Hello, my name is Joshua Golden, and I am reaching out to ask for your support for my best friend, Staci, as she battles both breast and pancreatic cancer. What began as a routine mammogram in November 2024 quickly turned into a life-changing journey filled with unexpected diagnoses, surgeries, and ongoing treatments.

On November 6, 2024, Staci went in for her regular mammogram, expecting a routine check-up. Instead, doctors found something suspicious, leading to a biopsy and a diagnosis of Stage 1 Hormone-positive HER2-negative Grade 3 breast cancer. She underwent a partial mastectomy on January 9, 2025, and was preparing for radiation therapy when further tests revealed her cancer was aggressive enough to require chemotherapy.

Just as she was coming to terms with her breast cancer battle, another devastating blow came. Routine bloodwork showed concerning numbers, leading to further scans. On February 14, 2025, Staci was diagnosed with Stage 2A pancreatic cancer. She is now scheduled for a major surgery, known as the Whipple procedure, which is a complex and invasive operation. In addition to removing part of her pancreas, doctors may also need to remove her gallbladder, part of her small intestine, bile duct, and possibly part of her stomach. She will spend 7-10 days in the hospital, followed by a 4-6 week recovery at home before starting chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer.

While her immediate focus is on pancreatic cancer, Staci will most likely need to resume treatment for breast cancer at a later date, once she has recovered enough from her current battle. This means an even longer road of treatments, doctor visits, and uncertainty ahead.

This journey has been overwhelming, both physically and financially. Staci has been with her employer for less than three years, leaving her with limited sick and vacation time. Her husband is self-employed, and any time away from work for her care is unpaid. Medical bills, surgery costs, travel expenses, and daily living costs are piling up, adding even more stress during this already difficult time.

I am setting up this GoFundMe to help ease Staci’s financial burden so she can focus on healing and fighting both cancers. Every donation, no matter how small, will help cover her medical expenses and provide some relief as she navigates this challenging journey. If you're unable to contribute financially, please consider sharing her story—your support, prayers, and kindness mean the world to her.

Thank you for standing with Staci during this fight. Together, we can help her focus on recovery without the added worry of financial strain.