Join the Fight: Support Cancer Treatment & Recovery for Amy

I’m Amy Suggs, 35 years old and am fighting my third occurrence of Head and Neck cancer. I still have a really hard time accepting money from anyone, because I definitely don’t expect anything, but I’ve had requests again to open another fundraiser from some who want to help out so I am creating one for that purpose.

Backstory: I was first diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the tongue in January 2022. In February 2022 I had surgery to remove the cancer. At this time the doctor’s indicated it was Stage 1 and that they had got it all at that point. I had multiple biopsies done again throughout the year due to continued complications and in October it was determined the cancer had returned and spread to my lymph node. This time: Stage 3. I had another partial glossectomy and neck dissection November 2, 2022. I then underwent 8 rounds of chemotherapy and 30 rounds of radiation treatments concurrently. It was the toughest time of my life. I remained cancer free for a little over a year and a half. Fast forward to August 2024.. a new concerning spot showed up. I had a CT scan which showed all clear results; however, I knew better and thankfully so did my doctor. I went in for a biopsy on September 3, 2024 that turned into a hemiglossectomy; no clear margins at the time, and a week in the hospital. I was referred to MUSC for continued treatment. I am scheduled on the 25th to have another hemiglossectomy to clear the remaining tumor, a graft of my tongue with a transplant of a muscle from my back, and will also be on a feeding tube and placed on a hopefully temporary trach to breathe. After surgery it will be a few weeks before I am able to come home.

After some healing we will decide on chemoradiation again or immunotherapy. The doctor’s best estimate is that I will be out of work for at least 6 months. I have been placed on a medical leave of absence and will have short term disability available; however, it’s definitely not my normal paycheck to any extent. As for the GoFundMe, I will never be able to repay all of you for your generosity and support, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know that I don’t have to get into financial talk, but I feel that it’s fair for me to share some info so that you know where your donations are going: - For 2024 I will meet my individual out of pocket insurance maximum of $7,900 of which I have been slowly continuously making payments towards already with previous medical bills. **I say all of that not to ask for any assistance, but because I want those who have donated to know that I promise you, your donations will go directly to those bills and debts. It will not be used incorrectly.

Prayers are all that I ask for. I have faith that God will heal me and get me through this. Thank you so much to everyone that has reached out and have been praying for me. It means the world to me. I love you all❤️

Updates are posted on my blog here

Some key dates shared from the last go round:

- first partial glossectomy surgery Feb 15,2022. Depth of tumor invasion: 3mm

- Second partial glossectomy and partial neck dissection surgery: when the cancer returned and I had my surgery November 2, 2022 at Stage 3, the depth of the tumor in my tongue was measured at: at least 8mm. Left partial neck dissection: approx 13 lymph nodes were removed down to my clavicle (shoulder). Of those, the cancer was found in one, with the largest node mast deposit identified at approx 3.5 cm. I was hospitalized for a few days that that time for observation and a neck drain tube. - I had another surgery in November to place a vein port in my right chest to assist with IVs, had to have a PEG tube for approx 4 months and completed my chemo & radiation that time in Jan 2023.