Our much-loved Magda needs you! Breast Cancer!
Donation protected
Magda is known for her energy, generosity and positive spirit. She is a bright shining light and loved by all who know her. She is full of life and has the kindest of hearts, touching everyone she meets. She has the ability to make you laugh and cheer you up even on your hardest days. Magda is very special and is someone we want to have around for along time.
Planning for the future…
Magda and Dave met and fell in love in 2010 in the UK. Their long-distance relationship flourished and Magda became an integral part of the lives of Dave’s two children, Grace (9) and Lewis (7).
In August 2013, Dave proposed and Magda moved to the UK to start their lives together as a family. In the summer of 2015, Magda's previous Canadian employer offered her a four month contract position in her Health and Safety field to return to her old job, to help with scheduled maintenance of the Lubricants Plant in Mississauga. Leaving Dave and the kids behind was a huge sacrifice, the intent was to save for their upcoming wedding and for a down payment on their first home in the UK. Magda said her temporary good-byes to Dave the kids and their dog while she came back to Canada.
When it all changed…
In October, while getting ready for work, Magda noticed a lump in her left breast. She took the matter very seriously, but she was a young, healthy woman with no history of cancer in her family, so she was sure that it was likely to be a false alarm. As a precaution, she saw her doctor and soon underwent an ultrasound and mammogram. A few days after, her doctor called to reveal that the tests showed abnormalities and Magda was told a core biopsy was needed immediately. Still Magda was staying hopeful on the outcome.
Magda's work contract ended on November 13th and she began to get excited about heading back to England to get back to her life with Dave and the kids.
On November 16th Magda's biopsy took place and on November 20th the day after her 36th birthday, the doctors gave her the shocking news of her breast cancer diagnosis.
Magda was told that she required surgery immediately and traveling was not an option. A lumpectomy and lymph node dissection was quickly scheduled for December12th, 2015. Following the surgery it was confirmed that her cancer had spread to the lymph nodes and that she would require aggressive and invasive treatments involving chemotherapy, another surgery and radiation to follow. This would keep Magda from moving back to Dave and the kids for a whole year.
Magda's age, type and grade of Cancer is alarming. It has been classified as Triple Negative, which means it is rare, aggressive and fast growing. The goal of treatment is to stop the cancer from metastasizing to other organs. Only between 15-20% of breast cancers are found to be Triple Negative and with this diagnosis, doctors have emphasized the need for aggressive treatments as the rate of reoccurrence is high within three years from diagnosis.
Starting treatment…
Prior to Magda diagnosis, the couple had been planning on having a baby within the next year. However, Magda and Dave were told that due to the required chemotherapy and the aggressive nature of the treatment, Magda could be pushed into early menopause and her chances of having children could be slim. Always wanting to be a mother, this was devastating news to Magda. Even though Magda has embraced Grace and Lewis as her own children Dave and Magda still wanted to expand their family by having a baby of their own.
An appointment with a Toronto fertility specialist revealed that she would be a good candidate for IVF and egg harvesting and that if they were quick, they would be able to complete one round of egg retrieval prior to commencing chemotherapy. Dave quickly put his life on hold in England for a few months to come to Canada for this treatment as well as to care for Magda and support her while undergoing chemotherapy. Magda and Dave were relieved that there was still an opportunity to save her eggs and spent $5000 on fertility medications and treatment. The procedure was successful and they were able to freeze their embryos prior to chemotherapy.
Given the need to aggressively treat the cancer, to reduce the rate of reoccurrence, a plan of attack has been developed. Knowing that this battle to fight cancer would damage healthy cells and tissue, leaving her body weak and damaged, Magda diligently researched effective ways to help support and heal her body.
With the advice from her Doctor's, a comprehensive plan has been put together to include supporting her body from the effects of the chemotherapy drugs, surgery and radiation in addition to fighting against the cancer cells.
Unfortunately, even though these treatments are extremely effective these complementary treatments are not covered by OHIP or insurance. These include:
- Supportive supplements along with intregrated oncology support and testing.
-High-dose IV Vitamin C infusions (2- 3 per week) ($180 per treatment) Studies show that this has been found to help cancer patients, live stronger, support and harness the immune system, and improve the quality in their lives. This also includes fewer side effects while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. For more information about how Vitamin C infusions help visit http://www.lemmo.com/cancer-care/intravenous-vitamin-c/
-Mistletoe Cancer Therapy (Injections self administered every three days for the next two years) ($160 every two weeks) Mistletoe is used to stimulate the immune system, to kill cancer cells, and to help reduce tumor size. It also helps improve the quality of life and survival of some cancer patients, especially those using chemo and radiation, and may help reduce pain and side effects of these treatments. When used as adjunctive treatment in patients with a variety of cancers, it can increase survival time by as much as 40%. For more information http://www.helixor.com/integrative-cancer-therapy/mistletoe-therapy/ and http://www.cancure.org/12-links-page/45-iscador-mistletoe
-Loco-Regional Hyperthermia Treatments (2 treatments per chemo round) ($375 per treatment)
Hyperthermia is the principle of heating a body tissue to high temperatures (over 42°C). Research has shown that high temperatures can damage and kill cancer cells, usually with minimal injury to normal tissues. By killing cancer cells and damaging proteins and structures within cells, hyperthermia may shrink tumors. This procedure concentrates the heat only on tumor cell areas (lymph nodes and left breast). One of the most significant effects of LRHT is its ability to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy (chemo-sensitization).
For more information http://healthsourceimc.com/cancer-care/treatments-and-integrative-therapies/hyperthermia/
Though you will never hear Magda complain, the side effects of cancer treatments along with chemotherapy are unimaginable. Thankfully to date, these supportive treatments have significantly improved Magda's quality of life by reducing the intensity of some of them.
Why she needs you:
Magda is fierce and puts on a brave face every day. Her optimism and smile is inspiring as she battles through her rounds of chemotherapy and prepares for another surgery followed by weeks of radiation. Unfortunately, given her inability to work and lack of insurance, all of Magda and Dave's savings have been depleted and Magda’s expenses have become overwhelming.
When Magda was diagnosed she immediately applied for Employment Insurance (EI), she was denied because she did not have enough insurable employment hours she fell short 8 hours. After that she was told she would be entitled to Sick Benefits. She received sick benefits for 15 weeks then it stopped, as sick benefits only apply to people with short term sickness. Magda is now trying to obtain disability through Canada CPP, but has learned the application process takes over 9 months to be reviewed, prior to any assistance given. Currently in Canada there is no support system for people who fall between short-term sickness and long-term disability.
She continues to go into debt to cover her treatments & expenses and now needs our help. Help us help Magda, no matter how small or large, your contribution will help Magda in her fight against cancer!
We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read this and is helping support Magda through this journey.
Let’s help Magda focus on beating the cancer rather than her worrying and stressing over expenses. After all, no one should have to worry about finances while they fight for their life!
Any help is appreciated. Together we can make a huge difference.
Please note: For those of you who want to help but do not have a credit card, email transfers can also be sent to [email redacted]
For those in the UK payments can be made to Magda account:
Sort Code - 30-92-38
Account # 46188368
We will continue to update this site with Magda’s progress and successes.
“We rise by lifting others” Robert Ingersoll
Planning for the future…
Magda and Dave met and fell in love in 2010 in the UK. Their long-distance relationship flourished and Magda became an integral part of the lives of Dave’s two children, Grace (9) and Lewis (7).
In August 2013, Dave proposed and Magda moved to the UK to start their lives together as a family. In the summer of 2015, Magda's previous Canadian employer offered her a four month contract position in her Health and Safety field to return to her old job, to help with scheduled maintenance of the Lubricants Plant in Mississauga. Leaving Dave and the kids behind was a huge sacrifice, the intent was to save for their upcoming wedding and for a down payment on their first home in the UK. Magda said her temporary good-byes to Dave the kids and their dog while she came back to Canada.
When it all changed…
In October, while getting ready for work, Magda noticed a lump in her left breast. She took the matter very seriously, but she was a young, healthy woman with no history of cancer in her family, so she was sure that it was likely to be a false alarm. As a precaution, she saw her doctor and soon underwent an ultrasound and mammogram. A few days after, her doctor called to reveal that the tests showed abnormalities and Magda was told a core biopsy was needed immediately. Still Magda was staying hopeful on the outcome.
Magda's work contract ended on November 13th and she began to get excited about heading back to England to get back to her life with Dave and the kids.
On November 16th Magda's biopsy took place and on November 20th the day after her 36th birthday, the doctors gave her the shocking news of her breast cancer diagnosis.
Magda was told that she required surgery immediately and traveling was not an option. A lumpectomy and lymph node dissection was quickly scheduled for December12th, 2015. Following the surgery it was confirmed that her cancer had spread to the lymph nodes and that she would require aggressive and invasive treatments involving chemotherapy, another surgery and radiation to follow. This would keep Magda from moving back to Dave and the kids for a whole year.
Magda's age, type and grade of Cancer is alarming. It has been classified as Triple Negative, which means it is rare, aggressive and fast growing. The goal of treatment is to stop the cancer from metastasizing to other organs. Only between 15-20% of breast cancers are found to be Triple Negative and with this diagnosis, doctors have emphasized the need for aggressive treatments as the rate of reoccurrence is high within three years from diagnosis.
Starting treatment…
Prior to Magda diagnosis, the couple had been planning on having a baby within the next year. However, Magda and Dave were told that due to the required chemotherapy and the aggressive nature of the treatment, Magda could be pushed into early menopause and her chances of having children could be slim. Always wanting to be a mother, this was devastating news to Magda. Even though Magda has embraced Grace and Lewis as her own children Dave and Magda still wanted to expand their family by having a baby of their own.
An appointment with a Toronto fertility specialist revealed that she would be a good candidate for IVF and egg harvesting and that if they were quick, they would be able to complete one round of egg retrieval prior to commencing chemotherapy. Dave quickly put his life on hold in England for a few months to come to Canada for this treatment as well as to care for Magda and support her while undergoing chemotherapy. Magda and Dave were relieved that there was still an opportunity to save her eggs and spent $5000 on fertility medications and treatment. The procedure was successful and they were able to freeze their embryos prior to chemotherapy.
Given the need to aggressively treat the cancer, to reduce the rate of reoccurrence, a plan of attack has been developed. Knowing that this battle to fight cancer would damage healthy cells and tissue, leaving her body weak and damaged, Magda diligently researched effective ways to help support and heal her body.
With the advice from her Doctor's, a comprehensive plan has been put together to include supporting her body from the effects of the chemotherapy drugs, surgery and radiation in addition to fighting against the cancer cells.
Unfortunately, even though these treatments are extremely effective these complementary treatments are not covered by OHIP or insurance. These include:
- Supportive supplements along with intregrated oncology support and testing.
-High-dose IV Vitamin C infusions (2- 3 per week) ($180 per treatment) Studies show that this has been found to help cancer patients, live stronger, support and harness the immune system, and improve the quality in their lives. This also includes fewer side effects while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. For more information about how Vitamin C infusions help visit http://www.lemmo.com/cancer-care/intravenous-vitamin-c/
-Mistletoe Cancer Therapy (Injections self administered every three days for the next two years) ($160 every two weeks) Mistletoe is used to stimulate the immune system, to kill cancer cells, and to help reduce tumor size. It also helps improve the quality of life and survival of some cancer patients, especially those using chemo and radiation, and may help reduce pain and side effects of these treatments. When used as adjunctive treatment in patients with a variety of cancers, it can increase survival time by as much as 40%. For more information http://www.helixor.com/integrative-cancer-therapy/mistletoe-therapy/ and http://www.cancure.org/12-links-page/45-iscador-mistletoe
-Loco-Regional Hyperthermia Treatments (2 treatments per chemo round) ($375 per treatment)
Hyperthermia is the principle of heating a body tissue to high temperatures (over 42°C). Research has shown that high temperatures can damage and kill cancer cells, usually with minimal injury to normal tissues. By killing cancer cells and damaging proteins and structures within cells, hyperthermia may shrink tumors. This procedure concentrates the heat only on tumor cell areas (lymph nodes and left breast). One of the most significant effects of LRHT is its ability to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy (chemo-sensitization).
For more information http://healthsourceimc.com/cancer-care/treatments-and-integrative-therapies/hyperthermia/
Though you will never hear Magda complain, the side effects of cancer treatments along with chemotherapy are unimaginable. Thankfully to date, these supportive treatments have significantly improved Magda's quality of life by reducing the intensity of some of them.
Why she needs you:
Magda is fierce and puts on a brave face every day. Her optimism and smile is inspiring as she battles through her rounds of chemotherapy and prepares for another surgery followed by weeks of radiation. Unfortunately, given her inability to work and lack of insurance, all of Magda and Dave's savings have been depleted and Magda’s expenses have become overwhelming.
When Magda was diagnosed she immediately applied for Employment Insurance (EI), she was denied because she did not have enough insurable employment hours she fell short 8 hours. After that she was told she would be entitled to Sick Benefits. She received sick benefits for 15 weeks then it stopped, as sick benefits only apply to people with short term sickness. Magda is now trying to obtain disability through Canada CPP, but has learned the application process takes over 9 months to be reviewed, prior to any assistance given. Currently in Canada there is no support system for people who fall between short-term sickness and long-term disability.
She continues to go into debt to cover her treatments & expenses and now needs our help. Help us help Magda, no matter how small or large, your contribution will help Magda in her fight against cancer!
We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read this and is helping support Magda through this journey.
Let’s help Magda focus on beating the cancer rather than her worrying and stressing over expenses. After all, no one should have to worry about finances while they fight for their life!
Any help is appreciated. Together we can make a huge difference.
Please note: For those of you who want to help but do not have a credit card, email transfers can also be sent to [email redacted]
For those in the UK payments can be made to Magda account:
Sort Code - 30-92-38
Account # 46188368
We will continue to update this site with Magda’s progress and successes.
“We rise by lifting others” Robert Ingersoll
Organizer
Magda Lovasi
Organizer
Niagara Falls, ON
