Suzette’s Fight
Donation protected
Hello! My name is Suzette Casas. I am 30 years old. I have been married to my amazing husband Angel for 11 years and together we have 3 wonderful children (Dylan 5, Travis 3, Madison 1) with another boy on the way!
On December 3rd, 2020, my life changed forever. After several months of countless doctor appointments, scans and tests, I was ultimately diagnosed with breast cancer. I was about 4 months pregnant at the time. From October to December several trips to the ER to get answers about the excruciating pain I was experiencing, I was told by every doctor I saw locally that whatever was wrong with me was not cancer, “zero percent” chance they said. Until finally a Nurse Practitioner decided I wouldn’t leave without an appointment for a biopsy with a surgeon. My biopsy results led me to my Oncologist who recommended I go to MD Anderson in Houston where he completed his fellowship and wanted to present my case for their expertise. What had taken more than 2 months in El Paso took them 2 days at MD Anderson. Part of the reason for the confusion was due to the rarity of my case. My final diagnosis is stage 3 inflammatory breast cancer. I do not have any family history of breast cancer, and, according to the doctor at MD Anderson, I am at least 20 years too young to have this type of cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer only affects about 5% of breast cancer patients and, if you combine that with my age and my pregnancy, I am in a category that is seen in less than 2% of all breast cancer cases.
Much of my initial fears were related to physicians telling me I might have to terminate my pregnancy. However, the team at MD Anderson had enough experience treating pregnant women that they were confident I would be able to begin treatment while continuing to monitor the baby closely.
The team moved quickly, and by December 31st I was already receiving my first chemo. I was recommended a total of 16 rounds of chemo, then, a mastectomy and complete removal of my lymph nodes under my arms on both sides, radiation for 4-6 weeks and finally, 10 years of hormone therapy.
My most recent trip to Houston brought good news; my scans are showing visible progress in my treatment! The next step in the process is radiation. Depending on the pathology after my surgery, I will either need 22 days of radiation twice a day or 44 days of radiation once a day. Because of the very aggressive nature of my cancer, it is extremely important for me to receive treatment at a place with the experience to handle intricate cases like mine. While I am a very rare case in general, I am not a rare case at MD Anderson. They are widely considered the best cancer treatment center in the country, and maybe the world. So, my husband and I have made the decision to temporarily move to Houston while I receive my radiation treatment.
Obviously this will bring tremendous financial strain for our family. Being pregnant and diagnosed with cancer in the middle of a pandemic, I have not been working and I will not be working in the coming months. We will be maintaining 2 households for the remainder of my treatment. I know there is no price I can place on my health or my life however we still live in a world where money is a factor that must be considered.
Even through all of this, I count myself blessed. The friends, family and church around me has helped me tremendously. Because of that, it is very difficult for me to ask for money, but the reality is, if I don’t, I will most likely not be able to receive the treatment I need in Houston.
As for the wonderful little baby boy on the way: I have a little over a month to go, and he is doing great! This little guy is a stubborn little trooper! (Just like all my other kids). His story has gone from “you may have to terminate”, to “most likely he will not grow and his heart will be damaged due to the chemo”, to “we may have to induce you early” to the most recent update: “you are going FULL TERM!!! He is growing and doing great!!!” God is good and I know He is protecting both of us!!
Please join me in this fight against this terrible illness and help me kick it’s butt!! I would appreciate ANY amount that you can help with. I will keep you updated with baby and I!
Thank you!
Suzette
On December 3rd, 2020, my life changed forever. After several months of countless doctor appointments, scans and tests, I was ultimately diagnosed with breast cancer. I was about 4 months pregnant at the time. From October to December several trips to the ER to get answers about the excruciating pain I was experiencing, I was told by every doctor I saw locally that whatever was wrong with me was not cancer, “zero percent” chance they said. Until finally a Nurse Practitioner decided I wouldn’t leave without an appointment for a biopsy with a surgeon. My biopsy results led me to my Oncologist who recommended I go to MD Anderson in Houston where he completed his fellowship and wanted to present my case for their expertise. What had taken more than 2 months in El Paso took them 2 days at MD Anderson. Part of the reason for the confusion was due to the rarity of my case. My final diagnosis is stage 3 inflammatory breast cancer. I do not have any family history of breast cancer, and, according to the doctor at MD Anderson, I am at least 20 years too young to have this type of cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer only affects about 5% of breast cancer patients and, if you combine that with my age and my pregnancy, I am in a category that is seen in less than 2% of all breast cancer cases.
Much of my initial fears were related to physicians telling me I might have to terminate my pregnancy. However, the team at MD Anderson had enough experience treating pregnant women that they were confident I would be able to begin treatment while continuing to monitor the baby closely.
The team moved quickly, and by December 31st I was already receiving my first chemo. I was recommended a total of 16 rounds of chemo, then, a mastectomy and complete removal of my lymph nodes under my arms on both sides, radiation for 4-6 weeks and finally, 10 years of hormone therapy.
My most recent trip to Houston brought good news; my scans are showing visible progress in my treatment! The next step in the process is radiation. Depending on the pathology after my surgery, I will either need 22 days of radiation twice a day or 44 days of radiation once a day. Because of the very aggressive nature of my cancer, it is extremely important for me to receive treatment at a place with the experience to handle intricate cases like mine. While I am a very rare case in general, I am not a rare case at MD Anderson. They are widely considered the best cancer treatment center in the country, and maybe the world. So, my husband and I have made the decision to temporarily move to Houston while I receive my radiation treatment.
Obviously this will bring tremendous financial strain for our family. Being pregnant and diagnosed with cancer in the middle of a pandemic, I have not been working and I will not be working in the coming months. We will be maintaining 2 households for the remainder of my treatment. I know there is no price I can place on my health or my life however we still live in a world where money is a factor that must be considered.
Even through all of this, I count myself blessed. The friends, family and church around me has helped me tremendously. Because of that, it is very difficult for me to ask for money, but the reality is, if I don’t, I will most likely not be able to receive the treatment I need in Houston.
As for the wonderful little baby boy on the way: I have a little over a month to go, and he is doing great! This little guy is a stubborn little trooper! (Just like all my other kids). His story has gone from “you may have to terminate”, to “most likely he will not grow and his heart will be damaged due to the chemo”, to “we may have to induce you early” to the most recent update: “you are going FULL TERM!!! He is growing and doing great!!!” God is good and I know He is protecting both of us!!
Please join me in this fight against this terrible illness and help me kick it’s butt!! I would appreciate ANY amount that you can help with. I will keep you updated with baby and I!
Thank you!
Suzette
Co-organizers (2)
Suzette Casas
Organizer
El Paso, TX
Fallon Lopez
Co-organizer