Lauren's Cancer is Costly Fund 2016

My story:
As most of you know, in 2013 at the age of 26, I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) , a rare cancer of the bone marrow and blood. CML is an acquired leukemia, resulting from a change in a person's DNA. This change results in an uncontrolled growth of white blood cells. CML is not a genetic disease, and the cause of the change in DNA is still unknown-- although some researchers believe it is due to exposure of a large dose of radiation at some point in the patient's life. CML is an incurable type of leukemia, with zero chance of a true remission. This means that I will unfortunately have cancer for the rest of my life.

While my family and I were devastated at this news, we were very grateful to discover that CML could be managed by a form of targeted oral chemotherapy. Prior to 2001, CML patients had a life expectancy of 3-5 years. In 2001, a drug called Gleevac, a Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) , would change the lives of many CML patients, allowing them to live relatively normal lives, with a comparable life expectancy of a healthy individual. Upon returning home after a total of a month's stay in the hospital, I was put on a daily dose of Tasigna, a stronger and more effective equivalent to Gleevac. In order to live, I will have to take Tasigna for the rest of my life, and even then, at any time, my body can develop a resistance or mutation that would not allow the medication to do its job. If I were to reach that point, the next step would be a bone marrow transplant, which typically results in countless months in the hospital, and a 50/50 survival rate. This very fact scares me to my core, every single day.


Why I am asking for your help:
While for the most part, being on a TKI has allowed me to live many days even forgetting I am sick, there are a variety of nasty side effects that undoubtedly affect my quality of life, as well as the cost of the drugs- roughly 12k for a monthly supply. Ironically, if I do not take this medication, I will not live. Not much of a choice, huh? :) Luckily, I have been blessed for now to receive help paying for this medication, but this program does not help with any other cancer-related costs. My biggest financial burden, especially as a young woman who just started her "career" a year and a half ago, has been the plethora of visits to my oncologist- who although is AMAZING, is very costly. My appointments occur about every 3 months, and even AFTER insurance, cost an estimated $1,000 or more per visit, for the many blood tests and routine lab work that has to be done to make sure the cancer is at bay. God-forbid if something major were to happen, or if I were to admitted back to the hospital...... Needless to say, the financial strain that my family and I have endured has been overwhelming- and with my next appointment approaching in February (and the new set of bills it will incur), it feels like we are never going to be able to catch up and breathe.

The first two years after my diagnosis, I became very active in fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, raising thousands of dollars and participating in their annual charity walks. Our team, "Balthrop's Blood Busters", was one of the top fundraising teams in the Metro Detroit Chapter of LLS. During these two years of actively fundraising, I also applied each year for their Patient Assistance Program; one year being denied because I had a job and health insurance, and the next year being granted $7,500 for help with my medical bills to be told a week later that they were out of available funds for CML patients specifically. Besides LLS, and one other available grant that I was denied for due to already having medical insurance, a financial assistance program or fund for CML patients does not exist. After working very hard to raise money in hopes that not only would it help fund new discoveries in blood cancer research, but also help provide patients, like myself, with the financial support they so desperately needed, it was discouraging and angering to find out that assistance for CML patients was non-existent. It was then that I decided to stop fundraising in the traditional form, and take my own approach.


How you can help:
Cancer isn't cheap- and it truly is sad that not only are we given a life-threatening and incurable disease for the rest of our lives, but are also put into crippling debt just trying to stay alive. I have decided to set up this GoFundMe page in hopes that my dear friends and family can help- in any way you are able. I will post and promote this page once a year in September, in honor of Leukemia Awareness Month, using all funds toward my doctor's bills, medicinal costs, and other cancer-related expenses for the year. This money will also be put aside as a "safety net" in case things start going south- such as hospital admittances, bone marrow biopsies, or additional tests needed if my body were to stop responding to my TKI. 

I know many of you have asked me "How can I help?" or have been wondering if I will be fundraising this year like I have in the past.... THIS is how you can help, because, as my page clearly explains, cancer is extremely COSTLY! Any amount is more than appreciated and such an incredible blessing. Please also feel free to share this page so we can spread the word to others, and of course, say a prayer. :) From the bottom of my heart, I am so thankful for each & every person who has been along-side me in this journey. Together- let's find a cure!

THANK YOU for donating towards my medical bills, so I can focus on my healing and treatment! God Bless.