Debbies Fight Against Breast Cancer
Donation protected
So, as some of you may know, my Mum is currently battling breast cancer for a second time. Twenty-one years ago, at the age of 27, Mum was diagnosed with stage 3 hormone receptor positive breast cancer and it had spread to her lymph nodes. She was also told by one oncologist that she would only have a 10% chance of surviving using chemo. Against the doctor’s advice, Mum decided to just go with radiotherapy every day for 6 weeks. She had hormone therapy for 5 years and chose a healthy diet and lifestyle to keep the cancer at bay. Then against all odds, Mum was cancer-free!!! Until about 6 weeks ago, when she was diagnosed with 2 types of cancer - HER 2 positive breast cancer and oestrogen receptor positive cancer.
To rid her of this horrible disease, they would send her straight in for a mastectomy of the left breast. But as the HER 2 positive cancer is fast-spreading and the cells are microscopic, no test can pick up any of the spreading cells. This means chemotherapy is Mum’s only option this time around, her only chance to reset her body. Another visit to the oncologist would have Mum being told that she will be doing weekly chemo for 3 months!! On top of this, she would have another treatment every 3 weeks called Herceptin, for the entire year.
The first round of chemo started on the 4th May 2020. There was a minor hiccup with administering chemo, as they struggled to find a vein good enough for treatment in her right arm. This arm is the only arm they are able to take blood from or give her needles in. This is because the first time she had breast cancer, they had to perform an auxiliary clearance on her left arm. Given that she needs treatment for 12 months, the veins in Mum’s right arm will end up dying from the chemo. So the doctors and oncologists have been left with no option but to perform another surgery, inserting a port inside Mum’s arm, which will help taking blood and administering the chemo. Then a further 2 surgeries are to come in August.
As with most things in life, this all comes with a cost. In Mum’s case, with strong doctors’ advice, she is now unable to work for the next 6 months. Working in aged care, Mum is very vulnerable, especially with the current COVID-19 situation. It is just not a risk she can take, which breaks her heart. I find it impossible asking for hand-outs, and if I could just pay for it all I would. But many small donations would mean the world, as it would take a lot of stress away for Mum and allow her to focus on getting well. She is devastated being unable to work and provide for herself and deal with things like bills, rates, mortgage, medical expenses, food … the essentials list goes on.
Lastly, something I CAN do, as a thank you to you guys, this Saturday arvo, I will be teaming up with X Factor’s Andrew Wishart and old friend Justin McLaren, to play a live stream Facebook gig fundraiser. So tune in to my Facebook page this Saturday afternoon from 3-6pm for some live music straight from my house to yours.
https://www.facebook.com/anthony.caruso1993
Hope to see you all there and if you are still reading, thanks for your time and any donation, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated.
Anthony
To rid her of this horrible disease, they would send her straight in for a mastectomy of the left breast. But as the HER 2 positive cancer is fast-spreading and the cells are microscopic, no test can pick up any of the spreading cells. This means chemotherapy is Mum’s only option this time around, her only chance to reset her body. Another visit to the oncologist would have Mum being told that she will be doing weekly chemo for 3 months!! On top of this, she would have another treatment every 3 weeks called Herceptin, for the entire year.
The first round of chemo started on the 4th May 2020. There was a minor hiccup with administering chemo, as they struggled to find a vein good enough for treatment in her right arm. This arm is the only arm they are able to take blood from or give her needles in. This is because the first time she had breast cancer, they had to perform an auxiliary clearance on her left arm. Given that she needs treatment for 12 months, the veins in Mum’s right arm will end up dying from the chemo. So the doctors and oncologists have been left with no option but to perform another surgery, inserting a port inside Mum’s arm, which will help taking blood and administering the chemo. Then a further 2 surgeries are to come in August.
As with most things in life, this all comes with a cost. In Mum’s case, with strong doctors’ advice, she is now unable to work for the next 6 months. Working in aged care, Mum is very vulnerable, especially with the current COVID-19 situation. It is just not a risk she can take, which breaks her heart. I find it impossible asking for hand-outs, and if I could just pay for it all I would. But many small donations would mean the world, as it would take a lot of stress away for Mum and allow her to focus on getting well. She is devastated being unable to work and provide for herself and deal with things like bills, rates, mortgage, medical expenses, food … the essentials list goes on.
Lastly, something I CAN do, as a thank you to you guys, this Saturday arvo, I will be teaming up with X Factor’s Andrew Wishart and old friend Justin McLaren, to play a live stream Facebook gig fundraiser. So tune in to my Facebook page this Saturday afternoon from 3-6pm for some live music straight from my house to yours.
https://www.facebook.com/anthony.caruso1993
Hope to see you all there and if you are still reading, thanks for your time and any donation, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated.
Anthony
Organizer and beneficiary
Antonio Lorenzo
Organizer
Karingal, VIC
Debbie Seisun
Beneficiary