Help Wanda Carr Beat Cancer
Donation protected
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death
in the in
both men and women. Non-small cell lung cancer is a disease in which
malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the lung. Each lung has sections
called lobes. The left lung has two lobes. The right lung is slightly larger
and has three lobes. Two tubes called bronchi lead from the trachea (windpipe)
to the right and left lungs. The bronchi are sometimes also involved in lung
cancer.
The American Cancer Society's estimates for lung cancer in the United States for 2013 are:
About 228,190 new cases of lung cancer (118,080 in men and 110,110 in women) An estimated 159,480 deaths from lung cancer (87,260 in men and 72,220 among women), accounting for about 27% of all cancer deaths. Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer vs. Small Cell Lung CancerIn general, patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have a better prognosis than those diagnosed with the more aggressive small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC accounts for roughly 85 percent of all lung cancer cases. The 5-year survival rates for NSCLC are estimated at:
Five Year Survival Rates for NSCLC PatientsStage
Survival Rates
Stage IA 49%
Stage IB 45%
Stage 2A 30%
Stage 2B 31%
Stage 3A 14%
Stage 3B 5% (median survival of 13 months)
Stage 4 1% (median survival of eight months)
My name is Wanda Carr, I'm 50 years old my husband Alan and I reside in Bartow County, Georgia.
In March of this year I was having sharp, stabbing pain around the backside of my right shoulder blade. I went to my primary Dr and he tried several different methods of treatment and none of them seemed to help. He began scheduling scans that included a P.E.T and that's when it was discovered that I had 2 masses, 1 on the top right lobe of my lung and 1 on the right frontal section of my brain.
It was on that I was diagnosed with stage 4B lung cancer (non small cell adenocarcinoma). Needless to say my husband and I were shocked, shaken, and deeply affected by the diagnosis, even more so when my husband Alan was told to make as many memories possible because I would only have about six months to live. I started radiation treatments at the in Cartersville for my lung. At the same time they were looking at doing radiation treatments for the tumor on my brain as well. After meeting with the Neurosurgeon, he said there was no time to wait on doing the radiation with the size of the tumor, the fluid surrounding it and the pressure it was putting on my brain the tumor alone could take my life. The Neurosurgeon felt that surgery needed to be as soon as possible. I was admitted to Kennestone hospital on May 6, 2013 and on May 7th, the mass was removed. I received a blessing and a miracle from God, because after the tumor was biopsied, the results were benign, and they downgraded my cancer to stage 3B.
We have been given the gift of time, and the 6 months to live has been extended to five years.
While I was in the hospital, a port was put in my chest to be used for chemotherapy treatments and blood draws. About 7 weeks after the port was put in, I was hospitalized for a week due to getting a life threatening infection where the port was at. Due to the severity of the infection the port had to be removed, which left an open quarter sized hole in my chest. It could not be closed so it could drain. Having the infection resulted in my chemotherapy treatments and the time for the healing process was delayed. More recently, this past week (8/13 to 8/15) I was hospitalized again with another severe infection in the same area, continuing the delay in getting my treatments. I am still waiting for another chemotherapy treatment and surgery to have my right upper lobe of my lung removed where the cancer is located. I have an appointment with my Thoracic surgeon on to have a C.T. scan prior to scheduling the lung surgery. However, the infection has to be gone before that can be done. Meanwhile, during this waiting process, my treatments are continuing to fall behind the original schedule and treatment plan, making me apprehensive if the cancer cell has grown or spread more into my lung or anywhere else in my body.
What will the money you are seeking go toward?
Prior to being diagnosed I was working full time, bringing in a little more than half of our income. I have been with the same company for the past eleven years in. As with most families we needed as much of our paychecks we could get. When I enrolled in benefits, I chose medical/dental and vision and not short/long term disability just to save a few dollars per paycheck.
I have always been healthy and considered myself a young 50 year old, not foreseeing the need to choose either of the disability benefits. When my family doctor expressed some concerns after reviewing one of the scans that was done, I thought it would be best to add the long/short term disability to my benefits. After I received the official diagnosis, and to qualify for the short/long term disability I was told I would have to be out of work for several months and the insurance company denied my benefits that I'd been paying on stating it was a preexisting condition.
In order to maintain medical insurance coverage the premiums still have to be paid biweekly which is about $220.00 biweekly. In addition to the premiums, we are responsible for paying the deductibles and our percentage of the medications. To date, we have paid out of pocket over $1000.00 for scans and over $2000.00 for medications, over $1,200.00 in insurance deductibles, and $1,760.00 to cover my insurance premium. This has all been done using our savings and husbands income as with me not being phsically able to work I can not contribute what I was use to bringing home. I'm not physically able to work full time, however, out of necessity I was "forced" to return to work but on a very limited basis. During the months from April to mid July I did not work at all which eliminated about $2500.00 a month of income. My Dr would only agree to part time at 20-25 hours a week with specific limitations. The physical toll on me causes me to be drained, back aches, weakness in my legs/knees and exposes me to infections and other possible illnesses.
We've had a decrease in our income but an increase in expenses with having to pay for medical costs out of pocket, yet we still have to try meeting our existing obligations.
Prior to this medical set back, our bills were kept current. We are now getting shut off notices for our utilities, repo notices/phone calls, our landlord is threatening to begin the legal process to have us evicted. We need our cars to get to and from work which both of them are basic/economical.
We are still responsible for paying our regular housing bills, rent, utilities, grocries, etc, along with any incurred medical treatments, medications, insurance premiums etc. and I'm currently unable to work again.
NOTE FROM ALAN:
We are hoping and praying to raise enough in funds to help offset past, current, and future medical costs for Wanda's prescriptions, treatments, and surgeries. We are also in need of being able to save our home. Neither of us have family in except our youngest son and grandson to help us or have a place to go. We need to be able to raise enough money so hopefully my wife can stay home and finish getting her treatments and surgery so she can focus on her health and recover, enabling her to go back to work full time again. She is my wife and she is my life. I have many years with her, I do not want to loose her to this cancer or infections causing her to continuously fight for her life. I am also hoping enough people will care enough and remember the pay it forward concept. Please join us by making a difference in the fight against cancer. We would sincerely appreciate your generous help towards this noble cause. We thank you in advance for your understanding for our request, your kindness, generosity and prayers. Prayer is a powerful thing putting your money with your prayers can move mountains...
Contributions can be done here or at any Regions Bank in the name of HELP WANDA CARR BEAT CANCER Alan or Wanda Carr Cartersville, GA or Bank of America branch in account name Alan or Wanda Carr, Cartersville, GA.
The American Cancer Society's estimates for lung cancer in the United States for 2013 are:
About 228,190 new cases of lung cancer (118,080 in men and 110,110 in women) An estimated 159,480 deaths from lung cancer (87,260 in men and 72,220 among women), accounting for about 27% of all cancer deaths. Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer vs. Small Cell Lung CancerIn general, patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have a better prognosis than those diagnosed with the more aggressive small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC accounts for roughly 85 percent of all lung cancer cases. The 5-year survival rates for NSCLC are estimated at:
Five Year Survival Rates for NSCLC PatientsStage
Survival Rates
Stage IA 49%
Stage IB 45%
Stage 2A 30%
Stage 2B 31%
Stage 3A 14%
Stage 3B 5% (median survival of 13 months)
Stage 4 1% (median survival of eight months)
My name is Wanda Carr, I'm 50 years old my husband Alan and I reside in Bartow County, Georgia.
In March of this year I was having sharp, stabbing pain around the backside of my right shoulder blade. I went to my primary Dr and he tried several different methods of treatment and none of them seemed to help. He began scheduling scans that included a P.E.T and that's when it was discovered that I had 2 masses, 1 on the top right lobe of my lung and 1 on the right frontal section of my brain.
It was on that I was diagnosed with stage 4B lung cancer (non small cell adenocarcinoma). Needless to say my husband and I were shocked, shaken, and deeply affected by the diagnosis, even more so when my husband Alan was told to make as many memories possible because I would only have about six months to live. I started radiation treatments at the in Cartersville for my lung. At the same time they were looking at doing radiation treatments for the tumor on my brain as well. After meeting with the Neurosurgeon, he said there was no time to wait on doing the radiation with the size of the tumor, the fluid surrounding it and the pressure it was putting on my brain the tumor alone could take my life. The Neurosurgeon felt that surgery needed to be as soon as possible. I was admitted to Kennestone hospital on May 6, 2013 and on May 7th, the mass was removed. I received a blessing and a miracle from God, because after the tumor was biopsied, the results were benign, and they downgraded my cancer to stage 3B.
We have been given the gift of time, and the 6 months to live has been extended to five years.
While I was in the hospital, a port was put in my chest to be used for chemotherapy treatments and blood draws. About 7 weeks after the port was put in, I was hospitalized for a week due to getting a life threatening infection where the port was at. Due to the severity of the infection the port had to be removed, which left an open quarter sized hole in my chest. It could not be closed so it could drain. Having the infection resulted in my chemotherapy treatments and the time for the healing process was delayed. More recently, this past week (8/13 to 8/15) I was hospitalized again with another severe infection in the same area, continuing the delay in getting my treatments. I am still waiting for another chemotherapy treatment and surgery to have my right upper lobe of my lung removed where the cancer is located. I have an appointment with my Thoracic surgeon on to have a C.T. scan prior to scheduling the lung surgery. However, the infection has to be gone before that can be done. Meanwhile, during this waiting process, my treatments are continuing to fall behind the original schedule and treatment plan, making me apprehensive if the cancer cell has grown or spread more into my lung or anywhere else in my body.
What will the money you are seeking go toward?
Prior to being diagnosed I was working full time, bringing in a little more than half of our income. I have been with the same company for the past eleven years in. As with most families we needed as much of our paychecks we could get. When I enrolled in benefits, I chose medical/dental and vision and not short/long term disability just to save a few dollars per paycheck.
I have always been healthy and considered myself a young 50 year old, not foreseeing the need to choose either of the disability benefits. When my family doctor expressed some concerns after reviewing one of the scans that was done, I thought it would be best to add the long/short term disability to my benefits. After I received the official diagnosis, and to qualify for the short/long term disability I was told I would have to be out of work for several months and the insurance company denied my benefits that I'd been paying on stating it was a preexisting condition.
In order to maintain medical insurance coverage the premiums still have to be paid biweekly which is about $220.00 biweekly. In addition to the premiums, we are responsible for paying the deductibles and our percentage of the medications. To date, we have paid out of pocket over $1000.00 for scans and over $2000.00 for medications, over $1,200.00 in insurance deductibles, and $1,760.00 to cover my insurance premium. This has all been done using our savings and husbands income as with me not being phsically able to work I can not contribute what I was use to bringing home. I'm not physically able to work full time, however, out of necessity I was "forced" to return to work but on a very limited basis. During the months from April to mid July I did not work at all which eliminated about $2500.00 a month of income. My Dr would only agree to part time at 20-25 hours a week with specific limitations. The physical toll on me causes me to be drained, back aches, weakness in my legs/knees and exposes me to infections and other possible illnesses.
We've had a decrease in our income but an increase in expenses with having to pay for medical costs out of pocket, yet we still have to try meeting our existing obligations.
Prior to this medical set back, our bills were kept current. We are now getting shut off notices for our utilities, repo notices/phone calls, our landlord is threatening to begin the legal process to have us evicted. We need our cars to get to and from work which both of them are basic/economical.
We are still responsible for paying our regular housing bills, rent, utilities, grocries, etc, along with any incurred medical treatments, medications, insurance premiums etc. and I'm currently unable to work again.
NOTE FROM ALAN:
We are hoping and praying to raise enough in funds to help offset past, current, and future medical costs for Wanda's prescriptions, treatments, and surgeries. We are also in need of being able to save our home. Neither of us have family in except our youngest son and grandson to help us or have a place to go. We need to be able to raise enough money so hopefully my wife can stay home and finish getting her treatments and surgery so she can focus on her health and recover, enabling her to go back to work full time again. She is my wife and she is my life. I have many years with her, I do not want to loose her to this cancer or infections causing her to continuously fight for her life. I am also hoping enough people will care enough and remember the pay it forward concept. Please join us by making a difference in the fight against cancer. We would sincerely appreciate your generous help towards this noble cause. We thank you in advance for your understanding for our request, your kindness, generosity and prayers. Prayer is a powerful thing putting your money with your prayers can move mountains...
Contributions can be done here or at any Regions Bank in the name of HELP WANDA CARR BEAT CANCER Alan or Wanda Carr Cartersville, GA or Bank of America branch in account name Alan or Wanda Carr, Cartersville, GA.
Organizer
Alan Carr
Organizer
Cartersville, GA
