Short story - I need help paying the extra bills associated with having to start chemotherapy - scalp cooling, travel, diet. First treatment is October 10.

Donations can be made here, or email me at staceyT.2261 at gmail dot com for other options.

The details -

I have done my best to remain upbeat and positive with this disease change. But there is one thing that sends me to the breaking point - hair loss. Having gone through it once, I know how hard it is to face looking at yourself in the mirror bald, and then trying to figure out what to do as your hair grows back. There was a point in that process for about 6 months that was just too hard for me to look in the mirror.

With this chemo, the biggest expense is a treatment designed to help keep my hair. The 2 chemo drugs both have hair loss as a side effect. Scalp cooling is a therapy designed to freeze the hair follicles so the chemo is not able to enter them and affect the growth rate. With the chemo I am getting, I have a 90% chance of keeping at least 50% of my hair. As thick as my hair is, this could keep me from having to shave my head. For the first round, I am looking at $1300. Then it is a trip to Houston, with gas/plane ticket and hotel charges. If chemo is working, I will continue chemo and “cold capping” charges continue until I have paid $2600 total.

If you read this far and are able to help in any way, I would be so grateful.