Support Patricia's fight to beat aggressive b-cell lymphoma

When I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma cancer in December 2020, a friend told me, "prepare to fight for your life, Patricia". I braced myself and went through six months of chemo while trying to maintain my job and stay ahead of the overwhelming medical bills that my employer's health insurance didn't cover. The chemotherapy and constant blood tests every 28 days were stressful as I had to go through it all alone, driving over an hour to and from treatments. After six months, the PET scan results showed increased cancer cell growth. The chemo did not do what it was supposed to do. The fatigue was relentless.

My hematologist recommended a second round of two different chemo drugs in two consecutive days every 28 days for six months. My veins were taking a toll with the chemo and constant blood tests. The trips to the ER from the awful side effects, two bouts with COVID and chronic fatigue forced me to quit my job. The accumulating medical bills consumed all of my financial resources. At last, the PET scan reflected what is called in the cancer world as "NED" (no evidence of disease). I thought the fight was over but the fatigue continued. I was unable to even work a part-time job as much as I searched various job opportunities. I applied for disability but was denied because I had lived in the Dominican Republic and did not pay income taxes 5 of the last 10 years. I applied for SSSI but was denied again because I paid into social security contributions during my working career. What a dilemma! There was no program available to receive even a small stipend to keep my head above water. My savings were depleted -- zero, zilch, nada! The Social Security Administration callously told me that my only option was to apply for early retirement. The idea of falling four years short of my full retirement payout was a hard pill to swallow. The stress of it all was just as debilitating as the fatigue. I had up to 12 months to pay back the monthly earnings to get back in the workforce and work until my full retirement age. I continued searching for jobs but the fatigue and now situational depression was too overwhelming. The 12-month window of paying back the early retirement payments had expired. I had to learn to accept and go on as new medical issues arose and pay the accumulated debt as best I could. I applied for Medicaid so future medical expenses were covered.

Upon turning 65 I had to apply for Medicare insurance. After a couple hours on the phone with a social security representative she insisted that she call 911 to send a squad to my home and check on me. I was having a full-blown melt-down. Reality had set in. I insisted that it wasn't necessary as she graciously calmed me as we finished the Medicare enrollment.

Now, less than a year after NED (no evidence of disease), a routine CT scan revealed evidence of new cancer cells. I had inflamed and painful lymph nodes in my armpit, chest, elbow and collarbone areas — all on my left side. My hematologist ordered a PET scan and biopsy of the large egg protruding from my armpit. Results from the PET and biopsy reflect that the follicular lymphoma has transformed into aggressive large b-cell lymphoma. Measurement of the tumor mass on my arm grew 2 centimeters in less than 10 days. My doctor said that we must start chemo and explained the protocol for this type of cancer called R-CHOP. The O is best known as "red devil" because it is the color red and the horrific side effects it causes.

Is it all worth it, I wondered? I asked my doctor what my prognosis is if I choose to let nature take its course. He said statistics show that I would have 6 to 18 months of survival without R-CHOP treatment. The R-CHOP has a 66% chance of survival or 2 out of 3 patients survive. We discussed other forms of chemotherapy that I had learned from the lymphoma support groups but R-CHOP was the most successful for large b-cell lymphoma. Lastly, he said that I must undergo an echocardiogram to verify that my heart is strong enough for this horrific treatment. In the meantime, my medical team has scheduled me for an "port" in my chest for infusion and blood tests for ease on my veins. Infusion is scheduled October 29th.

I keep reflecting back on what my friend told me, "prepare to fight for your life, Patricia, prepare to fight for your life". Not to sound dramatic but how many more times will I have to hear this echoing in my mind? Am I ready for this fight?

I live alone in the home where I was raised and it is over 60 miles from The James Cancer Center in Columbus where I am getting treated. My hopes and dream of my husband immigrating from the Dominican Republic to start organic gardening and make repairs on the house have turned to nightmares. Hopes and dreams we had before my cancer diagnosis. My early retirement pension does not qualify me to sponsor him. His meager income cannot be added for qualification. My home is situated in a valley in the countryside. It is old and in dire need of much repair, making the comforts of life a bit too uncomfortable. The windows and door casings are like a sieve for cold air to penetrate the house in the winter season. The propane furnace runs incessantly if I want to be reasonably comfortable. The ice and snowstorms make it difficult to get out of the valley until sometimes days after the county finishes salting the city streets and tend to the back roads. My doctor insists to start treatment immediately, telling me that not a day in the every 21-day infusions can be missed or altered. I have battled so far basically all alone but I no longer have the physical or mental strength nor financial resources.

So . . . to prepare for this new fight I must find temporary housing close to the clinic and emergency services in Columbus to ensure a most successful outcome with the chemo. I have found reasonable rental accommodations in the home of a woman my same age and commonalities. I have no resources beyond my monthly early retirement pension and must painfully reach out for support from my friends, friends of friends or whoever is willing to support me in this last fight. It was easy for me to ask for help in my humanitarian efforts in the Dominican Republic but to ask for myself is something I never anticipated having to do. Before anyone asks, yes, I have reached out to my social workers at the clinic and there are no programs to assist with extended living expenses unless one is receiving radiation treatment, which is not part of my protocol.

To pay for rent and anticipated expenses for the next 6 months I am requesting this go fund me in the amount of $5,000. I would be most grateful for any donation within your means. I can only prepare to fight for my life with your help.

Thank you for your consideration and God speed ahead.

~ Patricia