Help Kirsten beat Breast Cancer
For those of you who don’t know her, Kirsten is my little sister and the Hardworking momma to three. Bowie, Ian and Quinn. She is only 35. At the end of May, Kirsten, found a lump in her breast. After going for a routine check-up at Planned Parenthood- they sent her straight to Duke Cancer Center in Durham to get a biopsy and mammogram. After biopsies in two places on the same breast, she was diagnosed with Stage 0 Grade 3 DCIS* . ( full description below)
Kirsten and her partner, Tim, are both on (unpaid) FMLA leave from their jobs at Whole Foods while awaiting surgery so as to mitigate risk of contracting Covid-19. Unfortunately, like so many Americans, Kirsten is uninsured. Hopefully, through the financial center at Duke, the majority of the medical bill, will be covered. (Not sure exactly yet but ?) But they still need help financially to make ends meet. Any donation at all will greatly help them be able to pay their mortgage, bills, gas for driving to Durham for treatments and to allow Tim the time to help Kirsten recuperate post surgery.
She met with her surgeon on the 24th, They decided on a double mastectomy for treatment due to her age and her general diagnosis. She is to meet with the Plastic Surgeon this week and get her MRI for surgery next week. Results for her genetic test should be back soon. While this news couldn’t be more frightening- we are grateful she found her lump early and that she is getting the best care possible. We will keep y’all updated as to all the motions. It’s a lot of “if this, then that” right now. Please say all the prayers for her. And Ladies- don’t forget to give yourself a breast exam!!!!
taken from Breastcancer.org
*Grade 3 (high grade) DCIS
In the high grade Pattern, DCIS cells tend to grow more quickly and Look much different from normal, healthy breast cells. People with high-grade DCIS have a higher risk of invasive cancer, either when the DCIS is diagnosed, or sometime in the future. They also have an increased risk of the cancer coming back earlier- within thefirst 5 years rather than after 5 years