Stephanie Abbott's Journey

Hi we are fundraising for Stephanie Abbott. We have included a a message about Stephanie’s story below. 

"This year has brought some unique and unexpected challenges for Stephanie. At the age of 32, recently married to her husband Marshall with hopes of starting a family, and in the midst of completing her Master’s in Clinical Psychology, Stephanie was diagnosed in late January with Stage 3 Breast Cancer (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, with a large complex tumour and extensive lymph node involvement). Also more recently, a rare genetic diagnosis was uncovered, which significantly heightens the chance of breast cancer recurrence, and developing other cancers including ovarian and pancreatic. There is no history of breast cancer in her family.

After completing fertility preservation (egg freezing), she started aggressive chemotherapy in late February in hopes of preventing further spread. She is adjusting to a myriad of side effects and some setbacks, but overall remains positive on her journey that she will one day be “cancer-free”. Mastectomy and radiation are to follow in late summer, after chemotherapy is completed, followed by many years of hormone therapy. There is a long road ahead, and she can use your help!

The financial burden remains ongoing as Stephanie has not been working, and Marshall is a small business owner. While our healthcare system covers many treatment costs, there is a lot which remains to be paid out of pocket with no private insurance, which would certainly be instrumental in enhancing the quality and comprehensiveness of Stephanie’s care and quality of life. In part, this includes:

-Integrative and naturopathic medicine therapies

-Psychotherapy and physiotherapy

-Second opinion consultations for rare genetic diagnosis

-Fertility treatment expenses (to hopefully have a child in future)

-Uncovered medications

-Good quality wigs (to return comfortably to her schooling and working with therapy clients)

-Travel expenses"