Help Ursula Fight A Costly Cancer Diagnosis

My name is Ursula Hodges. I am a wife, a student, a mother to three wonderful boys, and a grandmother to three amazing grandchildren. I have been diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (breast cancer). Throughout my career in the emergency medical field, I answered many people's calls in their darkest hours, and now I am asking you to answer mine.

I am sorry we must meet this way, but I desperately need financial and emotional support. I have exhausted all my means.

My Breast Cancer Journey

After receiving a routine mammogram in May 2022, a spot was found on my right breast. After a biopsy, I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ER/PR positive and HER2-nu negative, which only means that I did not need chemotherapy before surgery and will need extensive hormone therapy after my chemo and radiation treatments end.

Since then, I have undergone multiple biopsies, including lymph nodes, MRIs, CAT scans, bone scans, two lumpectomies (they did not get all of the cancer the first time), lymphadenectomy (removal of lymph nodes) x5, multiple aspirations of multiple seromas (complication from surgery), and a port a cath placement. My chemo regime consists of three different chemo drugs that are given every three weeks, and this regimen will last for six months. After chemo is completed, I will begin radiation every day for the next six weeks. Then I will go on hormone therapy for the next ten years.

Due to complications of my chemo treatment and my pre-existing heart conditions, I have also undergone a heart catheterization that resulted in two stents placed in a major vessel in my heart. Due to this, I will have to begin cardiac rehabilitation, consisting of 3 days a week on top of my chemo treatments.

Since this has begun, my medical bills have already reached over $100,000, including just two chemo treatments. I have health insurance, but it has only paid so much, and with all the co-payments, my credit cards have been maxed out, and our monthly bills and living expenses are starting to suffer. I have even had to cancel treatments because I could not afford the costs of the co-payments.

If requested, I will answer any questions or concerns or show proof of bills.

As a cancer diagnosis becomes a family diagnosis with all the uncertainties that it brings, I hate that my diagnosis and treatment are becoming a burden to my family due to its finances. My family is starting to have to make sacrifices that affect their daily life, and it hurts me deeply. Please help me alleviate some of the burdens on my family, so they may not have to continue to suffer my costly cancer diagnosis.

Sincerely,

Ursula Hodges