Marie’s Breast Cancer Fight
Donation protected
My name is Marie Denais and I’m a Teacher at a Montessori school in Roseville, MN. I work with young children that range from 6 weeks old up to 16 months of age. I find my work very rewarding!
Unfortunately, in April 2019 my life changed in an instant. After having a lot of pain in my left breast for several days in a row, I felt a lump in my breast. I was scared, but I immediately made an appointment with my primary doctor. After feeling the lump as well, my doctor immediately sent me to a specialist at the Virginia Piper Breast Center in St.Paul. A mammogram, ultra sound, and biopsy later, my worst fears were confirmed. I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, grade 3, triple negative breast cancer.
From what my doctors have told me, triple negative breast cancer is both rarer, and potentially more difficult to treat than other forms of breast cancer. And in my case, the tumor grade is high which means it’s growing aggressively. A diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer means that the three most common types of receptors known to fuel most breast cancer growth–estrogen, progesterone, and the HER-2/neu gene– are not present in the cancer. Since the tumor cells lack the necessary receptors, common treatments like hormone therapy and drugs that target estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2 are ineffective.
Because of the aggressive nature of the cancer, my medical team wanted to start my treatment plan with chemotherapy in order to try to shrink the size of the tumor and stop it from spreading anywhere else in my body. Later on in April, I had an MRI done that unfortunately revealed that my lymph nodes were also suspicious for malignancy.
Everything went so fast after the initial diagnosis. I had a lot of important decisions to make in a short amount of time. It has been very stressful emotionally and physically. I had countless other tests done, imaging scans, a lymph node biopsy, doctor visits, consultations with specialists, and a surgery at the beginning of May, to insert a portacath (a device providing a direct line for infusions to a larger vein), to ease the process of chemotherapy and prevent damage to my veins. I ended-up also even having to go back to the ER later that same day after being discharged from the surgery, because I passed out at home and hit my head pretty badly on the way down. I had to stay at the hospital overnight for observation and more tests!
I started chemo on May 3rd, and my chemo regimen consists of two phases and 16 total treatments for a total duration of 5 months. I am currently about 2 and a half months in and I have already developed infections, harsh side effects, and allergic reactions to the chemo treatments. This road has not been easy for me! I have encountered complications at every step of the way so far. Despite all of this, I am trying to stay as positive as I can, and I am still continuing to go to work as much as my body allows me to during my chemo treatments.
Along the way, I will undergo additional imaging to determine the effectiveness of the chemo at reducing the known tumors. Based on the results of the imaging, doctor recommendations, genetic testing, and my preferences I will have surgery in October. After recovering from the surgery, and as long as I get clean margins around the tumor site and the lymph nodes removed are cancer free, the next step in my cancer treatment is radiation therapy. I will have to do radiation treatments everyday of the week for 6 weeks. Because of the lymph nodes needing to be removed, as well as, the radiation treatments, I am also at a high risk of developing lymphedema.
A cancer diagnosis itself is one of the most difficult burdens to bear; unfortunately, the financial burden is almost as heavy. I am a single income household, and it will be a struggle. It is extremely difficult for me to ask for help and it is humbling. Regrettably, I’m out of options. While my health insurance has been able to cover some of my medical costs, it will not be enough to cover everything.
Any funds raised here will help to cover a long list of expenses including:
High insurance deductible / co-insurance/ out-of-pocket medical expenses not covered by my insurance, medications, medical supplies, basic living expenses to sustain myself during surgery/recovery and radiation treatments as I will need to take at least 5 months of leave from work, and medical premiums that I will have to still pay to my employer in order to keep my health insurance while I am on leave.
I am extremely grateful so far for the unwavering support of my family, my friends, and my colleagues through this difficult journey. I know that my story is not the first, and sadly not the last, of its kind. Your support here will allow me to reduce the financial burden of this diagnosis and give me a less stressful and safe space to heal. Please share my story with your friends and networks. Whatever you can give, any amount at all, can make a difference. I would be immensely grateful for any donations.
Thank you so much in advance for your support!
Unfortunately, in April 2019 my life changed in an instant. After having a lot of pain in my left breast for several days in a row, I felt a lump in my breast. I was scared, but I immediately made an appointment with my primary doctor. After feeling the lump as well, my doctor immediately sent me to a specialist at the Virginia Piper Breast Center in St.Paul. A mammogram, ultra sound, and biopsy later, my worst fears were confirmed. I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, grade 3, triple negative breast cancer.
From what my doctors have told me, triple negative breast cancer is both rarer, and potentially more difficult to treat than other forms of breast cancer. And in my case, the tumor grade is high which means it’s growing aggressively. A diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer means that the three most common types of receptors known to fuel most breast cancer growth–estrogen, progesterone, and the HER-2/neu gene– are not present in the cancer. Since the tumor cells lack the necessary receptors, common treatments like hormone therapy and drugs that target estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2 are ineffective.
Because of the aggressive nature of the cancer, my medical team wanted to start my treatment plan with chemotherapy in order to try to shrink the size of the tumor and stop it from spreading anywhere else in my body. Later on in April, I had an MRI done that unfortunately revealed that my lymph nodes were also suspicious for malignancy.
Everything went so fast after the initial diagnosis. I had a lot of important decisions to make in a short amount of time. It has been very stressful emotionally and physically. I had countless other tests done, imaging scans, a lymph node biopsy, doctor visits, consultations with specialists, and a surgery at the beginning of May, to insert a portacath (a device providing a direct line for infusions to a larger vein), to ease the process of chemotherapy and prevent damage to my veins. I ended-up also even having to go back to the ER later that same day after being discharged from the surgery, because I passed out at home and hit my head pretty badly on the way down. I had to stay at the hospital overnight for observation and more tests!
I started chemo on May 3rd, and my chemo regimen consists of two phases and 16 total treatments for a total duration of 5 months. I am currently about 2 and a half months in and I have already developed infections, harsh side effects, and allergic reactions to the chemo treatments. This road has not been easy for me! I have encountered complications at every step of the way so far. Despite all of this, I am trying to stay as positive as I can, and I am still continuing to go to work as much as my body allows me to during my chemo treatments.
Along the way, I will undergo additional imaging to determine the effectiveness of the chemo at reducing the known tumors. Based on the results of the imaging, doctor recommendations, genetic testing, and my preferences I will have surgery in October. After recovering from the surgery, and as long as I get clean margins around the tumor site and the lymph nodes removed are cancer free, the next step in my cancer treatment is radiation therapy. I will have to do radiation treatments everyday of the week for 6 weeks. Because of the lymph nodes needing to be removed, as well as, the radiation treatments, I am also at a high risk of developing lymphedema.
A cancer diagnosis itself is one of the most difficult burdens to bear; unfortunately, the financial burden is almost as heavy. I am a single income household, and it will be a struggle. It is extremely difficult for me to ask for help and it is humbling. Regrettably, I’m out of options. While my health insurance has been able to cover some of my medical costs, it will not be enough to cover everything.
Any funds raised here will help to cover a long list of expenses including:
High insurance deductible / co-insurance/ out-of-pocket medical expenses not covered by my insurance, medications, medical supplies, basic living expenses to sustain myself during surgery/recovery and radiation treatments as I will need to take at least 5 months of leave from work, and medical premiums that I will have to still pay to my employer in order to keep my health insurance while I am on leave.
I am extremely grateful so far for the unwavering support of my family, my friends, and my colleagues through this difficult journey. I know that my story is not the first, and sadly not the last, of its kind. Your support here will allow me to reduce the financial burden of this diagnosis and give me a less stressful and safe space to heal. Please share my story with your friends and networks. Whatever you can give, any amount at all, can make a difference. I would be immensely grateful for any donations.
Thank you so much in advance for your support!
Organizer
Marie Denais
Organizer
Oakdale, MN