Help Amanda fight Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Donation protected
Just before Thanksgiving of this past year, our sister, Amanda Burton, shared the shocking news that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. After further testing, she was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Stage IIIC Breast Cancer. PET scans showed that it had spread to her lymph nodes. Amanda has been diagnosed with a fairly rare and aggressive form, called Triple Negative. It was difficult to wrap our heads around her diagnosis, as Amanda is only 37, and has two young children (Jefferson - 6 years old, Lennon - 2 years old). Amanda is currently receiving her care through Minnesota Oncology and the Piper Breast Center in Minneapolis.
Her particular subtype of breast cancer, Triple Negative, limits her treatment options. A diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer means that the three most common types of receptors known to fuel most breast cancer growth–estrogen, progesterone, and the HER-2/neu gene– are not present in the cancer. Since the tumor cells lack the necessary receptors, common treatments like hormone therapy and drugs that target estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2 are ineffective. Using chemotherapy to treat triple negative breast cancer is still an effective option. In fact, triple negative breast cancer may respond even better to chemotherapy in the earlier stages than many other forms of cancer. Amanda began chemotherapy at the end of November 2018 and should be wrapping up in April. After discovering some damage to her veins from the chemo infusion process, Amanda had surgery to insert a portacath (a device providing a direct line for infusions to a larger vein), to ease the process and prevent additional damage. Her chemotherapy treatment consists of two phases and 16 total treatments. Post chemo, she will undergo additional imaging to determine the effectiveness of the chemo at reducing the known tumors. Based on the results of the imaging, doctor recommendations, and Amanda’s preferences she will have surgery. The preliminary surgical outlook is a mastectomy. While a chance exists that Amanda’s tumors will shrink enough for a lumpectomy, the likelihood of this less invasive procedure is limited, at best. After receiving a course ofradiation treatment, Amanda will undergo reconstructive surgeries, and a lifetime of ongoing testing to determine if her cancer is still in remission. Whereas no guarantee exists her treatments will cure Amanda’s cancer, her medical team is confident that she is on a path to recovery and optimistic that her outcome will be positive.
This seems an entirely unfair experience for someone with such a loving, giving, and genuine heart (though we know that's not how the Universe works)! At the same time, we've never known a stronger, more determined fighter than Amanda, and are convinced she will conquer this, as well. Amanda has a supportive husband, Travis, and two amazing little boys that keep her battling each day. She is also blessed with a supportive network of friends as well as co-workers, and an extended family unit that is giving her love and support every step of the way.
While there is little we can do to ease the physical and emotional toll of this experience, we are hoping to help Amanda with the intense financial burden that cancer has brought. Though Amanda does have health insurance, it doesn't begin to fully cover all the expenses. We would ideally like to raise $16,500. This money will go toward covering additional health insurance costs from out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles for the years 2018-2020 including but not limited to: chemotherapy, mastectomy and reconstruction, radiation, various oral medications, medical scans (PET, MRI, etc.), and portacath surgery.
We are immensely grateful for any and all donations! We know that a financial gift is not possible for everyone, but hope you will consider sharing Amanda's story with your friends and networks. We'd love to meet our goal by the end of March to give Amanda an additional boost as she finishes chemotherapy treatment and begins the second phase of her road to recovery. We would also appreciate any prayers, love, and positive energy you could send her way!
With love and gratitude,
Amanda's sisters, Emily Lewandowski & Molly Stangby
PS: GoFundMe no longer takes 5% of donations! So all $ goes to Amanda (minus standard credit card fees).
Her particular subtype of breast cancer, Triple Negative, limits her treatment options. A diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer means that the three most common types of receptors known to fuel most breast cancer growth–estrogen, progesterone, and the HER-2/neu gene– are not present in the cancer. Since the tumor cells lack the necessary receptors, common treatments like hormone therapy and drugs that target estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2 are ineffective. Using chemotherapy to treat triple negative breast cancer is still an effective option. In fact, triple negative breast cancer may respond even better to chemotherapy in the earlier stages than many other forms of cancer. Amanda began chemotherapy at the end of November 2018 and should be wrapping up in April. After discovering some damage to her veins from the chemo infusion process, Amanda had surgery to insert a portacath (a device providing a direct line for infusions to a larger vein), to ease the process and prevent additional damage. Her chemotherapy treatment consists of two phases and 16 total treatments. Post chemo, she will undergo additional imaging to determine the effectiveness of the chemo at reducing the known tumors. Based on the results of the imaging, doctor recommendations, and Amanda’s preferences she will have surgery. The preliminary surgical outlook is a mastectomy. While a chance exists that Amanda’s tumors will shrink enough for a lumpectomy, the likelihood of this less invasive procedure is limited, at best. After receiving a course ofradiation treatment, Amanda will undergo reconstructive surgeries, and a lifetime of ongoing testing to determine if her cancer is still in remission. Whereas no guarantee exists her treatments will cure Amanda’s cancer, her medical team is confident that she is on a path to recovery and optimistic that her outcome will be positive.
This seems an entirely unfair experience for someone with such a loving, giving, and genuine heart (though we know that's not how the Universe works)! At the same time, we've never known a stronger, more determined fighter than Amanda, and are convinced she will conquer this, as well. Amanda has a supportive husband, Travis, and two amazing little boys that keep her battling each day. She is also blessed with a supportive network of friends as well as co-workers, and an extended family unit that is giving her love and support every step of the way.
While there is little we can do to ease the physical and emotional toll of this experience, we are hoping to help Amanda with the intense financial burden that cancer has brought. Though Amanda does have health insurance, it doesn't begin to fully cover all the expenses. We would ideally like to raise $16,500. This money will go toward covering additional health insurance costs from out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles for the years 2018-2020 including but not limited to: chemotherapy, mastectomy and reconstruction, radiation, various oral medications, medical scans (PET, MRI, etc.), and portacath surgery.
We are immensely grateful for any and all donations! We know that a financial gift is not possible for everyone, but hope you will consider sharing Amanda's story with your friends and networks. We'd love to meet our goal by the end of March to give Amanda an additional boost as she finishes chemotherapy treatment and begins the second phase of her road to recovery. We would also appreciate any prayers, love, and positive energy you could send her way!
With love and gratitude,
Amanda's sisters, Emily Lewandowski & Molly Stangby
PS: GoFundMe no longer takes 5% of donations! So all $ goes to Amanda (minus standard credit card fees).
Fundraising team (2)
Emily Lewandowski
Organizer
Jordan, MN
Amanda Burton
Beneficiary
Molly Yokiel Stangby
Team member
