Help support Ashley facing stage 4 breast cancer

2012: After early stage breast cancer. Ash’s favourite happy place since she was three years old.


New Year’s day 2018: Ash and Mike hike despite going through stage 4 breast cancer symptoms


Spring 2019: Sunset Point, Tofino where for Ashley it feels like home.


Ash and Mike at home on the Sunshine Coast, BC




Our dear friend Ashley Doyle, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2012, at the young age of 28. Tragically on July 10, 2017, the cancer was found to have progressed to incurable stage 4 metastatic breast cancer (MBC). It had spread to her lungs, mediastinal lymph nodes in her chest, and then in 2020 in her brain. MBC completely derailed her and husband Mike's life path since. The grief and pain with the loss of starting a family of their own was taken from their future leaving them absolutely devastated.

 

Assistance and support for Ashley is crucial as quality of life and options regarding what she is facing are changing financially.

 

Donations from this campaign will help Ashley gain access for treatment drugs (off label, only partially compassionate-accessible and ones that are not approved through Canadian health system). For example: Some future treatment options will be $10,000 per month. Also for the ways in which her body is needing to feel relief after the intense treatments she endures. There are many side effect drug options involved that are only covered so much.

 

Your gifted donations will also assist Ashley and her husband of 18yrs with grocery, monthly expenses, travel costs incurred from the Sunshine Coast to Vancouver and back, for weekly, and sometimes daily appointments at the BC Cancer Agency. Travel became frequent late 2020 when Ashley’s brain metastasis required daily radiation. Following that, 2-3 trips every few weeks to BC Cancer for clinical trials and scans, and to top it off needing a craniotomy July 9th 2021 at VGH. Mike has had to drastically cut down his work hours so that he can be by her side. On Sept 29th 2021, twelve short weeks after her craniotomy, Ashley suffered a grand-mal seizure which resulted in a dislocated and broken right shoulder, fractured humerus and chipped teeth. While the shoulder is recovering slowly with physio, she is still unable to properly move her arm and the doctors prognosis says it could take up to a full year before completely healed. Since the seizure, Ashley cannot be left alone in the event she has another which has required time shifts between both her husband Mike and Mum Victoria who thankfully lives on the Sunshine Coast.

 

Ashley has been doing everything in her power to stay well these last 10 years, which has included multiple different treatments, drug trials, and surgeries. We are hoping to raise enough funds to give Ashley the chance to also travel abroad to Germany, for other cancer treatments that are proven to extend life in similar cases like hers. These Germany Cancer Clinic approaches to providing disease stability are not yet available in Canada.

 

Feeling in crisis, Ashley is willing to try anything that could give her more time with her family and friends. This specialized treatment in Germany could do just that though it comes at a significant financial cost. It’s estimated approximately at $40,000 CAD for each few weeks of treatment which includes air travel and accommodation at the clinic for one week. However, the treatment offering towards her could potentially go as long as two to three months before she can return home adding to out of clinic accommodation and food costs further. This estimate does not cover any other unforeseen obstacles Ashley and Mike may face, as travel has become difficult with the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic. Yet, she remains open to the option when it is possible and needed, this cancer treatment in Germany and what would be endured is quite overwhelming. She remains hopeful regardless of all that is possible to extend her time here.

 

In 2018 Ashley had her DNA sequenced and learned that she carried the PALB2 genetic mutation, inherited from her Slovak ancestors. This genetic mutation meant that Ashley’s risk of developing cancer increased by 60%. There was nothing she did nor could have done to prevent this from happening. Despite the unimaginably difficult circumstances she has faced, Ashley rigorously did much of her own ancestral research and continued to advocate for herself. Since learning this information, Ashley has become very passionate about educating her family, friends and so many others around the world. She has done numerous interviews on the topic, some being published online and in local newspapers. Her hope is for others with family hereditary cancer get genetic tested for gene mutations so they can determine the best action going forward for their own families. ASHLEY CARES SO MUCH ABOUT OTHERS. (There was a time when she started cancer support groups and held retreats for young adults with cancer)

 

Our dear Ash continues to advocate for positive change, and to help improve quality of care for herself and others, including her husband who faces so much through this experience. She has tirelessly advocated for other young women and men with breast and other cancers over the years, and now needs the support she has always been so selflessly willing to give to others in times of need. We hope to provide Ashley and her family with the support they so deserve after the many years of living with this diagnosis.

 

We are so grateful for any amount you are able to give at this time, to assist Ashley and her family by easing their growing financial burdens. To give quality of life and much deserved time together without the stress of financial resources.

In the words of Ashley:

 

“I am not into war analogies with cancer and don’t use military metaphors. I’m not battling or fighting. I am facing cancer doing everything I can to be here. It is not about winning or losing. This is life with cancer and it can sometimes happen with the fluke of bad luck having hereditary gene errors. I will always continue to face this the best way I possibly can. With hope and wishes for as much time in this physical body here on earth.”

 

***Please remember/note: With Ash going through metastatic breast cancer, please zero battling/fighting words. No war analogies, toxic positivity, or words in the form of spiritual-bypassing or alternative health advice  in the comments. Thank you for the support and respect ***


WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND LOVE VERY MUCH!

With Deepest Gratitude from so many who love her, 

 

♥️

Shannon Spani & Melissa Needleman, and Veronica RusQuali

(Team Fundraisers)

 

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If you feel called to follow Ashley’s story she is at @ashleyblairdoyle on Instagram