Ezekiel Rominske has worked at Merrill Steel the last 3 years supporting his wife, Dilan, and daughter, Marie-Judith. After his wife was ignored by medical professionals for the last year and continued to advocate for herself, Dilan was officially diagnosed in January at 26 years old with invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer through an ultrasound guided biopsy procedure. She underwent a total mastectomy and reconstruction of the left side, where they removed a total of 7 tumors. The largest tumor measured 5.5cm large, which is considered a T(stage)3.

Additionally, 3 suspicious lymph nodes were removed on February 19th and 2 of them tested positive for metastatic carcinoma. Another small mass was detected on the opposite side during a PET scan. That side will require a MRI guided biopsy and a lumpectomy surgery following the biopsy if malignant. 2 weeks after her first surgery while at Mayo Clinic establishing care, additional suspicious lymph nodes were found that are requiring a needle aspiration biopsy procedure followed by a potential removal of all the remaining lymph nodes on that side.

Estimated 2-3 follow up surgeries will be required in the next year alone.

Due to the severity and age at which this is all happening, Dilan has to be seen at Mayo Clinic for oncology, radiation oncology, genetic counseling, fertility preservation, endocrine therapy and other treatment.

Mayo Clinic is one of the few providers in the entire country that offers proton radiation that aims to protect healthy tissue while radiating unhealthy tissue in cases where the cancer is over vital organs; lungs, heart, etc. Radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy along with close monitoring/imaging is recommended over the course of the next 10 years. 

Thankfully she has being young and the support of family and friends on her side! It will be a long and probably never ending battle but any contributions are greatly appreciated. ❤️