Help Katie Franks Battle Stage III Breast Cancer

I am pleading for help for my dear friend and fellow flight attendant, Katie Franks. Katie is the first to help anyone in need, now she’s the one that desperately needs help. She lost two of the most important people in her life and received this horrible diagnosis all in such a short span of time. She was not prepared to be off work for an extended period of time, or for the medical bills. Any donation is appreciated. It adds up and hopefully to a point that will make the medical expenses less of a massive burden, allowing her to focus on treatment and healing. The cancer has spread to her lymph nodes. It’s an incredibly scary and stressful time for her.

Katie's story in her own words:

A year ago today, everything was normal. Then my father died unexpectedly in November due to a brain bleed after a fall.

On one of my trips, I discovered an unusual dent on my breast. It is attaching to my pectoral muscle, so it’s obvious.

In April, they diagnosed it as Stage III breast cancer—ductal carcinoma in situ, with a metastatic tumor (neoplasm).

Treatment involves 6 rounds of chemotherapy, followed by a bilateral mastectomy, radiation therapy, breast reconstruction, and immunotherapy and hormone therapy for the next year. I’m HER2+.

I’m receiving treatment at Emory University Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta. My oncology team is great and my support has been fabulous from friends and family. It’s a long journey and you can’t do it alone.

Then right after my diagnosis, my sweet Granny died. This made it hard for me to fight and feel like a cancer warrior because my year has been so challenging!!

But I’m trying. I just started my third round of chemo this week. The side effects are awful! I’m very dehydrated and it’s hard to keep foods down.

My oncologist doesn’t really want me to fly much right now because I’m immunocompromised and the passengers are so germy!