Kathleen’s Cancer Battle

Hello, I’m Kathleen and I’m 31 years old. In July 2020, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. I have three tumors in my left breast and my axillary lymph nodes have become cancerous. At the very least I need one full mastectomy and the lymph nodes in my armpit removed. I’ve been given the option and am leaning towards bilateral mastectomy. Because I am young for this type of cancer, after beating it, I would hopefully have another 40, 50, 60 years left, which is 40, 50, 60 years of chances of it coming back. A bilateral mastectomy stops those chances.


After the initial surgery, I’ll have expanders placed behind my pectoral muscles that will slowly be expanded over 4 months, surgery again at 6 months, and a third at 9 months to complete reconstruction. I’ll need a port inserted with several months of chemotherapy, several more of radiation, and several years of hormone therapy. The doctors will know more from the initial surgery and will update the plan.


Right now, the entirety of my immediate and extended family is at least 1,000 miles away.

In addition to treatment and care expenses, I need financial help for family member(s) to come and stay here for me, or everything associated with moving (which is honestly stressing me out more than what I’m about to go through) and a further extended period out of work for me to go to them.


Anything or sharing helps.

Thank you,

Kathleen