Kae's Breast Cancer Journey

Hi! This is Chad & Genevieve Anderson. We are Kaelianna's parents.

Kaelianna is 33 years young, was born in Helena, MT, and is now living in Clancy, MT with her husband, Jake, and two children, 9 year old Hendrix and 6 year old Journey. Our family has a strong and aggressive history of breast and ovarian cancer. Many of our relatives have passed away from cancer at a very young age. Our generation and our daughters generation understand the cards we have been delt and we want to be as proactive as possible. It's as though genetic testing has given our family have a second chance at life so we plan to make the most of it.

Kae's journey started in 2015 with several breast lumps and an attempt to get tested for the known family genetic mutation. After several years of doc visits and trying to navigate medical care she went in for another genetic test in Summer of 2022 which confirmed that she carries the harmful BRCA-1 genetic mutation. This mutation places her risk of developing breast cancer to around 87%, and her risk of ovarian cancer around 60%. This is a very serious condition, very scary to face, and to live long enough to see her kids graduate she will have to have a double mastectomy. In our family it is not IF you get cancer...it boils down to WHEN.

On top of this, Kaelianna also has the CHEK2 mutation which is rare, full of unknowns, and further increases her risk of breast, ovarian, and several other cancers.

In 2022, she chose to have a total abdominal hysterectomy- bilateral salpingo oophorectomy (removal of uterus and ovaries) to reduce her risk of developing ovarian cancer.

The next required surgery is the double mastectomy and reconstruction. This surgery will bring her risk of developing breast cancer from 87% to less than 5%. Not having her breasts removed would be a life of endless doctor appointments, breast exams, scans, coupled with constant fear of “what ifs” and "wish I hads".

Her impressive team of health care professionals have developed a two step surgical plan for her to provide the best results possible. The first surgery will consist of breast tissue removal and the second will be an autologous (self donated tissue) reconstruction.

Her surgery team will be using groundbreaking techniques for nerve preserving and will utilize sophisticated reconstructive surgery advancements. She will have a high level of specialized care from pioneers in the field of women's health care. She will also be able to have a much better result than was available to the generation before her.

The recovery will be extensive and she will need help both monetarily and physically. In addition, Kae and her husband will miss work, as will her parents during the long process of surgeries and recovery.

We have started this GoFundMe to ask for help covering some of her medical costs, recovery management, and lessening the financial burden on the family so we can all focus on making good decisions and helping with the chores, daily tasks, and the little ones.

She has a very basic health insurance plan and the financial strain of these surgeries will be immense. All funds donated here will go to the following: surgery fees, anesthesia, follow up appointments, pathology, medications, scar treatment, hospital stay, items needed for recovery, physical therapy, transportation, and funds for her family to live on during the most intense part of the journey.

Kaelianna has a heart of gold and has always been the first to show up for anybody and everybody no matter the need, time of day, or level of help needed. Thank you for considering and sharing her story! It means so much to us to help her find the support she needs to make this all possible. You are all helping her have a chance to watch her kids grow up, live healthier longer life, and manage a very difficult process with grace and dignity.

If anybody would like to help but would rather not use online platforms, please contact us through email.