Help Racheal M Kamana fight against stage 4 Lung Cancer

Help Rachel Mponela Kamana in her fight against Stage 4 Lung Cancer

My name is Rachel Mponela Kamana, a lung cancer patient, Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) with metastasis to the liver.

I am 33 years young, a wife, a mother of 3 amazing children, a daughter, and sister.

In 2022 while pregnant with my little girl, I had a persistent cough throughout the whole pregnancy and any medication I was given did not clear the cough. In September 2022, I had an x-ray done with extra precautions because of the baby, which showed multiple masses in both lungs. It is then that I was referred to a pulmonologist, who began a series of tests. In October 2022 I then had a CT scan and the tumors in my lungs were found and they were noted in my liver too.

A biopsy was then done and results were given to me on 11th November, 2022. It was confirmed that I had Adenocarcinoma cancer of the lungs which had also spread to my liver making it stage 4. As I was pregnant at the time although not yet due, the baby had to be delivered earlier than expected to enable me to start treatment urgently.

Baby came on 18th November and had my 1st chemotherapy on 12th December 2022 during which this time I was hospitalized and dependent on oxygen to help me breathe. Also, I had fluid building up in my lungs which was drained. I was then advised to urgently seek further evaluation and tests in India which are not available in Zambia.

Through the help of my family and employer, I traveled to India on 23rd December 2022 still dependent on oxygen. They reconfirmed the diagnosis, Metastatic NSCLC, EGFR Exon 19 mutated. I was then put on a targeted therapy oral drug which I took daily from January 2023 until May 2024. During this period my quality of life greatly improved, the tumors shrunk greatly and I lived life as normal as I could.

I had a routine CT scan locally in April 2024 which showed that the tumors started to increase in size and new ones developed. I had to travel back to India urgently where after pet CT scan and tests it was confirmed that I had become resistant to the medication. I was then put on palliative chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

I started the treatment when I came back to Zambia as I did not have the funds to pay for the medicine at the time. I managed to get the medication for the 1st cycle through my insurance and the remaining cycles through a loan facility.

I have since completed the cycles and required to travel back for review. Ideally I should have traveled by the 1st week of November 2024 but due to funds I was unable to. I am raising funds in hope to travel back by 1st week of December 2024, I know I am currently unable to afford the medication and likely will require more immunotherapy which is very expensive ranging from$5,000-$12,000 per cycle.

Your donations towards my medical expenses will be greatly appreciated and help me stay on treatment and be able to continue this fight for my young family and my loved ones.

Thanking you in advance.