Aunt Phyllis Crushes Cancer

UPDATE: MAY 2019 It is with great sadness that I must share the update that on the evening of Tuesday, May 14th, my dear Aunt Phyllis Grant passed into the light. We have lost an amazing friend, sister, daughter, aunt, magnificent mother to her only child, Ryan and granddaughter, Emery. Grief is a heartache that wells of its own nature; its presence breathing inside each of us. It also wanes with time and the solace of love. We should all feel comfort knowing that Aunt Phyllis is no longer suffering in pain and that her love, warmth and charisma is deeply palpable inside each of our hearts. On Saturday, May 25th at 12pm noon at Gleason Funeral Home in Somerset, NJ, we will gather to honor and celebrate the beautiful life of Phyllis Grant Please send any photos or stories you have of Aunt Phyllis to me via text, FB messenger or e-mail so they can be included in the service. We ask for your help to share this information widely with all of her circles of friends, loved ones and family members: Saturday, May 25 at 12:00 PM (repast to follow) Gleason Funeral Home 1360 Hamilton St Somerset, NJ 08873 As many of you know Aunt Phyllis was diagnosed with uterine carcinosarcoma also known as Malignant Mixed Mullerian Tumor (MMMT) in May 2016. She underwent a radical full hysterectomy, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation and was cancer free from May 2017 – August 2018 when she found out the cancer had metastasized to lymph nodes in her neck and eventually her lungs. Aunt Phyllis began chemo again in 2018 and pursued a clinical trial in February 2019. She continued to keep her spirits high and fought against this aggressive and rare form of cancer until her last breath. Unfortunately, the heartache that we feel is not unique. Families across the globe mourn for their loved ones because of this disease. Uterine carcinosarcoma /MMMT is a type of high-grade endometrial cancer (EC) that has been understudied with population-based statistics due to its rarity. The incidence of carcinosarcoma is approximately 1 to 4 per 100,000 women. Black women have a twofold higher incidence of uterine carcinosarcoma/MMMT compared with non-Hispanic white women. When Aunt Phyllis was first diagnosed in 2016, I set up this GoFundMe page. Thank you to eveyone who donated and supported my Aunt from near and far throughout her battle with this brutal disease. Over the past 3 years, many of you have offered our family support via prayers and words of comfort, for which my family and I are truly grateful. In lieu of sending flowers, please make a contribution to the organization doing research and advocacy for uterine carcinosarcoma/MMMT called “The GCS (gyn carcinosarcoma) Project”. Go to gcsproject.org to donate in memory of Phyllis Grant. Thank you again, Chantal Dear Friends, Family, and Loved Ones, ***PLEASE READ UPDATE #11.** I recently reached out to you to support a GoFundMe campaign for a family friend without knowing that I would need to start my own campaign a couple of months later for my favorite aunt, Phyllis Grant. Anyone who knows my Aunt Phyllis personally, can attest that she has a huge personality and is hilarious as she is generous and kind. Growing up, she lived with us and asked me every day if I had learned something in school or if I was a bench warmer! Today, every time I see her, she asks me when I’m getting married so she can put on a fancy dress, dance and get drunk at my wedding! (She doesn’t drink, btw). My Aunt Phyllis has always stayed true to her humble beginnings growing up in the countryside in the parish of St. Ann in Jamaica, West Indies. When someone is ill, she is the first person to visit him/her in the hospital or at home. She literally will give her last penny to help a friend in need. Her laughter and humor are infectious; her phone is constantly ringing with friends, former co-workers and people she’s met along the way calling to contact her. My Aunt Phyllis actually knows how to use her cell phone to send text messages and we regularly exchange texts unlike her sister (my mom)! She has always been vibrant, carefree, and the picture of health and happiness. I was surprised when I received a late night call last month from my mom telling me that my Aunt Phyllis was admitted to the hospital. Then I was shocked two weeks later to learn that she was diagnosed with uterine carcinosarcoma. Uterine sarcoma is an uncommon and aggressive form of uterine cancer that forms in the muscle and tissue that support the uterus. Carcinosarcoma signifies that, when looked at under a microscope, the tumor displays histological features of both endometrial carcinoma and sarcoma. Endometrial carcinoma starts in the endometrium, the inner layer of tissue lining the uterus, while sarcoma begins in the outer layer of muscle of the uterus. Uterine carcinosarcoma is a rare cancer which makes up less than five percent of all uterine cancers.  In the U.S., about two per 100,000 women develop uterine carcinosarcoma annually. I have taken my aunt to see 2 very reputable gynecologic oncologists (physicians who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancers that are located on women’s reproductive organs) in the tri-state area. The staging or advancement of the cancer can not be determined until after she has surgery.  Both gynecologic oncologists recommend a similar course of treatment: 1.       Pre-admission tests: bloodwork, urine analysis, electrocardiogram (EKG is a test that checks for problems with the electrical activity of your heart), chest-x-ray and anesthesiologist consult 2.       Surgical clearance from a GP (general practitioner medical doctor) requiring a physical exam 3.       Radical hysterectomy: removal of uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and lymph nodes 4.       Radiation: cancer treatment using high-energy waves to kill tumor cells. The goal is to destroy or damage the cancer without hurting too many healthy cells. 5.       Depending on the outcome of the radical hysterectomy and radiation, there may be a need for chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy Aunt Phyllis has a long road of treatment ahead of her. The gyn oncologist has been very frank and let her know that the radical hysterectomy will be the easiest part of her course of treatment. Due to the nature of the carcinosarcoma, the gyn oncologist recommends a traditional open surgery, which requires a 3-day hospital stay and a 4-6 week recovery period prior to starting radiation.   MY AUNT IS 64 YEARS OLD AND DOES NOT HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE. In New Jersey, emergency Medicaid is only available to undocumented immigrants  and green card holders of less than 5 years. She does not qualify for regular Medicaid and was denied Charity Care. Aunt Phyllis will not be eligible for Medicare until she turns 65 next year. We have tried to purchase private health insurance and enroll in Obamacare, however, none of these options are available to her until the open enrollment season in October/November this year. Due to the aggressive nature of uterine carcinosarcoma, she can not wait several months to qualify for Medicare or Obamacare. We can not wait several months as the cancer will spread quickly and it will be too late. UPDATE: The hospital pushed back her surgery date  again. It will now take place on August 29, 2016.   The estimated cost of pre-admission tests, the radical hysterectomy and prescription medication is at minimum $85,000 and upwards. We must raise the funds ourselves for the surgery and we need the help of our family and friends to reach our goal. Please note that GoFundMe does charge a 5% fee for each donation received. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Please help us pay for my aunt Phyllis’ surgery. Any amount you can spare, does count and will make a difference. I believe in power in numbers and the power of the internet. Spread the word, share this GoFundMe campaign and donate! My wish is for Aunt Phyllis to be at my wedding to wear a fancy dress and dance all night! Our family thanks you in advance for your support.