Hi! My name is Lauren. I started Lauren's Fight Club @laurensfightclub to tell my story, spread awareness, and raise funds to win the battle against cancer once and for all! My goal with LFC is to educate others to: 1. never end up in my position, and

2. empower others to utilize every available resource in fighting cancer.

 

I was diagnosed with stage IIIc colorectal cancer in November 2019. I underwent surgery (lower anterior resection that removed a foot of my colon), eight rounds of chemotherapy (FOLFOX), and 28 sessions of targeted radiation while taking a chemo pill (5-FU). Less than two months after treatment ended in June 2020, the cancer spread to my lung and there was already a suspected recurrence in my rectum, making it stage IV. I moved home from Los Angeles to New York City to be treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering. We used a watch and wait approach after I had the nodule on my lung ablated in October 2020, hoping that the rectal recurrence was actually just scar tissue. Unfortunately, in February 2021, the rectal mass grew and there was some unusual activity in my spleen, so I agreed to try the recommended second line chemo treatment. After four incredibly tough rounds of full dose FOLFIRI, I decided chemotherapy was not the answer for me. I researched night and day for options and modern discoveries. It led me to IV Vitamin C. A recent study by USC [https://news.usc.edu/170125/fasting-mimicking-diet-vitamin-c-cancer-treatment-usc-research/] showed IV Vitamin C is effective against mutant KRAS colorectal tumors, which is what I have. So why isn't this being offered to patients? Number one, it's still technically in clinical trials (which are very difficult to get into). Number two, most mainstream doctors don't know about it or simply won't prescribe it. And number three, it's not covered by insurance and unfortunately, it is not very affordable for most people. Based on all of my research, oral vitamin C (even high dose liposomal) does not have the same efficacy.

 

My goal is to raise $5000 in one month to go towards four weeks of IV Vitamin C treatments. Each session is about $300!! Modeled after the Cornell clinical trial [https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03146962] I will be getting an IV Vitamin C infusion four times a week for four weeks (to start). I will then test my blood tumor markers (CEA and CA 19-9) and get follow up scans to see how well my body responds to the infusions.

 

There are so many others out there with my same mutation (KRAS G12V) who are losing hope. The success of these treatments not only help keep me around a little longer, but will hopefully empower others to take their health into their own hands instead of relying on methods that have been proven not to work. We can do this! WE WILL NOT STOP!!!

 

Please join the fight and donate any little bit that you can. Much love and appreciation!!!

 

Lauren