Supporting Cea Popa as She Fights Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Our amazing mother, Cea Popa, has recently begun an intensive battle against an aggressive form of breast cancer. We are creating this page to rally our community to support her during the long and challenging treatment road ahead.

The Diagnosis: An Urgent Situation

After quietly managing a growing lump, Cea finally sought medical attention. The diagnosis is serious, but we are moving forward with a strong treatment plan:

Type of Cancer: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Grade 2, Stage 3.

Tumor Characteristics: The cancer is Triple-Negative (ER-, PR-, and HER2-negative). This type is fast-growing but, thankfully, responds well to aggressive chemotherapy.

Extent: The tumor is large (7.4 cm) and has spread to her lymph nodes. Crucially, recent MRI scans have found no evidence that the cancer has spread to her brain. We are currently awaiting the final CT Scan and Bone Scan results, which will determine her final staging and definitive treatment path.

The Treatment Plan: Two Possible Paths

Cea’s doctors have outlined a definitive long-term approach that hinges on the results of her final staging scans.

A. The Primary Goal: Localized Cancer (Stage 3)

If the final scans show the cancer is localized (which we are all praying for), the treatment will be an intensive "sprint" aimed at a cure:

Chemotherapy & Immunotherapy: A rigorous, six-month course (weekly then tri-weekly) to aggressively shrink the large tumor.

Surgery & Radiation: A mastectomy after chemo, followed by 3–6 weeks of daily radiation therapy.

This aggressive plan requires more than seven months of continuous treatment.

B. The Contingency Plan: Metastatic Cancer (Stage 4)

If the final scans show the cancer has spread to distant organs, the focus shifts to controlling the disease long-term (a "marathon"):

Treatment: She would begin a gentler, yet sustained, chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimen, likely continuing indefinitely.

This path requires continuous, lifelong treatment and frequent monitoring, making stability and sustained support absolutely crucial.

Where Your Donations Will Go

While Cea has health insurance, the financial and emotional toll of this extended treatment is overwhelming. Your support will go directly toward helping Cea and managing the necessary expenses that cancer inevitably brings:

Direct Medical Costs: Funds are needed to cover out-of-pocket costs, including frequent co-pays for frequent specialist visits, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, lab work, scans and imaging, port placement/removal, surgery, medications and health related items to minimize side effects.

Travel: Funds will help cover transportation for weekly and bi-weekly appointments.

Living Expenses: Funds will help cover meal preparation, groceries, during her treatment, when she will be too exhausted to manage daily life.

Personal Comfort & Dignity: Wigs, head coverings, and comfortable fitting clothing. Chemo is physically and emotionally draining; maintaining dignity is a form of self-care.

Nutrition & Wellness: Supplements, protein shakes and other nutritional recommendations. Costs for high-quality nutritional supplements recommended by her oncology dietitian to maintain strength and weight during treatment. Chemo severely impacts appetite and weight; good nutrition is key to tolerating treatment.

Cea normally lives a couple hours away, but will be staying in the Columbus area for the duration of treatment to be close to her children for support. Cea is a strong, resilient woman who has always put others first. Now, we are asking you to return that love and focus on her!

Any donation, big or small, helps lighten her burden and allows her to focus entirely on healing.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being a part of Team Cea.

Please share this page to help us reach our goal.

With love and gratitude, Jack and Neely