Join Sara's Strength Squad and Squash Cancer!
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Emergency Surgery and Diagnosis
The journey to diagnosis was short but painful. For three weeks, Sara was in and out of the hospital with debilitating abdominal pain. She was seen in the ER four times and admitted three times before doctors considered emergency surgery. Even though images of her abdomen showed something suspicious, colorectal cancer was not brought up until the night before surgery. After emergency colon surgery, Sara was diagnosed in January 2019 with Stage 4 Colorectal Cancer with liver metastasis.
Sara took a leave of absence from work and started chemotherapy at City of Hope in February 2019. Sara said the decision to start chemotherapy was an easy one; “Seeing my children grow has been the greatest motivator to start and continue treatment.” Even with the uncomfortable side effects, chemotherapy is the greatest hope she has to stay alive for years to come.
More Surgery
In July 2019, Sara became a candidate for a Hepatic Arterial Infusion (HAI) pump and had a partial liver resection to remove tumors on her liver. This surgery and the pump give her the highest probability of surviving beyond the statistics. Recovery was physically and emotionally trying. Sara depended on the help of others to do everything from getting into bed to bathing and getting dressed to caring for her two children. Thankfully, her mother, grandmother and husband helped her make it through and provided encouragement when she needed it most.
Current Plan
The current plan of attack is to use the HAI pump to give concentrated doses of chemo directly to her liver to contain the spread of disease and to continue systemic (full-body) chemotherapy on a biweekly basis for the foreseeable future.
Back to work
After almost ten months away from work and eight weeks after her liver surgery, Sara decided to return to work. Going back to work has helped her keep a positive outlook, keep her mind busy and off of cancer. Feeling the support of friends and colleagues gives Sara the extra push she needs to make it through treatments every two weeks.
The Alvarenga family continues to incur medical and household expenses throughout Sara’s ongoing treatment. So, any donations, large or small, that support Sara’s recovery and well-being are greatly appreciated.
Sara and her family are full of hope for the future and thank you for your support!
The journey to diagnosis was short but painful. For three weeks, Sara was in and out of the hospital with debilitating abdominal pain. She was seen in the ER four times and admitted three times before doctors considered emergency surgery. Even though images of her abdomen showed something suspicious, colorectal cancer was not brought up until the night before surgery. After emergency colon surgery, Sara was diagnosed in January 2019 with Stage 4 Colorectal Cancer with liver metastasis.
Sara took a leave of absence from work and started chemotherapy at City of Hope in February 2019. Sara said the decision to start chemotherapy was an easy one; “Seeing my children grow has been the greatest motivator to start and continue treatment.” Even with the uncomfortable side effects, chemotherapy is the greatest hope she has to stay alive for years to come.
More Surgery
In July 2019, Sara became a candidate for a Hepatic Arterial Infusion (HAI) pump and had a partial liver resection to remove tumors on her liver. This surgery and the pump give her the highest probability of surviving beyond the statistics. Recovery was physically and emotionally trying. Sara depended on the help of others to do everything from getting into bed to bathing and getting dressed to caring for her two children. Thankfully, her mother, grandmother and husband helped her make it through and provided encouragement when she needed it most.
Current Plan
The current plan of attack is to use the HAI pump to give concentrated doses of chemo directly to her liver to contain the spread of disease and to continue systemic (full-body) chemotherapy on a biweekly basis for the foreseeable future.
Back to work
After almost ten months away from work and eight weeks after her liver surgery, Sara decided to return to work. Going back to work has helped her keep a positive outlook, keep her mind busy and off of cancer. Feeling the support of friends and colleagues gives Sara the extra push she needs to make it through treatments every two weeks.
The Alvarenga family continues to incur medical and household expenses throughout Sara’s ongoing treatment. So, any donations, large or small, that support Sara’s recovery and well-being are greatly appreciated.
Sara and her family are full of hope for the future and thank you for your support!
Organizer and beneficiary
Saras Strength Squad
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Sara Alvarenga
Beneficiary