Help Tori Fight Stage4 Breast Cancer

Hi, my name is Victoria, but my friends call me Tori. I am 39 years old and I have Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer.

I currently live with my mom. I lost my dad in September 2019, so it’s just the two of us now. The last few years have been extremely rough. Losing him was the worst thing we have ever had to endure, but nothing could have prepared us for what came next.

In October 2019, I noticed something felt not quite “right” in my left breast. However, with everything that had happened with my dad, I didn’t think too much about it.

Then, I started bleeding from my nipple. So naturally, I went to see my doctor, who then sent me for a mammogram, an ultrasound and bloodwork. During the ultrasound, they noticed a lump and they were very concerned, so they sent me to a specialist to get a biopsy.

On January 10, 2020 I received the news that turned my life upside down…

“You have CANCER!!!”

After receiving such devastating news, I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it. I just couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that I had breast cancer. Especially since I do not carry the gene, nor does it run in my family.

From then on, the cancer progressed very quickly. In March, I received even more bad news. It had spread from my left breast to my lymph nodes as well. I was sent to a plastic surgeon to discuss my options for surgery and reconstruction right away.

A lumpectomy was out of the question, so instead, the doctors opted to perform a double mastectomy operation, to ensure that the cancer didn’t spread to the other breast.

On March 16, 2020. I had both of my breasts removed.

They removed lymph nodes as well and also put in tissue expanders.

I was SO GLAD that was done and over with.

But boy, was I wrong…

I ended up having to go back in early April. I had developed a hematoma in both breasts, which they had to drain immediately, even though I was nowhere near healed from the mastectomy.

Then, as if that wasn’t horrible enough, by mid April, I experienced even more issues. My tissue expanders had started leaking and I had developed a perforation that became infected in my left breast. It was so SCARY!!! Apparently, my body was rejecting them and so they had to be removed.

I had to put reconstructive surgery on hold in order to recover and heal from all of these procedures. Finally, by May 2020, I was sent to an Oncologist to discuss my treatment options.

Would I need chemotherapy and radiation etc.?

I received a CT scan and a Bone scan. The scans revealed yet another abnormality. I was then sent for a Pet scan to give the doctors a closer look at it.

The results came back with more bed news.

The cancer had spread to my liver.

At this point, I was diagnosed with STAGE 4 Metastatic Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer.

The doctors decided that the best treatment option for me was hormone therapy, which essentially turned my ovaries “off.”

Since June 2020, I've been getting bloodwork and an injection in my abdomen once a month as part of my treatment, in addition to taking two different types of medications once per day.

My insurance covers the medication, but NOT chemotherapy or radiation, which I will eventually need to continue my treatment.

I am an independent woman and not one to ask for help.

But it’s just my mom and I.

The pandemic, combined with my situation, caused my mom to have to leave her job and start collecting Social Security in order to care for me. On top of that, I was terminated from my job for not properly following their protocol to take a medical leave, so I am now on disability as my only income.

We have no other support or family that can help us.

We have already sold all of my dad’s valuables and used up all funds.

We have reached the point where we just don’t know what to do…

I opted to open a gofundme as a last resort. It’s been a difficult journey and it is only going to become more difficult. The stress and burden of these medical expenses, on top of everyday cost of living expenses, is just too much.

So, I’m asking you to please look deep within your heart and help support my cause. Donate whatever you can, and if you are unable to donate, please SHARE my page to your friends and family. Anything that would help us to at least afford to be able to stay in our house would be very greatly appreciated. If we do not receive support as soon as possible, I fear we may end up homeless and on the street.

Unfortunately, Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer is a HORRIBLE disease which NO woman should ever have to endure! I hope you nor any of your friends or family members ever have to experience it.

I truly and sincerely appreciate ANYTHING you can do and I thank you in advance, from the bottom of my heart.

Take care and thank you so much for reading my story.

Tori