Support Melody’s Battle Against Metastatic Breast Cancer

Sometimes you find yourself in a place where you don’t know what else to do other than ask for help. Stage 4 cancer at 36 has profoundly changed my life.

On Saturday, January 27th, 2024, I was at work making macarons with a slight pain in my side that I decided to ignore, as usual. By 5 PM that evening, I couldn’t move my torso or take more than a shallow breath without crying. That evening, my loving husband Robert dragged me to the ER, even though I was convinced it was just my “bad kidneys” acting up. After a CT scan showed numerous lesions on my spine and pelvis, they admitted me to the hospital for additional testing. I’m still so grateful for the ER doctors who advocated on my behalf. I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer a few days later.

There is much more to the story, and the last few months have been both eventful and full of progress.

I am reaching out for help. Since January, I have been unable to work due to pain, fatigue, and the side effects of my medication. The combination of cancer and the loss of my income has been overwhelming. We are seeking approval for other types of financial assistance, but we still need additional support. While my family has been helping us stay afloat, I am hopeful others can help relieve some of the stress I have placed on my loved ones.

Any support you can provide, no matter the amount, would mean the world to me. Funds would largely go towards my unpaid medical bills, with a small part allocated for expected expenses in 2024.

Currently, my treatment leaves me so fatigued that I can’t do much for very long. I have days where I feel almost normal for a few hours, only to spend the rest of the day recuperating. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love being active and working with my hands. I am excited to start occupational therapy this fall. We are also beginning radiation therapy soon, which will hopefully relieve some pain and allow me to be more productive.

My official diagnosis is “Metastatic ER/PR positive lobular breast cancer: 1/28/24: CT c/a/p WC showed multiple lytic lesions within the T1, T3, T8, T9, T12, and L3 vertebral bodies and within the right superior pubic ramus and R axillary LNE.”

Any support you can provide, no matter the amount, would mean the world to me. I am incredibly grateful for your kindness. This is a chapter of life we just weren’t prepared for…

With gratitude,

Melody Cano ❤️

*Largely past medical bills including testing, hospital stays, and treatment (My last hospital stay was over $4,500 after insurance. Honestly, I’m not sure how much we have spent to date, but the unpaid medical bills are currently over $22,000). Total $22,237

*Small portion towards expected medical bills in 2024. Estimate $6,280

**Should we meet our goal, funds would be used for bills in 2025 and living expenses.

The loving hubby and our girls (they are 9 and 15 ☺️)