Help support Sheryl's fight
Donation protected
Hello, my name is Missy. I recently saw a dear friend of mine has hit a serious bump in the road during her recent battle with cancer. Cancer is hard enough, but she keeps getting hit with more and more obstacles. Sheryl has been such an inspiration throughout her fight, and her will to live astounds me. She is a woman who doesn't like to ask for help, so I am asking for her! My hope is that compassionate people are as touched by her story as I was and will help by donating and sharing this page. Here is her story in detail, (in her own word's).
November 19, 2014 Diagnosed stage 3 Lobular and ductal invasive breast cancer (Main tumor was the size of a lemon and was not picked up on mammogram due to very dense tissue). After 4 breast biopsies, full body PET scan and 3 PEM breast scans and surgery to place a med-a-port under my skin to feed chemo directly to my heart. I endured 6 months of chemo (taxotere/Cytoxan with the day after neulesta shot) chemo ended May 20, 2015.
November 19, 2014 Diagnosed stage 3 Lobular and ductal invasive breast cancer (Main tumor was the size of a lemon and was not picked up on mammogram due to very dense tissue). After 4 breast biopsies, full body PET scan and 3 PEM breast scans and surgery to place a med-a-port under my skin to feed chemo directly to my heart. I endured 6 months of chemo (taxotere/Cytoxan with the day after neulesta shot) chemo ended May 20, 2015.
During chemo in April 2015 I was hospitalized
due to pneumonia, CT scans at this time they
found nodules/mass in my lung but needed to
wait till pneumonia was treated for any further
testing, another CT scan was completed June 4
2015. Meeting with Doctors they said the lung
nodules/mass have grown and several are
present within my lung. I am set for June
15,2015 for yet another full body PET scan
(looking for cancer in any other areas) June 18,
2015 I will have a lung biopsy (due to nodule
placement they must access through my back).
due to pneumonia, CT scans at this time they
found nodules/mass in my lung but needed to
wait till pneumonia was treated for any further
testing, another CT scan was completed June 4
2015. Meeting with Doctors they said the lung
nodules/mass have grown and several are
present within my lung. I am set for June
15,2015 for yet another full body PET scan
(looking for cancer in any other areas) June 18,
2015 I will have a lung biopsy (due to nodule
placement they must access through my back).
I am scheduled to go into surgery June 24, 2015
for a double mastectomy (this will be complete
removal of both breast) with lymphoid removal.
At the time of mastectomy I will begin the
reconstruction process and will have skin
expanders placed under the pectoral with fills
done every 2 weeks to help stretch the skin and
muscle to allow room for final implants.
for a double mastectomy (this will be complete
removal of both breast) with lymphoid removal.
At the time of mastectomy I will begin the
reconstruction process and will have skin
expanders placed under the pectoral with fills
done every 2 weeks to help stretch the skin and
muscle to allow room for final implants.
Reconstruction will take 3-4 months of stretching
before final reconstruction surgery and implants
can be placed and a final surgery to build a
nipple then areola tattooing.
before final reconstruction surgery and implants
can be placed and a final surgery to build a
nipple then areola tattooing.
After mastectomy I will also have 33 rounds of
radiation to complete. Radiation is everyday.
(except weekends and or holidays)
radiation to complete. Radiation is everyday.
(except weekends and or holidays)
Results of the lung biopsy will either mean I am
fighting lung cancer along with breast cancer or I
have a intense fungal infection deep in my lung
tissue which will be treated with IV medication
and hospital stay. Treatment of the lungs may
delay my surgery which in turn can leave time for
my breast cancer to grow back which will mean
more chemo before surgery.
fighting lung cancer along with breast cancer or I
have a intense fungal infection deep in my lung
tissue which will be treated with IV medication
and hospital stay. Treatment of the lungs may
delay my surgery which in turn can leave time for
my breast cancer to grow back which will mean
more chemo before surgery.
I will be on tamoxifen (anti cancer drug) for 10
yrs after treatment. This medication has alot of
side effects that will need to be treated as they
arrive during the 10yrs.
yrs after treatment. This medication has alot of
side effects that will need to be treated as they
arrive during the 10yrs.
I have been unable to work since Dec 2014, and
we have exhausted all savings and available
funds over the past 6 months.
we have exhausted all savings and available
funds over the past 6 months.
June 30, 2015 we will lose our EIT Union medical
insurance due to not enough hours for the 2nd
quarter of this year. Cobra insurance is our only
option but at a cost of $1500 a month. Due to my
breast cancer and now a possible lung cancer,
the fear of losing the insurance that has allowed
me such a quality of care is overwhelming along
with all the other household bills and
responsibilities is becoming so much weight on us.
insurance due to not enough hours for the 2nd
quarter of this year. Cobra insurance is our only
option but at a cost of $1500 a month. Due to my
breast cancer and now a possible lung cancer,
the fear of losing the insurance that has allowed
me such a quality of care is overwhelming along
with all the other household bills and
responsibilities is becoming so much weight on us.
I suffer from extreme side effects:
Leg pain
Neropothy in my hands and feet
Headaches
Painful restless legs at night
Night sweats
Hair loss
Insomnia
Mood swings
Panic attacks
High anxiety (i have started counseling for this)
Toenails and fingernails have severe ridges in them
Sense of taste is off
Fatigue
Short term memory lose
(More side effects are expected during radiation)
(Also unfortunately my husband Keith had a recent accident that caused him to need surgery (June 10,2015) to repair a separated bicep muscle on his left arm. He is now waiting for physical therapy to start next week. Expected to be off work 4-6 weeks.)
Organizer and beneficiary
Missy Taylor
Organizer
Wanatah, IN
Sheryl Casey
Beneficiary