Help Sheri survive the financial impact of cancer
Donation protected
Hi Friends,
As some of you know, I am currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer. This is the second cancer I have faced in the last three years. Two and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with and treated for a rare form of cancer called ocular melanoma (OM). I received surgery, radiation, and holistic treatment, and continue with ongoing surveillance in Philadelphia. My prognosis from this cancer continues to be promising.
This past November, I received an initial diagnosis of a very aggressive type of breast cancer thankfully in the early stage and treatable. In early December, I had a bilateral mastectomy in Boston. Post-surgery pathology found seven tumors presenting two types of cancers with vascular involvement, including the comforting news that the lymph nodes were cancer-free. I am now the midst of 12 weekly chemotherapy treatments, which will be followed by nine more months of non-chemo drug infusions and a hormone blocker for the next 5-10 years with potentially impactful side effects.
Immediately following the breast cancer diagnosis, I took out a loan and applied for and received a few grants but it soon became clear that this would not be nearly enough to cover the expense of this diagnosis. Now, as these first chemo treatments are behind me and as expenses are building, I’m looking beyond my health concerns and have come to a point of reconciliation for the need to ask for financial help.
Throughout my adult life, I’ve sought to be and self-identified as financially independent. Prior to experiencing cancer, I didn’t question my ability to provide for my family as a sole parent. Since cancer, I’ve learned to embrace physical and emotional vulnerability, yet the financial vulnerability feels so unsettling that it rivals my anguish over the cancer, itself. The implications of not being fiscally independent are deep-rooted and leave me feeling less than whole. In contrast, I feel great buoyancy as a result of the generous and gracious levels of holding of my community.
As difficult as it is for me to ask for money, self-authoring this GoFundMe provides the means of facing this discomfort head on. I do see a time when I will be back on my feet again financially. I invite anyone to consider the option of offering a loan OR a gift – with much hope that I will pay back loans within one to three years.
Thank you so much for considering!
Contributions will support:
Lost wages during:
$5,785 - Pre- and post-surgery
$9,389 - 12 weeks of chemotherapy treatment and its recovery (working some)
$3,252 - 9 months of Herceptin infusion treatment (1 work day every 3 weeks)
$2,502 - Hormone blocker medication adjustment to side- effect profile (est. 2 weeks)
$5,480 - Routine treatments and therapies (including acupuncture, lymphatic message, mental, PT)
$2,001 - Bi-annual eye cancer surveillance in Philadelphia
$28,410 Total est. lost wages, plus
Medical expenses not covered by insurance:
$3,300 - Prescribed supplements
$2,282 - Copays for routine treatments and therapies (including acupuncture, lymphatic message, mental, PT)
$ 500 - “Cold cap” treatment that increases the chances of keeping my hair or not requiring a wig (net of $1,700 in grants)
$ 6,082 Total est. medical expenses, and
$ 2,087 Total est. travel to treatments and appointments expenses
These costs are netted against very limited paid sick time and grants pursued and received.
As some of you know, I am currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer. This is the second cancer I have faced in the last three years. Two and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with and treated for a rare form of cancer called ocular melanoma (OM). I received surgery, radiation, and holistic treatment, and continue with ongoing surveillance in Philadelphia. My prognosis from this cancer continues to be promising.
This past November, I received an initial diagnosis of a very aggressive type of breast cancer thankfully in the early stage and treatable. In early December, I had a bilateral mastectomy in Boston. Post-surgery pathology found seven tumors presenting two types of cancers with vascular involvement, including the comforting news that the lymph nodes were cancer-free. I am now the midst of 12 weekly chemotherapy treatments, which will be followed by nine more months of non-chemo drug infusions and a hormone blocker for the next 5-10 years with potentially impactful side effects.
Immediately following the breast cancer diagnosis, I took out a loan and applied for and received a few grants but it soon became clear that this would not be nearly enough to cover the expense of this diagnosis. Now, as these first chemo treatments are behind me and as expenses are building, I’m looking beyond my health concerns and have come to a point of reconciliation for the need to ask for financial help.
Throughout my adult life, I’ve sought to be and self-identified as financially independent. Prior to experiencing cancer, I didn’t question my ability to provide for my family as a sole parent. Since cancer, I’ve learned to embrace physical and emotional vulnerability, yet the financial vulnerability feels so unsettling that it rivals my anguish over the cancer, itself. The implications of not being fiscally independent are deep-rooted and leave me feeling less than whole. In contrast, I feel great buoyancy as a result of the generous and gracious levels of holding of my community.
As difficult as it is for me to ask for money, self-authoring this GoFundMe provides the means of facing this discomfort head on. I do see a time when I will be back on my feet again financially. I invite anyone to consider the option of offering a loan OR a gift – with much hope that I will pay back loans within one to three years.
Thank you so much for considering!
Contributions will support:
Lost wages during:
$5,785 - Pre- and post-surgery
$9,389 - 12 weeks of chemotherapy treatment and its recovery (working some)
$3,252 - 9 months of Herceptin infusion treatment (1 work day every 3 weeks)
$2,502 - Hormone blocker medication adjustment to side- effect profile (est. 2 weeks)
$5,480 - Routine treatments and therapies (including acupuncture, lymphatic message, mental, PT)
$2,001 - Bi-annual eye cancer surveillance in Philadelphia
$28,410 Total est. lost wages, plus
Medical expenses not covered by insurance:
$3,300 - Prescribed supplements
$2,282 - Copays for routine treatments and therapies (including acupuncture, lymphatic message, mental, PT)
$ 500 - “Cold cap” treatment that increases the chances of keeping my hair or not requiring a wig (net of $1,700 in grants)
$ 6,082 Total est. medical expenses, and
$ 2,087 Total est. travel to treatments and appointments expenses
These costs are netted against very limited paid sick time and grants pursued and received.
Organizer
Sheri Rockcastle
Organizer
Montpelier, VT