Let's start by saying "I HATE doing this for myself". However, sometimes you have no choice. We have a few friends, but we mostly keep to ourselves and try not to bother anyone. (I've always had bad social anxiety, and I can NOT stand it, and the older I get the worse it seems to be!) Now that I've gotten that off my chest, here is my story.
I'm Melissa, I'm married to my best Friend, Bert. We have three amazing kids, Ava, Noah, & Aspen. These four are my world, they keep me going and are the reason I'm fighting this.
My story so far:
My Breast Cancer Jouney started August 12th, 2024. I found a large mass in my breast. I immediately called my doctor and was scheduled an appointment for the following Monday, August 19th. I had to have a mammogram and ultrasound a couple of hours before seeing the doctor. Once I seen her, she advised a needle biopsy be done in the office that day, which I agreed to. After a wait that felt like an eternity I received a call with the biopsy results on August 26th. Pathology of the needle biopsy showed I was positive for a rare aggressive form of breast cancer called, META-PLASTIC (not metastatic) ER+ PR- HER2- and it was at stage 2. I then had a Breast MRI that day, and a referral was sent to see oncology. I met with Oncology on September 9th. The oncologist and surgeon agreed that the mass should be removed and tested for responses to different treatment options before deciding on a treatment plan. The following day, September 10th, I had a lumpectomy performed. The mass as a whole was sent out for testing, that took several weeks, and I had to allow the surgical site to heal as well. So, yesterday October 15th, I had an appointment with oncology to discuss the test results & decide on a treatment plan. After discussing results with him, I will be doing chemo for five months. Then once I'm finished with chemo and my immune system recovers I will then undergo a double mastectomy with reconstruction. At this time I am facing a long road ahead. A long road that I intend to fight & survive!!! I will update as I can.
Now to the financial side of my battle. We have medical insurance, however it does have a high yearly out-of-pocket max. We are a one income family. Most people don't know but social security/disability declared me disabled a few years ago (for other medical reasons/diagnosis), but due to the few years I had taken off to have kids and stay home with them while they were small, I was out of the time frame to receive my Disability benefits. So, one income it is. We have learned how to manage.
However, having to pay medical bills, Bert's time off work, without pay, when I have appointments where he has to be with me, medications, test, extra gas for appts, ect... it adds up FAST.
First of all I ask you to please say a prayer for our family, that would mean the most to us. Then, if you are able to/would like to send a donation toward my fight it would be extremely appreciated.
If you are unable to donate that's understandable, not all are in a position to be able to make a donation and that's fine. However, if you will say a prayer and share this post/link so that it may make it to someone who is able to donate. I would appreciate & be grateful for that.
Just a side note:
GET THOSE PUMPKINS CHECKED!
***My Mama passed away in 2018 from a reaction to chemo she was taking for breast cancer. About a month or so before she received results of genetic testing for the BRACA gene mutation. It showed she carried the BRACA1 mutation. At that point I had the test done and found out that I also carry the same BRACA1 gene mutation. That put me at a MUCH higher risk for developing breast cancer. It was recommended that I have a preventative double mastectomy ASAP. I put it off because at that time Aspen was only 4 months old. The wins was only 2 1/2 years old. I wanted to wait until they was a little older and was in school before having the surgery. I had told Bert around the beginning of summer this year that I needed to work on getting it scheduled for sometime within the next year. Needless to say I wasn't fast enough to just have the preventative surgery done. Now not only do I have to have surgery, I also have chemo and all that comes with it. I'm saying all of that to say, Ladies get your pumpkins checked! And, if you have a strong family history of cancer consider having the genetic testing done. Don't be like me and put things off. ***