$17,705 CAD raised
·106 donations
Help Denise fight rare uLMS cancer
Donation protected
Background
Denise’s journey began in December 2016 when she had a routine hysterectomy for fibroids. In January 2017, the pathology report showed Uterine Leiomyosarcoma (uLMS), which is a very aggressive and extremely rare cancer, to the tune of only 6 in a million odds. A CT in February 2017 showed 3 nodules on Denise’s left lung, putting her in the Stage 4 category. She had wedge resection surgery to remove the nodules with good margins. The pathology report of the lung tissue revealed metastasis (mets) of uLMS. While a July 2017 scan came back clear, an October CT showed mets in her C4 and T7 vertebrae.
A January 2018 PET and CT showed mets in her right and left lungs, rib and 4 more in various vertebrae. Denise began her first round of chemotherapy. While supplementing with hyperthermia, vitamin B, C, and D, magnesium and mistletoe IVs along with low dose naltrexone, Denise was able to complete 3 rounds of chemo. Denise believes these IVs and supplements made her side effects from chemo very tolerable. She had hair loss, poor sense of taste and smell, dry skin and fatigue starting after her third round, however, she is convinced that her IV therapy along with the hyperthermia played a major role in the effectiveness of the chemo, as well as keeping the side effects bearable.
Good News, For Awhile…
A March 2018 PET and CT scan revealed shrinkage and stability in all tumors and a decrease in metabolic activity. Amazing! A scan at the end of June showed only one 4mm nodule in her lungs, the met in her rib was present but stable and as for the mets on her spine, one was not showing, the other 3 were stable. No metabolic activity. In total, Denise completed 5 round of chemo. She opted out of round 6 as she ended up in the hospital with shortness of breath and rapid heart rate after round 5. She started hormone blockers in July 2018.
Denise’s scan in September 2018 revealed the met in her lung had doubled in size, there were 2 in her ribs, one in her femur and the 3 mets in her spine had doubled and tripled in size and the possibility of new spots in her lymph nodes, scalp and hip. She went off hormone blockers, but continued her IV treatments and will do some radiation this fall. Sadly, this setback demonstrates how quickly things can change with this cancer.
If this sounds like a lot for a typical person to endure, that’s because it is. Denise, however, is far from typical.
Denise is an exceptional wife and mother of four. What makes her so extraordinary is how she puts the needs of her family and friends before her own, as she so generously gives of herself. Denise wants to keep fighting for her life, not for herself, but so that she may continue to love and serve her family. She wants to be there for them as she always has been. By the grace of God, Denise has the mental determination and the physical strength to continue to battle this devastating disease.
Unfortunately, there is one primary challenge that she now faces: FUNDING.
Her IV and hyperthermia treatments are delivered through a private clinic and are not covered by Alberta Health or insurance. She would like to continue these treatments which cost anywhere from $2,400.00 to $4,500.00 a month, depending if she’s doing hyperthermia. Treating Uterine Leiomyosarcoma is extremely challenging as it can change very quickly and must be treated aggressively. Calgary does not have a dedicated sarcoma clinic. After much research, speaking with other uLMS patients and doctors, Denise feels that her best options for treatment are all out of country. These include Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas. Dr. Kleef’s Clinic in Austria has been particularly successful in treating cancer employing a variety of treatments including combining chemo with IVs, full body hypothermia and more. This nature of treatment (combined chemotherapy and hyperthermia) has already proven to be successful for Denise in the past and with full body hyperthermia offered at Dr Kleefs clinic she feels is even better than the targeted hyperthermia she was getting in Calgary. The cost for this would be approximately $100,000.00 for the first treatment, flights and accommodations. At this point, Denise is uncertain how many trips will be required. Denise is hoping to have enough funds raised to start treatment in January, if not sooner.
Denise’s goal is “to see her boys graduate from high school and launch them into university”.
Denise has devoted her life to giving, so to be at the receiving end is very difficult for her. Again, she would gratefully do this for the sake of her family. Denise is prepared to continue her physically strenuous journey, let’s not allow money to stand in her way. Please consider helping Denise.
Thank you for your generosity.
Denise’s journey began in December 2016 when she had a routine hysterectomy for fibroids. In January 2017, the pathology report showed Uterine Leiomyosarcoma (uLMS), which is a very aggressive and extremely rare cancer, to the tune of only 6 in a million odds. A CT in February 2017 showed 3 nodules on Denise’s left lung, putting her in the Stage 4 category. She had wedge resection surgery to remove the nodules with good margins. The pathology report of the lung tissue revealed metastasis (mets) of uLMS. While a July 2017 scan came back clear, an October CT showed mets in her C4 and T7 vertebrae.
A January 2018 PET and CT showed mets in her right and left lungs, rib and 4 more in various vertebrae. Denise began her first round of chemotherapy. While supplementing with hyperthermia, vitamin B, C, and D, magnesium and mistletoe IVs along with low dose naltrexone, Denise was able to complete 3 rounds of chemo. Denise believes these IVs and supplements made her side effects from chemo very tolerable. She had hair loss, poor sense of taste and smell, dry skin and fatigue starting after her third round, however, she is convinced that her IV therapy along with the hyperthermia played a major role in the effectiveness of the chemo, as well as keeping the side effects bearable.
Good News, For Awhile…
A March 2018 PET and CT scan revealed shrinkage and stability in all tumors and a decrease in metabolic activity. Amazing! A scan at the end of June showed only one 4mm nodule in her lungs, the met in her rib was present but stable and as for the mets on her spine, one was not showing, the other 3 were stable. No metabolic activity. In total, Denise completed 5 round of chemo. She opted out of round 6 as she ended up in the hospital with shortness of breath and rapid heart rate after round 5. She started hormone blockers in July 2018.
Denise’s scan in September 2018 revealed the met in her lung had doubled in size, there were 2 in her ribs, one in her femur and the 3 mets in her spine had doubled and tripled in size and the possibility of new spots in her lymph nodes, scalp and hip. She went off hormone blockers, but continued her IV treatments and will do some radiation this fall. Sadly, this setback demonstrates how quickly things can change with this cancer.
If this sounds like a lot for a typical person to endure, that’s because it is. Denise, however, is far from typical.
Denise is an exceptional wife and mother of four. What makes her so extraordinary is how she puts the needs of her family and friends before her own, as she so generously gives of herself. Denise wants to keep fighting for her life, not for herself, but so that she may continue to love and serve her family. She wants to be there for them as she always has been. By the grace of God, Denise has the mental determination and the physical strength to continue to battle this devastating disease.
Unfortunately, there is one primary challenge that she now faces: FUNDING.
Her IV and hyperthermia treatments are delivered through a private clinic and are not covered by Alberta Health or insurance. She would like to continue these treatments which cost anywhere from $2,400.00 to $4,500.00 a month, depending if she’s doing hyperthermia. Treating Uterine Leiomyosarcoma is extremely challenging as it can change very quickly and must be treated aggressively. Calgary does not have a dedicated sarcoma clinic. After much research, speaking with other uLMS patients and doctors, Denise feels that her best options for treatment are all out of country. These include Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas. Dr. Kleef’s Clinic in Austria has been particularly successful in treating cancer employing a variety of treatments including combining chemo with IVs, full body hypothermia and more. This nature of treatment (combined chemotherapy and hyperthermia) has already proven to be successful for Denise in the past and with full body hyperthermia offered at Dr Kleefs clinic she feels is even better than the targeted hyperthermia she was getting in Calgary. The cost for this would be approximately $100,000.00 for the first treatment, flights and accommodations. At this point, Denise is uncertain how many trips will be required. Denise is hoping to have enough funds raised to start treatment in January, if not sooner.
Denise’s goal is “to see her boys graduate from high school and launch them into university”.
Denise has devoted her life to giving, so to be at the receiving end is very difficult for her. Again, she would gratefully do this for the sake of her family. Denise is prepared to continue her physically strenuous journey, let’s not allow money to stand in her way. Please consider helping Denise.
Thank you for your generosity.
Donations
Organizer
Denise Yasinko
Organizer
Calgary, AB