Amanda’s Fight Against Stage 4 Cholangiocarcinoma
Donation protected
On Monday, May 20, 2019, I went to the Emergency Room after suffering from right upper quadrant pain for 3 days; associated symptoms were back pain, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, rapid weight loss, and extreme fatigue. An abdominal CT was ordered and the results showed an 8cm mass growing in the center of my liver. Twenty minutes later, I was being CareFlighted to the Presbyterian Hospital of Plano. I was told the hospital I was at wasn’t equipped for the treatment I needed. I thought at most, I would spend a couple of days in the hospital if I needed surgery.
Two hours after being transferred to PHOP, I was originally diagnosed with Fibrolamellar Cancer, a common cancer that affects 70% of people that have liver disease. The problem was, I tested negative for all strands of hepatitis and I have no history of alcoholism/cirrhosis. The next step was to perform a biopsy of my liver and run more blood tests to confirm their original diagnosis. The biopsy was completed on Wednesday, May 22nd. I was transferred to the Oncology Unit for post op recovery and I spent the next 2 days impatiently waiting for my results. Then...they came.
On Friday, May 24, 2019, I was officially diagnosed with Stage III Cholangiocarcinoma, a very rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the bile ducts of the liver. This type of cancer affects less than 2% of the worlds population. There are no symptoms until later in the course of this disease. Sadly, there is no cure. The Oncologist said that because of the size and location of the tumor, surgery was not an option because it has also spread to surrounding lymph nodes, also ruling out a chance for a liver transplant. She could only offer me palliative care to make me as comfortable as possible until I succumbed to this horrible disease. When my mom asked the Oncologist how long I had left to live, she said 4-6 months...maybe 8-10 months if I started chemotherapy. We are completely devastated.
I have spent the last 3 weeks trying to process my diagnosis and all that’s come with it; the shock, the denial, the confusion, the anger, the sadness and depression. Before my diagnosis, I was a completely normal 32 year old woman, raising 4 beautiful children and working a full time job. I have devoted 14 years of my life working in the medical field, helping save lives, caring for the sick, and offering my patients a sense of hope when it seemed like all hope was lost. Sadly, I am no longer able to do what I love due to the symptoms associated with Cholangiocarcinoma, but I have been fortunate enough to spend these last few weeks spending quality time with my husband, Johnathan and our children: Jayson (15) Lauren (14) Olivia (4) and Jordan (2). Everyday is different. Some days we cry all day, holding each other while praying to God and asking Him for guidance and strength. Other days we laugh uncontrollably, telling funny stories and reminiscing on better times until our worries temporarily disappear.
No family should ever have to endure the pain and suffering that comes with being diagnosed with cancer. But I have faith that while there is no cure, there ARE options for prolonging my life so that I can stick around long enough to watch my children grow up, start kindergarten, go to prom, graduate high school and college, and maybe even start a family of their own. I refuse to accept a death sentence. I am ready to fight this disease with everything I have in me. I want to become an advocate and shed light on this very rare cancer so that even if it doesnt help me, maybe it can help save someone else.
But I cant do this alone. I need all the help I can get in such a short amount of time. Since I can no longer work, we have been using our savings so that I can start chemotherapy in hopes that it will give me a few more months to find a surgeon who can give me another chance at life. I have been blessed and fortunate enough to have friends and coworkers who work in the medical field that have pointed me in the right direction.
I started my first chemotherapy treatment yesterday, 6/11/19, with Dr. Thuy Le, one of the best Oncologists in Dallas/Fort Worth, in hopes that the tumor will shrink and can be resected. She is hopeful and so are we! I now have pending consults with some of the best surgeons in the US who specialize in Cholangiocarcinoma, resection, and transplantation:
Dr. Patricio Polanco at UTSW
Dr. Amit Mathur at the Mayo Clinic
Dr. John Fung at UCM In Chicago
If you can find it in your heart to contribute to this cause, please know that you have a helping hand in potentially extending the life of 4 young childrens’ mommy.
All My Love,
Amanda Jewell Hunt
*All donations will go towards chemotherapy treatments, medications, clinical trials, surgeries, and any other treatments recommended by medical professionals.
Two hours after being transferred to PHOP, I was originally diagnosed with Fibrolamellar Cancer, a common cancer that affects 70% of people that have liver disease. The problem was, I tested negative for all strands of hepatitis and I have no history of alcoholism/cirrhosis. The next step was to perform a biopsy of my liver and run more blood tests to confirm their original diagnosis. The biopsy was completed on Wednesday, May 22nd. I was transferred to the Oncology Unit for post op recovery and I spent the next 2 days impatiently waiting for my results. Then...they came.
On Friday, May 24, 2019, I was officially diagnosed with Stage III Cholangiocarcinoma, a very rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the bile ducts of the liver. This type of cancer affects less than 2% of the worlds population. There are no symptoms until later in the course of this disease. Sadly, there is no cure. The Oncologist said that because of the size and location of the tumor, surgery was not an option because it has also spread to surrounding lymph nodes, also ruling out a chance for a liver transplant. She could only offer me palliative care to make me as comfortable as possible until I succumbed to this horrible disease. When my mom asked the Oncologist how long I had left to live, she said 4-6 months...maybe 8-10 months if I started chemotherapy. We are completely devastated.
I have spent the last 3 weeks trying to process my diagnosis and all that’s come with it; the shock, the denial, the confusion, the anger, the sadness and depression. Before my diagnosis, I was a completely normal 32 year old woman, raising 4 beautiful children and working a full time job. I have devoted 14 years of my life working in the medical field, helping save lives, caring for the sick, and offering my patients a sense of hope when it seemed like all hope was lost. Sadly, I am no longer able to do what I love due to the symptoms associated with Cholangiocarcinoma, but I have been fortunate enough to spend these last few weeks spending quality time with my husband, Johnathan and our children: Jayson (15) Lauren (14) Olivia (4) and Jordan (2). Everyday is different. Some days we cry all day, holding each other while praying to God and asking Him for guidance and strength. Other days we laugh uncontrollably, telling funny stories and reminiscing on better times until our worries temporarily disappear.
No family should ever have to endure the pain and suffering that comes with being diagnosed with cancer. But I have faith that while there is no cure, there ARE options for prolonging my life so that I can stick around long enough to watch my children grow up, start kindergarten, go to prom, graduate high school and college, and maybe even start a family of their own. I refuse to accept a death sentence. I am ready to fight this disease with everything I have in me. I want to become an advocate and shed light on this very rare cancer so that even if it doesnt help me, maybe it can help save someone else.
But I cant do this alone. I need all the help I can get in such a short amount of time. Since I can no longer work, we have been using our savings so that I can start chemotherapy in hopes that it will give me a few more months to find a surgeon who can give me another chance at life. I have been blessed and fortunate enough to have friends and coworkers who work in the medical field that have pointed me in the right direction.
I started my first chemotherapy treatment yesterday, 6/11/19, with Dr. Thuy Le, one of the best Oncologists in Dallas/Fort Worth, in hopes that the tumor will shrink and can be resected. She is hopeful and so are we! I now have pending consults with some of the best surgeons in the US who specialize in Cholangiocarcinoma, resection, and transplantation:
Dr. Patricio Polanco at UTSW
Dr. Amit Mathur at the Mayo Clinic
Dr. John Fung at UCM In Chicago
If you can find it in your heart to contribute to this cause, please know that you have a helping hand in potentially extending the life of 4 young childrens’ mommy.
All My Love,
Amanda Jewell Hunt
*All donations will go towards chemotherapy treatments, medications, clinical trials, surgeries, and any other treatments recommended by medical professionals.
Fundraising team (4)
Amanda Cortijo-Hunt
Organizer
Aubrey, TX
Brooke Koning
Team member
Johnathan Hunt
Team member
Melissa Duron
Team member
Nicole Kelley
Team member
