the best doctors in the world at Sloan Kettering in New York City, but along with that comes the premium costs of living in the city in order to receive this care. While not being physically able to work, it will be extremely difficult for her to afford basic living expenses including rent, Ubers/taxis back and forth for treatments, and even healthy meal options. There’s also medical bills and co-pays piling up before her chemotherapy has even started.

We are asking for help so that Allie doesn’t have the weight of financial burden on her back during this already overwhelming time in her life.

Please consider making a contribution - however large or small - to make Allie’s journey a little bit lighter. If you cannot make a donation, please consider sharing her story on your social media channels to help us reach our goal. Every penny, and every share, means more than you can ever know.

With love and positivity,

Allie Maltese + Ally Masi