My son Jacob married his love Caitlin on 7/31. Shortly after that, her sister Ashley was diagnosed with breast cancer and tested positive for the BRCA1 gene. This prompted Caitlin to get tested, and at the same time, she found a lump. On August 29th, she had an ultrasound and a mammogram, and they discovered a mass and an enlarged axillary lymph node. They did a biopsy on September 4th, and she was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. Her official diagnosis is Stage 3b triple-negative invasive ductal carcinoma. Over the last couple of weeks, she has had many scans and had her port placement for chemo.

She will start chemo on October 9th every week for 12 weeks and then have a stronger chemo every 3 weeks for 12 weeks. After that, she will have a bilateral mastectomy since she is also positive for the BRCA1 gene, followed by reconstructive surgery.

They are currently in the process of freezing her eggs before chemo. As Caitlin states, she is so blessed to have friends and family and, above all, an amazing husband who has never left her side and truly showed his vows to be by her side through sickness and health.

I am posting this to ask for help for them in this journey. Just newly married, she is only 24, and this should not be happening, but it is the reality.

They will need help financially through this process of cancer and fertility treatments.

Thank you to all friends and family!!

The Armbrust & Bryant Families