Help me with my battle against Stage 4 cancer

Hello all. My name is Sheila, and I’ve created this campaign for myself due to my recent medical diagnosis and the aftermath it has caused.

In August 2023, after experiencing abdominal pain and pressure across my chest, I had an ultrasound and the results were listed as “WORRISOME METASTATIC DISEASE”. A liver biopsy was scheduled and performed on August 28, 2023, and the results a revealed that I had Stage 4 colon cancer that had metastasized to my liver and lungs, meaning that I have cancer in my blood. The colonoscopy and scans I have had showed that the tumor in my colon was 3cm, there were small nodules of cancer on my lungs, and half of my liver was covered in tumors. My blood work showed my cancer markers -- CEA and CA 19-9 -- at 4496 and 10k+ respectively. I was 46 years old at the time of my diagnosis.

 I started chemotherapy treatments in mid September 2023. In order to receive my chemotherapy, a patient needs to have either of these installed: a PICC line (a tube that's surgically inserted in a vein in the arm that goes all the way to one of the top chambers of the heart), or a port (a small triangle shaped device roughly the size of a quarter) surgically placed in the my chest. I've had both at different times since being diagnosed.

The side effects from the chemotherapy have ranged from painful numbing reactions to anything cold, including the feeling of jaw pain and the sensation of my throat constricting which affected my nerves and muscles, and it has triggered severe neuropathy where my fingertips and soles of my feet are extremely numb, making walking and my balance very difficult. I now have to use either a cane, walker, or wheelchair to be able to get around. The side effects also include abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness, and extreme weakness. It's a similar feeling to having atrophy -- I have hardly any energy or strength in my lower extremities.

 In April 2024, I had to have emergency surgery when a section of my large intestines suddenly ruptured due to diverticulitis, and put me in the beginning stages of sepsis. I spent a week in the hospital, and I now have a colostomy bag as a result. Due to the severity of my cancer, it is highly unlikely that my intestines will be able to be reconnected.

A few months later, after experiencing pain and discomfort with my PICC line, an ultrasound discovered that I had 4 blood clots: 2 in my left arm, and 2 in my neck and chest area. I now have to administer blood thinner injections every 12 hours. I have since had the PICC line removed and a new port surgically installed in the right side of my chest to avoid any possible complications.

These medical issues have greatly increased the amount of days I’m at the hospital weekly and has made securing any employment impossible since I'm unable to adhere to a set schedule. I applied for Social Security disability benefits in September 2023, which took five months to be approved, and I receive less than half of what I made when I was able to work. Not having an income during those 5 months has put me in debt with my creditors to the tune of $15,000 with no ability to catch up.

My chemo treatments were going well with my cancer marker numbers nearing what is considered 'normal' (normal levels are CEA at 5, CA19-9 at 35); my last blood test done on March 31 showed they were CEA at 16.5 and CA 19-9 at 46, which is an amazing decrease from where they were when I started in September 2023. That same day I had a PET scan, which is a full body scan similar to a CT scan. On April 2 I completed my 40th chemo treatment, and received my PET scan results on April 11. Unfortunately the scan showed that the tumors on my liver and in my lungs have spread in those areas, meaning that my cancer has mutated to the point that the chemo medications I was receiving are no longer working.

 On April 28, I had another biopsy, this time from my right lung. It was performed through my back, and was a bit painful. I have been unable to have chemo going on a little over a month now, which has caused my cancer markers to increase: 16.5 to 37.4, and 46 to 76. As of May 5, I'm still waiting for the results, and hope I'll be able to continue treatment soon.

Thank you for taking the time to read my campaign. Any donation is greatly appreciated. ☺️