JoAnna's (Cancer) Journey

Hello,  We  started a Go Fund Me for JoAnna Maria Kummer, my daughter. JoAnna is only 28 years old.  She was just recently

diagnosed with invasive ductile carcinoma breast cancer with ER+, PR+, HER2+, which has metastasized to the lymph nodes. The primary tumor in her breast is very large and involves all 4 quadrants of the breast. This is a very aggressive type of breast cancer but still very treatable.

The road ahead will be long and hard. JoAnna is strong however, having been born almost two months early; spending three and a half weeks in the NICU but having no defects from her early beginning. But life has not always been kind either, later being diagnosed at the age of 13 with Schwannomatosis; a rare genetic disorder that results in non-cancerous tumors (called schwannomas) that grow on the peripheral nerves throughout the body.

 

The past months have been filled with a progression of tests; from mammogram, ultrasound, to biopsy, CT scans, MRI,

whole body bone density, and blood draws. Many Doctor appointments; seeing various specialist have become the norm. Her Oncologist appointments, along with her own frightening research, have put "some" clarity to the shock which has happened. 

 

JoAnna  recently had her "port" implanted at Loyola Medical Center and  began her chemotherapy infusions two days after Christmas. This will be the first round with an aggressive treatment plan of four "Chemo" drugs. This first round will last four months. Surgery and radiation will follow. Another round of "chemo" infusions, each with two drugs will last about a year after that. Five to ten years of hormone therapy then follows. Hormone therapy is an estrogen blocker that will put her through early menopause and she will never be able to have kids.

 

JoAnna is proud to be a Bartender/Server at Falco’s Pizza in Burr Ridge Illinois. She had found her niche in a Family owned business. She was happy in life doing her own thing and enjoying time with her many friends. That life is now upended, and the overwhelming nature of her diagnosis and treatment  makes it too difficult to work. She had to say goodbye to her work family  just before starting "chemo".

 

We started this Go Fund me for JoAnna, to help with life's many future expenses, as she travels on this long journey. We hope you will support her. Thank You!