Denise Szymusiak’s Cancer Treatment

Recently our mom, Denise Szymusiak, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer (Lobular Carsinoma). In addition to the physical impact, Denise’s diagnosis has created emotional and financial challenges for Denise and our family. Dealing with the emotional distress that has come with her cancer diagnosis has been overwhelming, and has presented itself with a hefty financial burden with medical bills piling up quickly.

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RECENT UPDATES (April 2023): My mom’s Breast Cancer has metastasized to her spine.  This means she has many lesions (Tumors) in her spinal bone.  Plus, her lymph nodes are affected which is causing her right arm to be twice the size of her left arm.  

The cavity around her lungs continues to fill with fluid due to the cancer.  This is very uncomfortable for her. The nurses and trained family members on average remove 500 cc’s every 2 days (17 oz).  The fluid makes it very difficult for Denise to breathe.    

My mom is working with the pain management team at Roswell Park Cancer Institute to manage the continuous pain with some strong medications. There, she will start radiation treatment to burn some of the tumors in her spine this last week of April 2023.   

My mom is not able to work anymore at her beloved hair salon. And since she ran her own business, there is no long-term disability.  We are hoping that she qualifies for SSD but that will not begin until September.    

In good news, my mom is working with some of the top Breast Cancer doctors/Oncologists at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY. Her doctor believes that the hormone treatment (Not Chemotherapy) can be successful at reducing the growth of the tumors.  

Denise will also begin radiation treatment next week to burn some of the larger tumors in her spine.    

Denise lives in a lift chair, uses a walker & is on continuous oxygen to help her breathe.  This has been a huge change of life for my mom and our family. Her current primary care giver is my dad, Mark Szymusiak. We appreciate him as we are so close in finishing up our school years. We (her kids) will be home this summer. He tends to my mom round the clock 24/7 due to her very limited abilities. 

If you are ever in Buffalo, visitors are always welcome to visit my mom in our home. It would be helpful to let us know first to assure she’s up for it! Phone calls/texts are also welcome!!  

My family thanks you for all of the support for my mom during this time. She has loved all the visitors, kind gestures, flowers, cards, phone calls, etc! We appreciate you more than you know! My mom is a tough cookie and she is staying positive and fighting this disease like a champ!

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We are hopeful of raising funds to support Denise’s medical bills as it will take a financial toll on our family. The funds will be used to support finances for necessary treatment, medications, procedures, hospital stays, and any other support to ensure Denise can be treated and cared for properly.

Any amount of $$$ or support you may be willing to donate will be a drastic help to supporting Denise and our family in her Breast Cancer fight! For insight, Denise’s daily medication intake currently costs $600 per day - for one week, that is $4,200….10 weeks, that is $42,000….etc. Insurance will not cover all costs.

We thank you,

Denise’s Family; Mark, Brooke, Paige, and John Szymusiak