McKenzie Cahill - Breast Cancer
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It’s crazy the way that life works and things happen that you never expect. It’s unbelievable that our country has been in the middle of a worldwide pandemic that has critically affected everyone and basically shut down the world! Even as surprising as that is, it is even more shocking that Ana and Brian Cahill‘s 22-year-old daughter McKenzie Cahill was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
Back in January McKenzie was having some pain in her breast and also had some discharge. Of course given her young age, her doctor told her that it was nothing to worry about and it was probably just irritation from her bra. After that initial appointment, the pain continued, but due to COVID-19 she was unable to get another appointment with her doctor until early June. She then had a mammogram and then a MRI which confirmed her diagnosis, ductal carcinoma. The cancer has been caught early and has not metastasized. Her team of doctors have recommended that she have a mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy due to the size of the tumor, and actually McKenzie has decided to have a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of the cancer returning. By having a double mastectomy she will not need radiation or chemo, and hopefully after a long, difficult recovery she will be 100% cancer free!
McKenzie graduated from Milford High School in 2015 and is a 2019 Framingham State College graduate. She currently works full-time for the Wellesley Public Schools and is a 10 month contract employee. Usually, she would be working for the schools summer program, but due to COVID-19 she is currently not earning income or able to apply for unemployment income due to her 10 month contract with the public school system.
Ana and I have been friends since Middle School West (now known as Stacey). We were both daughters of strict Portuguese parents. From that day on I knew that we would be friends forever. McKenzie was the first baby in our group of friends. She was the cutest baby with light blonde hair and big blue eyes! The complete opposite of Ana. McKenzie has grown up to be everything we want our daughters to be, loving, caring, confident, strong, independent, outspoken, loyal, and more than anything else, she has always maintained a very positive attitude.
McKenzie is schedule to have the double mastectomy on July 14, 2020. Both Ana and Brian will be taking time off to help care for McKenzie. She also has her sister Meghan and partner Zoe to help during her recovery. She also has a large extended family, friends, #TeamMara and this community as her support system!
In times like these, everyone wants to help but is not sure how or what to do. Since McKenzie’s diagnosis she has been going to appointment after appointment meeting with her team of doctors. She will have a number of medical bills including copays, deductibles and prescription costs. We would like to try to help alleviate as much of the financial burden as possible. As a young adult, she shouldn’t have to worry about paying doctors, hospitals or other medical bills. She shouldn’t be having a double mastectomy at 22, and she shouldn’t be one of the youngest patients at Dana Farber Cancer Center.
McKenzie will appreciate any amount that you contribute. This will let her focus on her treatment and recovery. You can also Venmo your donation to
@Ana-Cahill-1 or mail a donation or gift card to McKenzie Cahill, 5 Casey Dr., Milford, MA 01757.
We will keep all of you informed through this site. We know from past experience that we live in one of the most compassionate communities, and McKenzie is lucky to have all of you in her corner to support her, encourage her, and pray for her.
I want you all to know, she chose to have a double mastectomy, so now I leave you with McKenzie’s own words:
“Although I am upset and scared, I feel at peace with my decision and there is an odd feeling of empowerment in the ability to choose how I can proceed with treatment…Recovery is going to be hard but I have always believed that femininity is not tied to my breasts. Thus life goes on, breasts or not.”
#noonefightsalone
#teammac
#fckcancer
Back in January McKenzie was having some pain in her breast and also had some discharge. Of course given her young age, her doctor told her that it was nothing to worry about and it was probably just irritation from her bra. After that initial appointment, the pain continued, but due to COVID-19 she was unable to get another appointment with her doctor until early June. She then had a mammogram and then a MRI which confirmed her diagnosis, ductal carcinoma. The cancer has been caught early and has not metastasized. Her team of doctors have recommended that she have a mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy due to the size of the tumor, and actually McKenzie has decided to have a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of the cancer returning. By having a double mastectomy she will not need radiation or chemo, and hopefully after a long, difficult recovery she will be 100% cancer free!
McKenzie graduated from Milford High School in 2015 and is a 2019 Framingham State College graduate. She currently works full-time for the Wellesley Public Schools and is a 10 month contract employee. Usually, she would be working for the schools summer program, but due to COVID-19 she is currently not earning income or able to apply for unemployment income due to her 10 month contract with the public school system.
Ana and I have been friends since Middle School West (now known as Stacey). We were both daughters of strict Portuguese parents. From that day on I knew that we would be friends forever. McKenzie was the first baby in our group of friends. She was the cutest baby with light blonde hair and big blue eyes! The complete opposite of Ana. McKenzie has grown up to be everything we want our daughters to be, loving, caring, confident, strong, independent, outspoken, loyal, and more than anything else, she has always maintained a very positive attitude.
McKenzie is schedule to have the double mastectomy on July 14, 2020. Both Ana and Brian will be taking time off to help care for McKenzie. She also has her sister Meghan and partner Zoe to help during her recovery. She also has a large extended family, friends, #TeamMara and this community as her support system!
In times like these, everyone wants to help but is not sure how or what to do. Since McKenzie’s diagnosis she has been going to appointment after appointment meeting with her team of doctors. She will have a number of medical bills including copays, deductibles and prescription costs. We would like to try to help alleviate as much of the financial burden as possible. As a young adult, she shouldn’t have to worry about paying doctors, hospitals or other medical bills. She shouldn’t be having a double mastectomy at 22, and she shouldn’t be one of the youngest patients at Dana Farber Cancer Center.
McKenzie will appreciate any amount that you contribute. This will let her focus on her treatment and recovery. You can also Venmo your donation to
@Ana-Cahill-1 or mail a donation or gift card to McKenzie Cahill, 5 Casey Dr., Milford, MA 01757.
We will keep all of you informed through this site. We know from past experience that we live in one of the most compassionate communities, and McKenzie is lucky to have all of you in her corner to support her, encourage her, and pray for her.
I want you all to know, she chose to have a double mastectomy, so now I leave you with McKenzie’s own words:
“Although I am upset and scared, I feel at peace with my decision and there is an odd feeling of empowerment in the ability to choose how I can proceed with treatment…Recovery is going to be hard but I have always believed that femininity is not tied to my breasts. Thus life goes on, breasts or not.”
#noonefightsalone
#teammac
#fckcancer
Organizer
Suzette Ferreira
Organizer
Milford, MA