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Hello, my name is Corrina. I am writing this on behalf of my mom, Maria Walker. In May 2025, my mom was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, at the age of 56. It was found that the tumor did spread to her lymph nodes and is a more threatening type: triple negative, or less likely to respond to most common hormonal treatments.
Maria went through several weeks of aggressive chemotherapy from June to November 2025. Our family was surprised that despite the usual side effects, hair loss, and fatigue, my mom was still on her feet and working throughout her entire treatment. Following chemo, Maria did have surgery, a lumpectomy, and a partial mastectomy. With a mostly successful first half of her cancer treatment (her tumor shrunk more than half in size), radiation and continuing care were planned to follow. Unexpectedly, in November, her health took a frightening downturn. Maria developed severe nausea, vomiting, and weakness. Throughout January 2026, Maria had two emergency room visits, her first hospitalization, and a month in a rehab center. Her symptoms were thought to only be attributed to ulcers, gastritis, and gastroparesis caused by chemotherapy. Her oncologist prescribed her a constantly changing regimen of GI medications, but her symptoms never improved. By February, Maria continued to have daily vomiting, rapid weight loss, extreme weakness, and eventually became bedridden. Home from rehab, she became so dizzy and weak an ambulance was called, and she was admitted to the hospital again, this time for 10 days. After several diagnostic tests, it was discovered that her symptoms were caused by inflammation of the pituitary gland in her brain. This set off a deficiency in her adrenal glands above her kidneys, and what followed was essentially a full body shutdown. All proven to be linked to her chemotherapy.
We’re delighted that my mom is back home today, but her movement is more restricted than any of us anticipated. Maria is still on a long road ahead with ongoing gland management, several specialist appointments, and months of physical therapy to help with her rapid muscle loss and neuropathy; all while having an active cancer diagnosis and needing to finish her cancer treatment. My mom has always been very independent and a very hard worker. It breaks her heart that she is still unable to work and unable to function as she did before – especially at such a young age. After almost a year of Maria trying to make ends meet on her own, delayed disability coverage, and the emotional and physical toll this has taken on our whole family, her financial strain has become enormous. My hope is by asking for financial help it will allow my mom to focus on her recovery. Please keep Maria and the Walker family in your prayers, and if you are able to help financially, we are deeply grateful. We are grateful for any support you can give.
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/breast-cancer/invasive-ductal-carcinoma-idc
Gastroparesis
Keytruda: Serious Side Effects
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