Hi. My name is Sheryl J. Moore. I started this page because my friend, Marcia Lozada, has stage three inoperable pancreatic cancer and is fighting for her life. She doesn’t have the funds needed to cover her treatment. I am hoping that this is where you come in.

I came to know Marcia because her husband, Vince, and I have worked together on/off for 27 years. She is sincerely the most loving, patient and classy woman I have ever met. She has spent her life focusing on her family, her students, and worshipping the Lord. Now, she is praying for an absolute miracle.

Marcia’s Story

In January of this year, Marcia visited me at work. She looked and acted like regular ‘ole Marcia: bubbly and positive. How little we knew, but Marcia’s body was waging a war on her behalf. In the middle of February, Marcia began experiencing unusual abdominal pain. The pain would come and go, so she started seeing a doctor to run some tests, and the tests all came back fine. But she persisted. With grace.

Notwithstanding, Marcia’s pain got progressively worse over the coming month - to the point where she went to urgent care twice in one week. After being dismissed with a stomach ulcer diagnosis, Marcia tried to tough it out. Soon after, the pain was so acute that Marcia went to the emergency room. During this visit, Marcia and her family found out that she likely had cancer of the pancreas. Within the week, Marcia’s diagnosis was solidified - she had stage three inoperable pancreatic cancer with vascular encasement, which means that the cancer is wrapped around her veins as well. Her family was also told that without treatment, she had 6 months to live, and with chemo it could extend her life by about a year. Needless to say, chemo was not going to put her in remission, so Vince and Marcia knew from the beginning that they would have to look for alternative treatments.

They did decide to do chemo, however, until alternative treatments were solidified, with the idea that maybe it would at least halt the tumor’s growth for the time being. Marcia made it through two rounds of chemo before her numbers started dropping and they had to prolong the time between chemo sessions so that her numbers could go back to a safe level. Now that she has been accepted at Williams Cancer Institute, she has stopped chemo so that her body can build back her immune system, which is needed for this lifesaving treatment.

Fighting for Marcia’s Life

Through God’s great provision, Vince and Marcia learned of an integrative practitioner in the Des Moines area who helps cancer patients find supplements and alternative therapies and treatments. This practitioner recommended Marcia investigate and apply to a few highly respected treatment centers, which she did. Some of these can be quite difficult to get into because they specialize in therapies that are very case-specific, and they found that to be true with the first rejection they received. Vince and Marcia looked into, and had conversations with, a few others- but were very hopeful when applying to the Williams Cancer Institute because of their great reputation. The procedure these caregivers will use on Marcia involves injecting a needle directly into the tumor to destroy the cancer cells (ablation), while simultaneously injecting immunotherapy directly into the tumor bed to create a personalized cancer vaccine inside the body (Intratumoral Immunotherapy). These professionals are leading and respected doctors in this field, and have been pioneering and developing this treatment plan for over 20 years.

Marcia submitted all of her genetic information, scans, and labs, and waited for a review board to look over her case. On April 17th, Vince and Marcia received word that the team of doctors believed she was a strong and viable candidate for treatment - they were thrilled! Williams is a cutting-edge cancer treatment center, leading the way in alternative therapies for all types of cancers and accepts roughly half of the applicants into their program. If you would like to learn more about them or about the treatments Marcia will be receiving, please visit www.WilliamsCancerInstitute.com.

The Lozada’s were told that the research-backed regimen, while very promising, was also expensive as insurance companies do not pay for any of it. About $500,000 is needed to provide Marcia with this potentially life-saving revolutionary treatment. This consists of 6 different trips to receive treatment, with 3-4 weeks in between each one. In addition to the therapy, there will be many plane flights back-and-forth from Iowa to California and Mexico; hotel stays; additional fees charged by the hospital in which the treatment takes place; and then when home between treatments, numerous costly supplements to maintain Marcia’s health. It’s a lot.

How We Can Support Marcia

The team of doctors at Williams Cancer Institute have seen extraordinary success with their treatment. This is the case even in other patients with the most advanced pancreatic cancer. Thankfully, this team of medical professionals have expressed that Marcia would greatly benefit from their cutting-edge treatment. In Des Moines, Iowa, Marcia’s prognosis is bleak due to the traditionally low success rate of chemo for her type of cancer.

Although Williams’ treatments are currently undergoing the lengthy FDA approval process, insurance companies are not paying for treatments such as these yet. Each of Marcia’s six treatments must be self-funded and paid for in advance. We need to raise about $550,000 to save Marcia’s life. We cannot do this without your help, which is why I am here, making a plea on behalf of Marcia. Please share our page, spread the word and donate whatever you can to help me save the life of the most graceful person I have ever met, Marcia Lozada.

Please spread the word with our hashtag #MoreThanConquerors

Marcia and Vince have four children that are travelling back-and-forth to see Marcia as much as possible. Marcia has had to quit her teaching job to focus on her care. Vince has become Marcia’s primary caregiver, with help from Marcia’s family on a daily basis. Her wonderful community has shown overwhelming love, support, and prayers. This is not what any of us envisioned their lives to be. In a country where care is often too expensive, we are asking for your understanding, compassion and prayers.

And you know what Marcia would say about all of this? God is always faithful and good! We completely trust Him for healing and care throughout this journey!

AMEN.

THANK YOU

Vince and Marcia appreciate your support more than you can imagine. They are extremely grateful! Thank you!

Funds raised which exceed our current expenses will be partially used for ongoing supplements and follow-up appointments, and some may also be donated to help someone else trying to pay for expensive, lifesaving treatments.

God bless you!