Antonia's Breast Cancer Fight

My name is Antonia Rose Avitable-McGinnis, I am 37 years old, and in September 2016, I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. It is also genetic, I have a brca2 mutation. This is my story...

I had just quit my job of 13 years, ready to start a new career working with my husband. We have been married for almost twenty years and it has always been a dream of ours to work together. I was so excited that it was finally happening! Then I found the lump.

Standing in the bathroom, I literally said out loud, "S##t." A few days later I went in to see my doctor, hoping she would say it was nothing to worry about. After a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy, I received the news. It was cancer. It had been only 2 weeks since I left my job. So much for our dream. I was devastated.

I was so naive, I really thought it would never happen to me. I don't smoke or drink or do drugs. I stay away from artificial sweetners and preservatives. I don't eat fast food. I love salad! But that's not how genetic diseases work (or even necessarily cancer).

I feel foolish now, but I never really understood the genetics of it. Somehow I thought that because breast cancer was mostly on my father's side, I was safe. My father doesn't have breasts, so how could he pass on breast cancer? I had even asked doctors in the past about my family history, and they were not too concerned either! But, as it turns out, there are 9 family members on my father's side, who have had breast cancer, in only three generations! My uncle calls it the family curse!

Because of the type of cancer I have and the specific genetic mutation I have, my doctor recommended having a double mastectomy. So in November, I had surgery to remove both breasts. I am still healing but I am doing ok. My cancer was diagnosed as Stage 2a. So the prognosis is good and with treatment, this will all be behind me soon.

Quitting my job meant losing my health insurance at the end of September. I had to sign up with Obamacare for the remainder of 2016 and I had to choose another plan for 2017 because my plan isn't being offered anymore. So now we will have bills from three different insurance plans.

We are starting to receive bills from surgery and it is astounding how much surgery costs. Thankfully I have out-of-pocket maximums but it is still thousands of dollars. In January, I will be starting chemotherapy, which lasts about 5 months. So I expect to reach my out-of-pocket maximum for next year as well. That is why I decided to ask for your help.

Now that my husband's job is our only source of income, and probably will be for most of next year, I know he is stressed out about the medical bills. I am hoping to relieve that burden from him.

All of your donations will be used to pay my medical bills. Thank you to everyone for your support and prayers.