Linda's Breast Cancer Bandana Brigade

I am grateful for your consideration to join Linda's Breast Cancer Bandana Brigade with an offer of financial support.

A cancer diagnosis can be devastating. I don't know why but I never asked "why me?". I immediately went into let's take care of it mode. Get it done. Let me get on with living. Like my typical start to any day, make a list and check things off.
1. Beat Cancer
2. Live Life to the fullest with my family

I take life as it presents itself, make the best decisions I can at any given moment and move on. Keep looking forward and don't look back.

Awareness
It is May as I write this. I discovered the lump myself in September. It was two weeks before my annual check-up. Everyone, please, know your body. Defy denial by acting immediately. I did and it still wasn't as quick as I'd hoped but I'd like to think it gave me the fighting chance that I needed. My life changed.

Treatment
Two surgeries, countless imaging tests, allergic reactions, chemo, countless side-effects, peripheral neuropathy, tendon impingement in my shoulder, radiation, more side-effects followed by port removal and at least five years of upcoming hormone therapy with what I'm hopeful will be minimal side-effects. Praying for no recurrence.

Cancer care is personalized care. Every patient is different in their unique tolerance to treatment types and medications as well as the range of side-effects. I have found so many variables. This includes those posed by insurance companies so that I couldn't anticipate costs until the bill arrived in the mail. I have health insurance. It's not enough. The costs are staggering.

Cancer does not define me but how I choose to battle it does.
I am a positive person by nature. A Stage II patient who is committed to an integrated approach to my health. I am tremendously fortunate to have care provided by Pluta Cancer Center in Rochester, NY. I am an active participant in a team approach with my  doctors, nurses, massage therapist, nutritionists and meditation guides. Following a plant-based diet low in sugar is my responsibility to starve any remaining cancer cells. I can't ask my doctors to do more than what I'm willing to do myself. After all, it's my life we're all fighting for. Visualization allows me to see what I long for and allow my mind to destress my body so it can survive. I will beat this but I can't do it alone.

Donations
If you choose to help, all funds raised will help to ease the financial burden caused by medical costs and lost wages. It is a difficult thing to publicly ask others for help. Humility has always been important to me and I'm not comfortable in this role of having attention directed toward me. I have always done whatever was needed for my family. I humbly concede that I can't fix this alone. With your help, my family and I are forever grateful.

If you have questions that you would like to ask regarding a donation, please feel free to email me at [email redacted] . I will respond when I have time and energy to do so. I sincerely thank you.

"Every moment is a gift of life". Thich Nhat Hanh