Help Phyllis Lind In Her Fight Against Breast Cancer

Hi My name is Phyllis Lind.

I am asking for help to meet my medical copays in my treatment for breast cancer through Gofundme. My copays and insurance are about $1500 a month. I never expected to have breast cancer nor ask for help in a GoFundMe account. There is no history of cancer in my family. I followed the medical suggestions for the prevention of breast cancer thinking I would never have to be concerned about a diagnosis of breast cancer. However, one out of eight women are now diagnosed with breast cancer, and I am one of them.

August 2023 while taking a shower I discovered a hard lump in my breast. Fortunately, I had lost 50 pounds through dieting and possibly would not have detected it without the weight loss. Unfortunately for me I had moved to Portugal in 2021 and live in the far eastern Algarve with no car and pay for private health insurance as part of my requirement for my visa. I do believe the stress of moving to Portugal and the many obstacles in preparation for the move and the obstacles I encountered after the move contributed to the onset of the cancer. I have renovated my house in Portugal and am now preparing to move back to the USA as soon as my house sells. I have already done the preparation for reenrolling in Medicare where my copays and Medicare premiums will be affordable. I have also contacted my medical providers in the USA for continued care.

It was difficult to get all the testing needed for the diagnosis due to limited resources in the Algarve. For example, with my insurance there was one radiologist for the 3d mammogram so there was a month waiting period for an appointment and I traveled 45 minutes for the appointment. I then got an order for a biopsy and MRI from my government doctor but the preferred provider for my insurance did not call me back even with repeated calls through their customer service. I contacted another provider which was a private hospital and was scheduled to see a surgeon with my 3d mammogram results which did show a tumor. I immediately had blood work, CT scan, referral for biopsy not in network and a MRI. After the testing I saw the surgeon with the biopsy result of carcinoma with Her-2 positive grade 3 and positive for estrogen and progesterone. I met the oncologist with a treatment plan for six treatments of chemo one every 21 days with an immunoherapy shot of Herceptin at the same time. My chemotherapy started in December 2023 and ended in March 2024. I could go into details of the chemo side effects but they were standard side effects with many prescriptions to counteract them. I had to have two echocardiograms, one before the chemo started and one after 4 treatments because of possible effect on my heart from the chemo. I had blood pressure issues from the herpectin with it going very high and extra medication monitored by the oncologist to lower it before I could leave the clinic following my treatment.

Now I am on Herceptin immunotherapy only for a total of 13 shots , one every 21 days. I will be done with the immunotherapy shots in December. My copays have gone up and that is why I am asking for help through Gofundme. Because I have private insurance my premiums went from 260 euros to 320 euros which is about $348. The plan is for me to next have a lumpectomy. I had an MRI and am now waiting for the results to take to the surgeon on how the tumor responded to the chemo. The surgeon will then schedule the lumpectomy, and this will be followed by two weeks of radiation. During this time, I still have my herceptin shots every 21 days. My copays, starting In March went from 250 euros for each treatment whether chemo or the immunotherapy shots to 500 euros which is approximately $544. For months when I have two shots since it is every 21 days my copays are $1088 plus plus 100 euros for transportqtion and add the insurance premium for a total of $1544 per month medical.

I did receive some help initially from a family member but that has stopped. My immediate need is 750 Euros for the immunotherapy shots for May as I owe 250 from the shot earlier this month plus the second shot for May. Then I will owe 500 euros for the June shot due mid June. No payment then no treatment. If I have the lumpectomy in Portugal that month will be 500 euros for the shot and 500 euros for the surgery plus transportation of 100 euros. I am hoping I will be back in the USA for the lumpectomy, but it depends on the MRI results and how quickly my house sell here.

I really appreciate any help I can receive. The immunotherapy shots are critical, as before they were available, the prognosis for this type of breast cancer was not good as it is aggressive. There is even a book and move about this herceptin called Living Proof and based on the book Her-2. .thank you for any help you can give. I anticipate my need for help will be only a couple of months as my situation will greatly improve when I can access medical back back in the USA.