Fight Against Rare Breast Disease

Hi, my name is Jessica Gonzalez, and I’m a 24-year-old mother of identical twins. Recently, I was diagnosed with a rare and painful disease called Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis (IGM).

Around July 13-15, while putting my daughter in her car seat, she pushed against my chest, causing a sharp pain. I soon discovered a lump. Although it hurt even with the lightest touch, I initially thought I had just pulled a muscle since I regularly check myself and hadn’t noticed anything before. I waited, hoping the pain would subside, but it only worsened.

On July 17-18, I went to the ER, where they performed X-rays, an ultrasound, and blood work but found nothing. They advised me to schedule a mammogram, so I set up an appointment for the 23rd. Meanwhile, the pain continued to increase, and I returned to the ER, hoping to get the mammogram sooner, but was told it needed to be scheduled. I tried to manage the pain with Tylenol and ibuprofen until my appointment.

At the mammogram appointment, they performed another ultrasound and reviewed the one from the ER. They still couldn’t find anything definitive and suspected it might be an infection, so they prescribed Doxycycline and asked me to return in a week to see if the medication helped. When I went back on the 30th, the medication hadn’t made any difference. After reviewing the ultrasound again, they scheduled a biopsy for the next day, July 31.

After the biopsy, I anxiously waited for the results. On August 5, I received a call confirming that it was Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis (IGM), a rare, non-malignant breast condition that mimics breast cancer and has no cure. The doctor recommended I get a second opinion at Vanderbilt, where they could review my biopsy samples and discuss treatment options.

Since then, I’ve been in constant pain, and getting a second opinion has been difficult. Vanderbilt Hospital doesn’t accept my insurance, so I’ve had to submit requests to my insurance company for approval to attend appointments there. On August 16, I had an appointment at Vanderbilt, and the diagnosis was reconfirmed.

Now, I’m facing two difficult options. The first is treatment, which involves trial and error until the right one is found. However, this isn’t a cure, and the disease can return after remission or spread to the other breast. The treatment also comes with serious long-term side effects, including an increased risk of cancer and potential kidney and lung failure.

The second option is a double mastectomy, which has shown a 100% remission rate in some cases. It’s a chance I’m willing to take because I just want my life back. Right now, I can’t do much—simple activities like walking short distances, taking showers, or driving leave me exhausted and in pain.

I’ve set up a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of my surgery and recovery since, so far, I know insurance will fight against covering it. Any support, whether through donations or sharing my story, means the world to me. If anything changes and insurance does cover it, the funds will be used for my recovery and necessary supplies. I’ll keep everyone updated throughout the process.