Sarah Mullis Breast Cancer Medical Support
Donation protected
Sarah Mullis discovered a lump through self-exam in August of 2020 at the age of 37 and had a mammogram in November. On December 10th, she had a biopsy and then on December 15th, her son's 14th birthday, she received the news that it was breast cancer. She had her first surgery on February 8th, 2021 - a double mastectomy and was staged at Stage 2A.
On March 5th, 2021 she got the not so good news her Oncotype came back a high score in the 50's and would need to start Chemotherapy. For those of you who don't know what an Oncotype Score is - The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score Test analyzes the activity of 21 genes that can influence how likely a cancer is to grow and respond to treatment. So, the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score Test is both a prognostic test, since it provides more information about how likely (or unlikely) the breast cancer is to come back, and a predictive test, since it predicts the likelihood of benefit from chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatment. Studies have shown that Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score Test is useful for both purposes.
On March 11, 2021 she had her port placed so she could start her chemo.
That same month, Sarah started her chemo on March 18, 2021.
This consisted of four cycles of intensive 4-hour treatments of the chemo drugs Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. Followed later on June 10th by multiple shorter chemo treatments with the drug Taxol, but had to stop treatment of Taxol after 5 doses due to it causing neuropathy. She then had to go back on a little stronger chemo drug, Taxotere, for the remainder of her chemotherapy. Her last chemo treatment was August 10, 2021.
On March 5th, 2021 she got the not so good news her Oncotype came back a high score in the 50's and would need to start Chemotherapy. For those of you who don't know what an Oncotype Score is - The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score Test analyzes the activity of 21 genes that can influence how likely a cancer is to grow and respond to treatment. So, the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score Test is both a prognostic test, since it provides more information about how likely (or unlikely) the breast cancer is to come back, and a predictive test, since it predicts the likelihood of benefit from chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatment. Studies have shown that Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score Test is useful for both purposes.
On March 11, 2021 she had her port placed so she could start her chemo.
That same month, Sarah started her chemo on March 18, 2021.
This consisted of four cycles of intensive 4-hour treatments of the chemo drugs Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. Followed later on June 10th by multiple shorter chemo treatments with the drug Taxol, but had to stop treatment of Taxol after 5 doses due to it causing neuropathy. She then had to go back on a little stronger chemo drug, Taxotere, for the remainder of her chemotherapy. Her last chemo treatment was August 10, 2021.
As you might expect, Sarah was unable to work for much of 2021. Her outstanding medical bills (after insurance coverage), now exceeds $15,000. She had another operation for reconstruction on December13th, 2021 and this will create additional bills as one might expect. There will be more related bills in the future for ongoing oncology management as Sarah must get a monthly injection (Zoladex), on top of taking a daily pill (Tamoxifen), for the next 5-8 years.
Please help out if you can. Our family thanks you!
Organizer and beneficiary
Elizabeth Borodach
Organizer
Bedford, IN
Sarah Mullis
Beneficiary