We Got This! Breast Cancer Fund
Donation protected
On November 27, 2017, I found out that my mom, Vivian Cruz was diagnosed with breast cancer. The diagnosis is Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Triple Negative Breast Cancer in the left breast (Stage 3). The Tumor is over 3cm in size and growing.
Triple negative breast cancer is a rare, and very aggressive type of breast cancer. Here is some information I have learned about this type of cancer.
"Triple negative" means it isn’t fueled by any of the three main things -- the hormones estrogen and progesterone and a protein called HER2 -- that drive other forms of the disease.
Triple-negative breast cancer is more aggressive than other forms. It’s more likely to spread beyond initial tumor site, and there’s a higher chance it will come back within the first 3 years after treatment. It’s also more likely to be fatal within the first 5 years. But once you pass those milestones, your odds of beating it are about the same as someone with any other type of breast cancer
My mom has undergone 3 biopsies, genetic testing, PET scan, and numerous other testing, and is holding up under the stress. She is scheduled to start her 1st round of chemo on Friday, December 22nd. It will be a very difficult Christmas for her and our family, but we will get through it as a family.
Based on the results of all of the testing, the doctors have decided to give my mom 8 rounds of dense chemotherapy (16 weeks of treatment), and after chemotherapy she will need to undergo a full double mastectomy with full reconstruction. They aren’t sure at this time if she will need to undergo Radiation before reconstruction, but if she does need Radiation it will consist of 6 weeks of treatment (Monday-Friday for 6 weeks). If she does do radiation treatments it may require her to stay in Bakersfield during the treatments due to the amount of travel involved.
The emotional and financial burden of surviving breast cancer is a challenge (to say the least) at any stage of life. My mom is one of the strongest people I know, and she will do all she can to beat this cancer so she can be there for our family, and everyone else who cares about her.
My mom is self-employed and runs her own consulting company. She helps wineries get licensed with state and federal agencies, and she loves what she does for a living. . My mom cares about each and every one of her clients, and wants to see their businesses succeed. My mom is the most fun-loving, caring, funny, bravest, smartest and all around greatest human that I know and I am sure you all agree that Vivian deserves and needs our love and support now more than ever. This is where you and this fund come in.
We are reaching out to our amazing and supportive network of family and friends to help, in any and every, shape or form. Any donation is greatly appreciated and will be a huge help to Vivian during the next few months.
A few examples of what the funds raised through this site will be used for:
-Travel and lodging expenses (all of her treatments, appointments, and surgeries will be in Bakersfield which is an hour each away from her home).
-Medical treatment costs (co-payments and any other items not covered by her insurance, as needed).
-Bills and expenses that will add up while she is unable to work (she is bringing on extra staff and other consultants to help keep her business running). The doctors expect her treatments to take over 6 months to complete.
-Any other unanticipated costs that come along with this fight
Please also note that any funds collected that Vivian does not end up needing to cover the costs outlined above will be donated to other women who are struggling financially while undergoing breast cancer treatment. My mom belongs to several Breast Cancer support groups online, and she would love to set up a foundation to help women who are struggling with Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
Thank you all for reading and considering my mom’s long road ahead.
Triple negative breast cancer is a rare, and very aggressive type of breast cancer. Here is some information I have learned about this type of cancer.
"Triple negative" means it isn’t fueled by any of the three main things -- the hormones estrogen and progesterone and a protein called HER2 -- that drive other forms of the disease.
Triple-negative breast cancer is more aggressive than other forms. It’s more likely to spread beyond initial tumor site, and there’s a higher chance it will come back within the first 3 years after treatment. It’s also more likely to be fatal within the first 5 years. But once you pass those milestones, your odds of beating it are about the same as someone with any other type of breast cancer
My mom has undergone 3 biopsies, genetic testing, PET scan, and numerous other testing, and is holding up under the stress. She is scheduled to start her 1st round of chemo on Friday, December 22nd. It will be a very difficult Christmas for her and our family, but we will get through it as a family.
Based on the results of all of the testing, the doctors have decided to give my mom 8 rounds of dense chemotherapy (16 weeks of treatment), and after chemotherapy she will need to undergo a full double mastectomy with full reconstruction. They aren’t sure at this time if she will need to undergo Radiation before reconstruction, but if she does need Radiation it will consist of 6 weeks of treatment (Monday-Friday for 6 weeks). If she does do radiation treatments it may require her to stay in Bakersfield during the treatments due to the amount of travel involved.
The emotional and financial burden of surviving breast cancer is a challenge (to say the least) at any stage of life. My mom is one of the strongest people I know, and she will do all she can to beat this cancer so she can be there for our family, and everyone else who cares about her.
My mom is self-employed and runs her own consulting company. She helps wineries get licensed with state and federal agencies, and she loves what she does for a living. . My mom cares about each and every one of her clients, and wants to see their businesses succeed. My mom is the most fun-loving, caring, funny, bravest, smartest and all around greatest human that I know and I am sure you all agree that Vivian deserves and needs our love and support now more than ever. This is where you and this fund come in.
We are reaching out to our amazing and supportive network of family and friends to help, in any and every, shape or form. Any donation is greatly appreciated and will be a huge help to Vivian during the next few months.
A few examples of what the funds raised through this site will be used for:
-Travel and lodging expenses (all of her treatments, appointments, and surgeries will be in Bakersfield which is an hour each away from her home).
-Medical treatment costs (co-payments and any other items not covered by her insurance, as needed).
-Bills and expenses that will add up while she is unable to work (she is bringing on extra staff and other consultants to help keep her business running). The doctors expect her treatments to take over 6 months to complete.
-Any other unanticipated costs that come along with this fight
Please also note that any funds collected that Vivian does not end up needing to cover the costs outlined above will be donated to other women who are struggling financially while undergoing breast cancer treatment. My mom belongs to several Breast Cancer support groups online, and she would love to set up a foundation to help women who are struggling with Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
Thank you all for reading and considering my mom’s long road ahead.
Organizer and beneficiary
Robbie Cruz
Organizer
Bodfish, CA
Vivian Cruz
Beneficiary
