An Update I Hoped I'd Never Have to Write

In March 2025, I was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer. So many people showed up for me during that terrifying time. You showed up with donations, messages, meals, encouragement, and countless other forms of support. I will never be able to fully express how much that helped me get through one of the hardest periods of my life.

I hoped that chapter was behind me. For clarity - that's where the first $11k of donations listed on this fundraiser came from - and that covered many of the medical bills I had come up during surgery and chemotherapy throughout 2025.

Unfortunately, my cancer has returned.

This summer, doctors discovered that the cancer had metastasized to my ovary, where it had grown into a tumor roughly the size of a baseball. On July 23, I underwent another major abdominal surgery to remove it. Now I'm recovering from surgery and preparing for whatever additional cancer treatment comes next.

At the same time, I'm approaching another crisis that I'm increasingly frightened about: how I'm going to financially support myself while I'm still unable to return to work.

What Has Happened Since My First Diagnosis

After my original diagnosis, I underwent major surgery and chemotherapy. I made it through treatment, but unfortunately treatment left me with significantly painful peripheral neuropathy in my hands and feet.

The most disabling part has been the damage to my hands.

Using my fingertips, particularly typing and using a mouse, causes significant pain. Because virtually all of my professional work happens on a computer, this has made returning to work extraordinarily difficult.

I've been working with my doctors, trying medications and treatments, adapting how I use technology, and looking for ways to work around the limitations in my hands. I even attempted a very limited return to work to find out whether I could gradually rebuild my capacity, hoping to work about 10 hours a week. Sadly, I found even working only 1-3 hours a week proved difficult to sustain because of the pain in my hands.

I desperately want to get back to working and supporting myself. I'm still hoping that I will. I just don't know when my body will allow me to do it.

And now, cancer has returned in the middle of that recovery.

The Financial Cliff I'm Facing

Since becoming unable to work, California's short-term disability program has provided about 60% of my previous salary which has allowed me to keep paying my basic living expenses.

However, that assistance has a time limit.

These short-term disability benefits will run out in mid-November. I'm pursuing Social Security Disability Insurance and other forms of assistance that may be available to me, but even if I'm approved, my expected SSDI benefit would be only around $1,600 per month.

That isn't enough to cover basic living expenses anywhere, let alone here in Northern California. So I'm facing a frightening gap.

I don't know yet whether my neuropathy will improve enough for me to return to work before mid-November. And because my cancer has now returned, I'm once again facing surgery recovery, oncology appointments, and potentially additional cancer treatments at the same time I'm attempting to rehabilitate my hands enough to work.

I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to solve this without asking for help again. I haven't found a solution on my own, so I'm doing something that is very difficult for me: I'm asking for help.

What Your Donations Will Help With

Money raised through this fundraiser will primarily help me maintain basic financial stability while I recover from surgery, undergo cancer treatment, continue working on my neuropathy, and try to regain enough function to return to work.

Donations will help cover things like:

My goal isn't to stop working, rather it's to buy enough time to heal so that I can work again without losing my financial stability in the meantime.

If You Helped Me Before

Many of the people reading this already donated when I was first diagnosed. I know that. And asking those same people for help again is one of the things that has made writing this especially difficult.

You already showed up for me during an incredibly hard time. Please don't feel any obligation to donate again. But if you're in a position where you can help again, even a small donation would mean enormously more to me than I can adequately express.

And if donating isn't possible, sharing this fundraiser is also a meaningful way to help. It may allow this to reach someone who wasn't part of my community when I was first diagnosed.

What I'm Working Toward

I don't know exactly what the next several months will look like, but I do know what I'm working toward.

I want to get through cancer treatment again. I'm working toward reducing the neuropathy enough that using my hands isn't painful. And ultimately, I want to be financially independent again.

Until I get there, I need some help bridging the gap.

If you're able to donate, share this fundraiser, or simply send some encouragement my way, I'm incredibly grateful.

Thank you for helping me keep going.

- Lee

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Quick links

+ Lee's YouTube channel (link)

+ Tips for talking about cancer (link)

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Previous fundraiser - 2025 - March

Lee Green

It's hard to describe Lee in just the right way. Do we start with their warmth? Their joy? Their authenticity? Their adoration for their cats Link and Zelda? Their talent for embracing the world with boundless spirit? Their ability to reach out, connect, and build community with those around them?

Lee has dedicated much of their professional and personal life to supporting the causes that are important to them. They have chosen to work in non-profits that are helping make the world a better place.

They are a dedicated friend, a loving cat parent, and a thoughtful and caring partner.

They are all this (and more!) — And now, Lee needs our help.

Lee's diagnosis

Lee was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in March 2025 after a routine colonoscopy. The cancer is considered "Stage 4" because it has also metastasized to Lee's liver. Consultations with several surgeons determined Lee is extremely lucky with their tumor placement because they believe that it can be removed wholly; the doctors' prognosis is that treatments for Lee's cancer should be completely curative. They are only 45 years old, which makes this news even more shocking. Lee is otherwise very healthy, so their team of doctors plans to be very aggressive with their treatment.

However, there is a tough road ahead. Lee has already had several tests, doctor visits, and medical procedures. Soon, on March 28th, they will undergo robotic surgery on their liver and colon to remove the tumor and metastases. Lee will be in the hospital for 3-5 days afterward and then later, will get chemo to mop up any remaining cancer cells.

What to do?

This won't be easy for Lee. Health insurance will only cover so much, and it will not be cheap to undergo the expected treatments. Though we cannot reduce Lee's bodily suffering, we CAN contribute to their safety and well-being through financial and other kinds of support.

Your donation will have an immediate impact. It will ensure that Lee receives high-quality care and can still cover their rent, travel for treatment, medical supplies, pet food, and the many unexpected expenses that are bound to surface. If you are able and willing, please donate to smooth out the road ahead.

Learning more and looking forward

You can learn more about Lee's diagnosis and follow their cancer journey via their YouTube channel ! In the coming weeks and months of treatment, communication may become more difficult for Lee. We will try to post updates here as possible, and we appreciate your patience and understanding that there will be many moving pieces.

Other ways to help

There are also other avenues to support Lee — besides a direct donation. While known to be a self-sufficient introvert, Lee will need a lot of support throughout this process. If you are interested in any of the options below, please sign up via this form.

In-person options:

Options for those far away

If you want to set up a recurring donation, that would mean the world. Such recurring donations will help make it easier to plan (and stress less!) for future expenses. Please, coordinate with Lee directly or click "Contact the organizer" below.

I want to reach out to Lee!

Lee's news may be traumatic for you to hear and bring up strong emotions. That's OK! But we must radiate our own emotional needs outward — away from Lee and away from their caregivers. This way, Lee can focus on the love, warmth, connection, and support they need to fight cancer.

Second, few people in Lee's demographic have first-hand experience with cancer. If you decide to reach out, you probably won’t know what to do or say, because nobody knows what to do or say. Again, that's OK. We highly recommend that you read this website first.

Third, a few other reminders about sending words of support:

Lastly, we feel the following should be considered required reading for all of us who love and care for Lee: "Attitudes and Cancer : What Kind of Help Really Helps?" The article discusses common patterns and pitfalls that people have when talking about cancer in particular and trauma in general.

Options to contact Lee:

Thank you for your love and care.