Veronica Z Stage 4 breast cancer
In April of 2012, my life was turnt upside down. On the receiving end of the phone were words that I dreaded to hear, it is cancer! So there I was 31 being told that I have cancer. After all my doctors appointments and tests done, I was told I had stage 2b breast cancer which meant that the size of the mass made it stage 2 and the b part meant that the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes. So right away we started chemotherapy treatments and in January of 2013 I underwent a lumpectomy and lymph node dissection. After the surgery, right away I began radiation therapy. More tests were done. The cancer spread from my breast to my sternum (chest wall). 3 masses showed up on my test. More chemotherapy. After chemotherapy I had only 1 mass now but docs weren't sure if the spot that showed up on my bone scan was a mass or a fracture, so I had a biopsy of the area in the sternum. Turned out it was both a fracture and a mass. The mass grew through my sternum wall causing a PAINFUL fracture. More radiation therapy. After radiation therapy, still the mass was in my sternum. The pain was getting worse. In May of this year as if I needed more sad news, I was told that I had pancreatitis due to my gall bladder being impacted with gall stones. The inflimation went from my gall bladder to my lungs. I had surgery to remove my gall bladder. Back home. I started to notice a new symptom which I thought was from the inflimation of the lungs while having pancreatitis. I began having shortness of breath. My oncologist ordered an xray of my lungs and the findings showed I had fluid around my left lung. I was admitted into the hospital which was a blessing because while I was in the hospital I had a seizure. You may be thinking, how is that a blessing? Well, once again my oncologist was concerned and ordered for an MRI of my brain and the findings showed that I had a mass growing in my brain. Right away I had a craniotamy (brain surgery) to remove the mass. The surgery went well but when I woke up from brain surgery, my left leg stopped working. So now my life consists of wheelchairs, walkers, having to wear diapers since I can't control my bowels. I need 24/7 assistance. Then my oncologist ordered a CT Scan of my chest and lower part of my body since I have been in constant pain in my chest area. By the way, the mass in the sternum is still there. The findings showed that I now have fluid around both lungs, and a couple questionable spots in my liver. I now have to wear oxygen 24/7. I am only 35 years old, I got married to my childhood sweetheart April 3, 2010. Together we have 5 beautiful children. This year our oldest daughter will be a Junior at Foy H Moody High School, our 2 other older children will be attending high school for the first time this year, our 2nd to the youngest will be attending middle school for the first time, and I am proud to say that our youngest was the only one in his class to make it in to the Gifted and Talented Program and I WILL NOT miss their first day of school. Now, this is just one memory I don't want to miss so this is the reason why we have started this account. I know the doctors are doing their part to help in what treatments I need. By the way, I am undergoing both radiation therapy and chemotherapy at this time. Help me to make beautiful memories with my family and also help to pay some bills that have fallen behind. Any amount will be a blessing. God bless you and your family.
