Beyond Pink stage 4 breast cancer

Hi my name is Shantel & I’m battling stage 4 breast cancer. I’m disabled so I can’t work. I have two little boys ages 9 & 10 as well as a 2 yrs old fur baby girl. My husband does the best that he can for us while trying not to fear the worst. My family & friends have been a huge help as well but they also have their own families.

I receive SSDI & was recently denied Medicaid because I “make too much money.” Mind you my SSDI is less than $1250 monthly, for my two boys & I to live off of. I’m currently in my waiting period to receive Medicare which won’t kick in until 2024. But however I need constant care NOW. Without treatment I will DIE.

My treatment is very costly & I’ve been depending on Medicaid thus far praying that I’m covered until my Medicare starts. But due to the current changes I am no longer eligible for Medicaid coverage. I don’t know what to do I’m already pretty much living below poverty and keeping faith in God.

Here’s a little backstory. Back in 2015 I lost my 15 year old son to the hands of his high school football teammate who decided to play with a gun. That sent me into a deep depression. Throughout that time I noticed a change in my left breast. So I mentioned it to my OB/GYN who said it wasn’t anything to be concerned about. So I tried going on with my life. But while one day speaking with my sister about it, she convinced me to seek a second opinion. So I went to the E.R. on two separate occasions to be told that it was nothing. But my sister insisted that that was not normal. Oh I forgot to mention that by this time I had no medical insurance coverage. So I scheduled an appointment at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida during Breast Cancer Awareness Month for a screening. Once at the appointment I was given a gown and told to get undressed. Once the nurse returned and asked me to open the gown her mouth dropped open and she said I hope one have time because I can’t let you leave like this. From there everything started to move in a quick pace. I was immediately sent over to have a mammogram performed as well as an ultrasound that same day. After the ultrasound & mammogram results came in they told me that I had to wait to speak to a radiologist, I think that’s what it was. So after speaking to the radiologist they explained to me that they saw some concerns and they wanted me to have a biopsy done so that following week I had the biopsy done. Once the biopsy results were in I was told that I had cancer and I needed to start treatment right away. The only problem was I wasn’t insured. But as far as the biopsy and the mammograms in all of those things it was covered by the Susan G Komen foundation which I’m so appreciative of them. So here I am newly diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, a very aggressive form & BRCA2 positive. So after that, I went on to go back-and-forth with the state as far as receiving Medicaid,because I needed long term care. So finally, there was a breakthrough. It was God. I was covered, and I received all my treatments. I received a double mastectomy. I received a full hysterectomy. I received chemotherapy, which didn’t work so I had to go on an oral chemotherapy medication. All of this took place between 2018-2020 I went into remission and was placed on Tamoxifen, which I was supposed to take for 10 years. Then April 2022 I went to the E.R. complaining about extreme lower back pain. To learn that the cancer had spread to my bones. Since being diagnosed I am no longer on Tamoxifen. I’ve been receiving two oral medications daily & a monthly injection treatment that’s very costly. One of medications that I have to receive monthly costs $32,141.00 alone. (DENOSUMAB INJECTION) I’m seen regularly at the cancer center and I don’t know what I’m going to do now that I have no medical coverage. I’m barely making ends meet to keep a roof over my family’s head as well as show strength to my boys while in this fight for my life.