Hope for Audra

In 2016, at the age of 40, Audra was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer. After a tennis ball-sized tumor was removed from her small intestine, along with 32 lymph nodes (all tested clear), Audra was told that she was cancer-free. Unfortunately, 12 months later, Audra was back in the hospital for the removal of metastases to both ovaries and the sacrum. The process to remove the tumor from the sacrum raised concern that cancer cells could remain circulating in the pelvis, so chemo and radiation were recommended. Audra met with the oncologist and radiation oncologist for consultation. Her prognosis was 60% chance five-year survival, horrific/barbaric treatment, and secondary cancer as a side effect. Due to Audra’s love of life, she chose to decline those treatments; opting for quality over quantity. Audra began to research alternative cancer treatment and radically changed her diet to become vegetarian, and implemented juicing, and other holistic modalities, into her daily lifestyle.

After nearly two years of being cancer-free, Audra was diagnosed in February 2020 with another recurrence. The cancer has now spread too much for surgery to be an option, and the chemo/radiation would only afford an additional couple of months. Her doctors have exhausted all means of conventional care, but have committed to keeping her as comfortable as possible. Currently, Audra’s right kidney is beginning to fail due to a tumor pinching off the ureter and causing urine to back up into the kidney. She is scheduled to have a stent placed next week in order to open that ureter back up.

Because of that love of life that Audra carries, she has not given up this fight to beat this awful disease. Although things seem dire, her faith is strong and she has peace knowing that her God is walking this journey right beside her. She has done research and feels led to a place in Arizona called An Oasis of Healing. This is an integrative cancer treatment center in Mesa where Audra will receive outpatient care for 6-8 weeks. The doctors there seem very hopeful that they can help Audra and state they have a 72% 15yr survival rate with her particular cancer, using alternative treatments alongside experimental conventional modalities. With no other options being available, Audra has decided that this is where she will continue her battle and will be leaving on, or before, November 12. She will be there for 6-8 weeks. This is the last step in Audra’s journey and she is very hopeful that it could extend her life without taking away the quality of it. She covets your prayers and is grateful for any financial gift as none of this will be covered by insurance.