Help Nilay Fight Her Rare Cancer
Donation protected
The Backstory
Nilay Saral was born in Istanbul and became blind at six months of age. She lost her mom to cancer when she was eight years old and lost her father a few years later. After graduating high school, she immigrated to the United States in search of a better life. She went to college, completed her undergraduate studies, and earned a masters degree.
Several years ago, she was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. After enduring radiation treatment five days a week for two months, she won that battle against cancer.
Last fall, she went back to school to earn her second masters in special education. Her program focuses on preparing her to provide educational and rehabilitation services for persons with visual impairments like herself.
Meanwhile, the radiation site from her cancer treatment had started changing. After a series of tests, the doctors could not determine the cause of the substantial changes. Nevertheless, they decided to perform a mastectomy. On September 27, her right breast was removed, revealing cancerous growth beneath.
The Diagnosis
Initially, we did not know what type of cancer they had found. When a panel of doctors were called together to discuss Nilay’s case, one doctor questioned whether she had been tested for retinoblastoma, which is a genetic disorder, before she was treated with radiation. She had not been tested. The test revealed that she has the genetic mutation, which is what caused her blindness as a child. She should never have received radiation treatment during her battle against breast cancer.
Nilay was diagnosed with radiation-induced soft tissue sarcoma, which is a rare, fast-growing form of cancer. After her mastectomy and diagnosis, tests and images showed no sign of cancerous growths remaining. She went through three rounds of chemotherapy as a prevention, in case some cancer cells were left behind that could not be detected. Follow up images in January 2019 showed two new tumors. Another surgery was not possible due to the location of the tumors. The remaining cancer cells had resisted chemotherapy so she then went through five weeks of radiation again, despite the fact that it was the cause of her cancer — that did not work. Though the cancer is growing fast, Nilay was sent home because the doctors have run out of traditional treatment options.
The Costs
The last option suggested by Nilay’s doctors is a new medicine called Regorafenib that has a 64% chance of success. This targeted therapy drug, published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology in April, is her last hope but insurance will not cover the costs. She must take the medicine for a minimum of two months in order to determine whether or not it works for her. The medication and additional holistic therapy supplements will cost $60,000 for just the first two months.
How You Can Help
Nilay is an amazing woman, sister, aunt, and friend. She is in a lot of pain and has just months left to win this second fight against cancer. We are hoping that you all will fight alongside her. The only way to beat this is together so we have created this fund in an effort to help her. She does not have the means to cover this treatment and her only focus right now should be on winning this fight.
We are immensely grateful for any help you can give. Please share this fundraiser on your social media pages and stay tuned for updates! We hope that she will beat cancer once and for all, then be able to return to her studies at NIU with her seeing eye dog, Zana.
If you have any questions or want to know other ways you can help our family, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you!!
Nilay Saral was born in Istanbul and became blind at six months of age. She lost her mom to cancer when she was eight years old and lost her father a few years later. After graduating high school, she immigrated to the United States in search of a better life. She went to college, completed her undergraduate studies, and earned a masters degree.
Several years ago, she was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. After enduring radiation treatment five days a week for two months, she won that battle against cancer.
Last fall, she went back to school to earn her second masters in special education. Her program focuses on preparing her to provide educational and rehabilitation services for persons with visual impairments like herself.
Meanwhile, the radiation site from her cancer treatment had started changing. After a series of tests, the doctors could not determine the cause of the substantial changes. Nevertheless, they decided to perform a mastectomy. On September 27, her right breast was removed, revealing cancerous growth beneath.
The Diagnosis
Initially, we did not know what type of cancer they had found. When a panel of doctors were called together to discuss Nilay’s case, one doctor questioned whether she had been tested for retinoblastoma, which is a genetic disorder, before she was treated with radiation. She had not been tested. The test revealed that she has the genetic mutation, which is what caused her blindness as a child. She should never have received radiation treatment during her battle against breast cancer.
Nilay was diagnosed with radiation-induced soft tissue sarcoma, which is a rare, fast-growing form of cancer. After her mastectomy and diagnosis, tests and images showed no sign of cancerous growths remaining. She went through three rounds of chemotherapy as a prevention, in case some cancer cells were left behind that could not be detected. Follow up images in January 2019 showed two new tumors. Another surgery was not possible due to the location of the tumors. The remaining cancer cells had resisted chemotherapy so she then went through five weeks of radiation again, despite the fact that it was the cause of her cancer — that did not work. Though the cancer is growing fast, Nilay was sent home because the doctors have run out of traditional treatment options.
The Costs
The last option suggested by Nilay’s doctors is a new medicine called Regorafenib that has a 64% chance of success. This targeted therapy drug, published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology in April, is her last hope but insurance will not cover the costs. She must take the medicine for a minimum of two months in order to determine whether or not it works for her. The medication and additional holistic therapy supplements will cost $60,000 for just the first two months.
How You Can Help
Nilay is an amazing woman, sister, aunt, and friend. She is in a lot of pain and has just months left to win this second fight against cancer. We are hoping that you all will fight alongside her. The only way to beat this is together so we have created this fund in an effort to help her. She does not have the means to cover this treatment and her only focus right now should be on winning this fight.
We are immensely grateful for any help you can give. Please share this fundraiser on your social media pages and stay tuned for updates! We hope that she will beat cancer once and for all, then be able to return to her studies at NIU with her seeing eye dog, Zana.
If you have any questions or want to know other ways you can help our family, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you!!
Fundraising team: Nilay's Family (2)
Elif Şentürk Chevas
Organizer
Crystal Lake, IL
Nilay Saral
Beneficiary
Tulay Saral Senturk
Team member
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