Whitney Praska Memorial Fund
Whitney's sparkling personality and take charge attitude has
served her well since she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 24 in 2007. She
had a double mastectomy in January 2008, chemo, radiation, and graduating with
a degree in Business & Technology. She went thru breast reconstruction in
2009 and dedicated her efforts toward helping to raise money for cancer
organizations.
In 2008 & 2009 she and others held two BOOBALOOZA fundraiser
events which netted $10,000 for the American Cancer Center and Susan G Komen
Foundation.
Whitney is also involved and used her computer skills to assist
the Rally for The Cure Golf Tournament and Gala sponsored by the Frankfort
Country Club Ladies Golf Association. In
2011 and 2012 the organization donated a total of $55,000 to UK Markey Center
for research of breast cancer and a total of $5,580 to the Susan G Komen
Foundation. The Rally group honored her at their 2012 event by naming her
Honorary Chair while she was at Mayo undergoing extensive surgery. She is also a supporter of the Kentucky Pink
Connection as well as the National Cancer Institute for the study of
Li-Fraumeni Syndrome. Li-Fraumeni Syndrome is a genetic disorder that Whitney
has found out that she has; which she is one of 600 cases in the United States.
Whitney passed away on November 11, 2012. She wrote this brief story of her battle a couple of weeks before.
WHITNEY'S STORY
Wow . . . I was 24 years old with Breast Cancer and now
at 29 I'm battling radiation induced sarcoma. This was not what I had planned for my life,
but it's the hand I was dealt and I'm making the best of it all. Read my story
to get the full picture.
Background :
As a college senior in September 2007, I was looking forward to
graduating in May 2008, and beginning the next chapter of my adult life. Little
did I know that plans were about to suddenly change. One Saturday afternoon a
slight pain shot from my armpit down my arm. I immediately began to massage the
area - trying to figure out what was going on. That's when I noticed the lump
in my left breast. That following Monday I made an appointment with my doctor
to check out the area. She ordered an ultrasound which was in late October. The
ultrasound revealed two more lumps and the doctors decided to do three biopsies
that same day.
Filled with worry and fear, I still kept to my regular routine -
going to school, concerts and living my normal life. Of course I was hoping
that the lumps must surely be benign. Dr. Miller found that one of the areas
had A-typical cells and the doctors wanted to do another biopsy. After the second
biopsy I met with Dr. A.J. and he decided to do a lumpectomy in order to get
additional information so that we would know what I was facing. That procedure
was on December 13, 2007.
On December 20th, I returned to Dr. A.J.'s office, not expecting
to hear the diagnosis which was awaiting me. I went to the appointment alone. Dr. A.J.
came into the room and asked me who came with me to the appointment. My
immediate response was, "Why are you asking me this?" He then told me that I
had breast cancer, Stage One. The diagnosis literally hit me like a ton of
bricks and took my breath away. Talk about a blow to my dreams and plans! We sat and talked about my options for
procedures and treatments. We decided that with me being so young it was in my
best interest to take an aggressive approach and have a bilateral mastectomy.
My surgery was on January 2, 2008, and during surgery it was
discovered the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes. This new news was a hard
thing to face, now knowing that the reconstruction would be delayed until after
chemo and radiation and until they could move me to Stage Three. My first chemo
was on January 17th. It was
now one treatment down and five to go!
Due to the quickness of these back-to-back events, I really did
not have time to be scared. Now that I have had time to reflect on it and with
no family history of Breast Cancer, I feel that there may have been
environmental factors which may have caused my problems. Therefore, my goal has
been to be an advocate to educate young people to be aware of changes in their
bodies "“ awareness and early detection is the key!
As a young woman who exercised regularly, ate properly and tried
to keep a stress free lifestyle I was still diagnosed with a disease for which
I had no control.
After completing treatment, undergoing reconstructive surgery and graduating college, I began working
for the Commonwealth of Kentucky in Frankfort.
I was beginning my adult life and transitioning into my career
path. On December 21, 2011 "“ four years
to the day from my first diagnosis "“ I noticed a lump on my clavicle during my
brother's welcome home party from Iraq. I
knew this lump was not there the day before and I showed it to my mom. The following morning she called Dr. A.J.'s
office and within a few hours I was in the hospital having tests.
Our feet have not stopped moving since that appointment! I've had two separate CT needle biopsies,
multiple X-Rays and MRIs, and a PET scan.
I then had more CTs, doctor's appointments and a third biopsy which was
a surgical open-bone biopsy of the clavicle.
Hopefully the doctors have gotten all the test cells they need.
The Doctors were pretty sure this was Metastatic Breast Cancer.
When the results for Pathology from Mayo Clinic came back, it was shocking to
hear it was a Radiation Induced Osteosarcoma. With there not being a Sarcoma
Team in Kentucky, I had to consult with a team at Vanderbilt in Nashville,
Tenn. and also at the Mayo Clinic. It was important to get 2nd
opinions this time, after the confusion in the beginning. I selected The Mayo
Clinic Team, because I was so impressed with the each person and explaining
what the results showed and what the plan was. They agreed to work with Dr.
Massarweh at UK since it is a research hospital, allowing me to do my
Chemotherapy treatment at home here in Kentucky. On February 22, 2 months from
the time I found the Sarcoma, I began my Chemo treatments, which have been
giving in the Hospital for a week at a time. So, most of my year of 2012 has
been spent at UK Markey Cancer Center. After 4 months of Chemo I was then ready
for surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN on June 6th, 2012.
This was a VERY LONG surgery with included Bone and Soft Tissue Left Clavicle
and Chest wall resection: Radiation Induced Osteosarcoma with reconstruction
with a Myocutaneous Latissumus Flap and involving other areas too in this 17 hour
surgery. I surprised my Doctors there and was healing fast and was allowed to
come home after a month there.
In July I began Chemotherapy at UK, again in the hospital a week
at a time for 4 cycles. In July I developed fluid around my left lung and had
to have a Thoracentesis done, which then by the end of the week quickly filled
up again. The Drs decided to wait till I was done with chemo to do anything
else to fix the issue with the lung. In
October I then return to Mayo for my 4 month checkup and follow-up scans. With
my mother by my side our world was turned upside down yet again. The Scans reviled
Metastic Sarcomas. The Doctors and I counted over 15 tumors and they were as
surprised as we were. I was to have another Thoracentesis, but decided it could
be done back at UK, so we could travel HOME!
It was a much LONGER ride home, with lots of thoughts running through
our minds.
I began running a fever and ended up back in Markey, I have had
2 surgeries one to place at Denver Drain in my Left Lung and then another the
next week to remove it and place 2 Chest tubes in for a Left Malignant Pleural
Effusion.
Whitney encourages everyone to be aware of changes in your
bodies. Early detection is key!
Most of all live every moment to the fullest!!! Life is short so
make the most of it!!! XOXO
Timeline of events with estimate of costs
·
December 2007--Diagnosed with
Breast Cancer
·
January 2008-- Double
Mastectomy; Triple Negative Disease; Received 6 cycles of Chemotherapy; 32
rounds of Radiation Therapy "“ $10,000
·
2009 --Breast Reconstruction -
$20,000
·
December 2011 Discovery of the
Golf Size knot on the Left Clavicle, started test - $5,000
·
January 2012 , After 3
Biopsies, Diagnoses was Radiation induced Osteosarcoma
·
February- May 20012
Chemotherapy was given -$5,000
·
June 6, 2012, Surgery --Bone
and Soft Tissue, Left Clavicle and Chest Wall , resection: Radiation Induced
Osteosarcoma with a reconstruction with a Myocutaneous Latissimus Flap "“ the
surgery alone was $200,000
·
July- September 2012
Chemotherapy -$?
·
July 2012 Thoracentesis of the
left Lung -$?
·
Oct. 2012 - Metastatic
Sarcomas -$?
·
Oct.18, 2012-- Left Malignant
Pleural Effusion with placement of a Denver Drain -$?
·
Oct. 24, 2012--Left Malignant
Pleural Effusion with placement of 2 Chest Tubes -$?