Help Rhea Williams' Fight To Keep Cancer in Remission

Hello, My name is Rhea Williams. On March 20th, 2023, I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. From that moment, my world changed forever and I've been fighting for my life ever since. In addition, my 17 year relationship dissolved. My partner was non present during the hardest time of my life. Ultimately, I had to leave an unhealthy, unsupportive relationship. To make matters even harder, my disability benefits have been recently suspended. Yet, my bills continue to grow, which creates a financial hardship and burden. The disability payments were funding my health insurance premiums, hospital bills, and living expenses. Your kind support, big or small will be greatly appreciated. The funds donated will be used to pay medical bills, health insurance, and living expenses.

Thank you so much in advance for your kind contribution.

My journey started in March of 2023. I finally mustered up the courage to face my fears and find out what this lump was in my breast that was causing me so much pain. After countless phone calls and google searches, I found a PCP nearby who had great reviews and an open appointment within the week. What luck! On that cold, rainy Saturday morning my brain was racing with countless thoughts. "What if it's the C word? It can't be the C word. Lord, please dont let it be the C word. 'They say' the C word doesn't hurt and my breast hurts so surely it can't be that" I told myself. I walked into the doctor's examination room with all the bravery I had in me and put on a faint smile. But the doctor took one look at my misshapen breast and by her reaction, in my mind, in my heart, I knew it was the C word. She was very professional and performed the exam, like normal. Then, she rushed to the phone to make an immediate appointment with a nearby hospital in order for me to get a mammogram and subsequent biopsy that week. Everything was happening so quickly. Very soon after, my life became a barrage of phone calls, emails, and voice messages. Endless appointments, endless tests. Questions about fertility preservation and IVF costs. My world was turned upside down. I went from a 9-5 tax accountant working in a cubicle to a full time cancer patient sitting in a hospital chair.

The first step was fertility preservation, then I underwent 12 rounds of TCHP chemotherapy. Next, after a few weeks of recovery, I had my first surgery in September, a lumpectomy. However, since there were live cancer cells still in my breast tissue, I went back to the surgeon table in November to do a complete removal of my breast. Then, in November I started another series of chemotherapy treatments called kadcyla. This time the magic number was 14! 14 rounds, given every 3 weeks. January and February of 2024 hosted my 25 rounds of radiation. My fight is ongoing as I continue to receive medical care. I have an upcoming surgery in February which will be the last leg of my journey. I pray to God that my cancer remains in remission so that I can have a second chance at life. Thanks for taking the time to read my story. If you cannot donate at this time, kindly share my story to your friends and loved ones.