I’m writing this to support my cousin, Sylvia Dang. On July 21, 2025, Sylvia was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer that has spread to multiple parts of her body. She’s currently working with an incredible team of doctors in Orange County, who are moving swiftly to begin treatment and try to eradicate the cancer from her body. While Stage 4 breast cancer is not considered curable, treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, hormone therapy, and targeted therapies can help manage the disease, slow its progression, and improve quality of life. If you know Sylvia, you know she always maintains an optimistic attitude and is determined to fight for as long as she can. Sylvia wants to be back on her feet sometime next year, this goal is to help cover the gap until then. 

Many of you know Sylvia as someone who consistently puts others first—whether it’s her friends or her family. She has dedicated her entire career to helping others through nonprofit work, including her time at Senhoa, where she supported survivors of human trafficking as they rebuilt their lives, and most recently at Community Action Partnership of Orange County, where she worked to combat poverty and provide essential resources to those in need.

Right now, Sylvia is unable to work due to pain, nausea, mobility challenges, and the many appointments she must attend. Her income has decreased while her expenses have increased. She’s facing rising costs for medical care, daily living, transportation to treatments, and additional support. Your help can make a meaningful difference in covering these expenses. Sylvia isn’t the type to ask for financial assistance, but I want to support her in any way I can. If you’re unable to contribute financially, simply sharing her story or reaching out to her with a text/call/visit to catch up or say hello would mean a lot her. 

Additionally, Sylvia has appointments, sometimes several, every day. Transportation has been an issue for her. If you have time during weekdays to take her to an appointment and would like to catch up with Sylvia, please contact her directly. Even one day can help.

Thank you for your time.

Note: Although Sylvia’s mammogram earlier this year came back clear, her dense breast tissue masked the tumor. Dense tissue not only makes cancers harder to detect on X-rays but is also associated with a higher risk of developing breast cancer. If you or someone you care about has dense breast (tissue), please talk to your doctor about adding additional tests to your screening mammogram. Like a breast MRI or a 3D mammogram.