Help Michelle Get the Right Tests & Treatments

Alex here with an update for everyone.

The last few months have been exhausting. Michelle's cancer is recurrence and she has been tenacious in her research to kill the cancer. The last fundraising push helped us cover some hefty bills and words cannot fully express how grateful we are for all your support. Here's a snapshot of what has happened and what your money has gone towards.

We went to Commonweal Cancer Retreat outside Bolinas, California in May. It was the perfect time for us to disappear for a week. We spent a week with 6 other participants for a total of 8 people (6 with cancer and 2 caregivers). Commonweal has been doing this for close to 40 years so it is a well oiled machine. Our group bonded really quick; shared experiences can do that. We were able to get some much needed rest as well as process a lot of emotions and thoughts that have been accumulating for the past two years. Time stood still and it was difficult leaving that sanctuary. We strongly recommend Commonweal for anyone who has had cancer, currently has cancer, or a caregiver.

The big thing for me coming out of Commonweal is admitting that I am burnt out and need to take better care of myself so I can be more available for Michelle. I looked for a caregiver support group and found Caregivers Alberta and have registered for sessions. I have some leads for counseling that I will also be pursuing. I will also be going on a leave of absence from work. This will reduce my stress load and give me more opportunity for self-care and rest. My sleeping has been abysmal; stress can do that to a person.

Donations have also gone to consults and pathology tests. These test results have allowed experts in the field to have a better understanding of what is going on inside Michelle and what the next best steps are. Michelle has really come into her own with all the research she is doing. There is no way I would have the memory retention or drive to do the amount of research that she has done.

Michelle has settled on an oncology clinic in Seattle. She felt good coming out of that consult and asked a couple of people on our care team their opinion and they agreed with Michelle- this is the place to continue care. This means there's a lot to get done in a short amount of time.

Michelle needs a port installed and we do not know when that is going to happen. Fingers crossed in the next four weeks because time is of the essence. She had a PET scan last week and we will be going over the results with an oncologist this week. Her cancer marker is going up, she is feeling more pain in her abdomen, and she is starting to feel nauseous. This is what happened two years ago before her surgery. We do not have time on our side and need to start these low dose chemo treatments as soon as possible.

The plan is to stay in Canada and to commute over the border on chemo days in Seattle. We are hoping to have a place to stay in lower mainland BC by the end of June. If you know of someone who has a suite available in Langley, Surrey, or White Rock and is willing to let us stay for free or pennies on the dollar please let us know. Our other option is to fly to Seattle once a week for a couple of nights. If you have Air Miles you are willing to donate we will gladly receive them. Michelle will be doing low dose chemo for 9-12 months so that gives you the time frame we are working with.

Please keep sharing our GoFundMe with your social networks. Who knows where it will land. The chemotherapy will costs approximately $1000 USD a week. We are estimating $52-55K USD for chemo treatments alone. We plan on continuing with the integrative treatments on top of this. the fact that Michelle has been doing as well as she has for this long shows that there is value with the integrative. We have been dependent on financial assistance for Michelle to continue these treatments and are grateful for the help we have received so far.

Hello, Amazing Supporters!

**April 13, 2023 UPDATE (from Alex)**

Thank you for your kindness and generosity. It is humbling to see the number of people rallying around Michelle & me. We need the village to come out on top. Michelle is stubborn and tenacious and will come out on top of this.

In the past 24 hours, approximately $5000 has been donated. This will help cover the cost of the Commonweal Cancer Help Retreat based out of San Francisco. We have been waiting for over a year to hear back and the timing could not have been better with the news that the cancer is recurring.

The next goal is $10,000 to go towards mutation expression testing. This will help us determine what treatments are and are not effective against Michelle's rare and complex cancer. Please continue to spread the word and share with your circles. I have no doubt that the unlikeliest of people will join us.

Again, thank you for your support. We are humbled and truly gracious for this help.

Post from April 12, 2023:

I have decided to pursue Commonweal (the cancer help retreat centre in California). I am hoping to raise funds for this retreat that Alex and I will attend together. The cost will total $4700 Canadian. The dates are May 8-14. For now, this is my goal for the GoFundMe. Thank you for journeying together with us! Please see the link below to see what Commonweal offers.

https://cancerhelpprogram.org/

Love Michelle and Alex

PS. Below is the update I posted to my private page on Facebook. It gives you the gist of the battle I'm in right now, and why we need this breather so badly. xo

April 2023 (from Michelle)

"I will not die but live, and declare what God has done!" (Ps 118)

This is my birthday month! On April 16 I’m turning 44. And I am envisioning living for many, many more years. But I need you to know that I am fighting and working harder than ever before.

I’m planning my birthday party, but bigger than that, I am working hard to save my life…

On March 24, the oncologist called to tell me that they see cancer on my peritoneal wall and one nodule about 2 cm (***note: this would be classified as recurrence, not spreading. This was where I had cancer before), and that they recommend doing the exact same chemo treatment I did the first time. You can only do 2 cycles of this chemo in a lifetime because it is toxic to all of your body, not just the cancer cells (which is how traditional chemo works).

Standard chemo DOES NOT "cure" my type of cancer, but it is all that is “approved” within our system. They have told me this themselves. Technically I do not have a medically curable cancer (but I am going to overcome it!). This is where I step in and have to advocate, research, and consult for my special situation ALL THE TIME. (Currently researching options in the States, which will cost over $100,000 American.)

She suggested doing further genetic/mutation testing, but this is not covered here in Canada and costs between $6,000- $10,000. The amount of overwhelm that I feel being told this cancer news, but also being slammed with financial costs is unreal.

There are not enough studies on my clear cell cancer, therefore are no approved targeted drugs within the Canadian system. I WILL NOT be doing what they recommend, because they do not treat me with the goal of long life, but giving me another year or two (if the chemo even works at all). Doing what they say gives me a 10% chance of making it to 5 years. Not good enough. The standard of care doesn’t work for me. It has been the standard of “uncare” really. Nobody cares more about your health than you. I have learned that I have to fight. This is why God made me stubborn ;)

I spend hours researching and working hard to find a way. Here are some things I have pursued within the past 2 weeks:

THE FIRST UPDATE

Hi everyone! We’d like you to meet our friends Alex and Michelle. Michelle is an amazing Language Arts teacher in Edmonton Public School and Alex works as a Community Peace officer at the University of Alberta Hospital. We’d love it if you'd consider reading about Michelle’s health journey and join the team in supporting her healing process.

 

 

 

In mid-May of 2020, upon the discovery of a large growth on her right ovary, our friend Michelle was diagnosed with cancer. By the time of her surgery at the end of June, the cancer had spread throughout the abdominal area. At that time, Michelle was specifically diagnosed with a rare endometriosis-associated ovarian clear cell 3C cancer.

 

Because the diagnosis of this particular type of cancer is complicated, it is essential that Michelle incorporate integrative support therapies along with the conventional platinum-based chemotherapy.

 

Since her diagnosis, Michelle has spent countless hours reading and researching scientifically based-and-proven supportive therapies that many people with cancer use to help improve the efficacy of their conventional treatments.

 

Paying for these treatments is expensive. However, Michelle has seen immense positive results from the many integrative therapies she is participating in. This is why we are raising money to support Michelle and Alex.

 

 

What we are raising money for:

 

Michelle visits her naturopathic clinic that specializes in cancer treatment, Optimum Health, three times a week. Each week of treatment can cost between $600-1000. For more information go to https://optimumwellnessclinic.ca

Some treatment plans include:

Mistletoe therapy

High dose Vitamin C

Artesunate

Alpha lipoic acid IVs

Hypertherapy

Supplementations

Remission nutrition

 

Monthly bills for integrative treatments cost $5000-8000.

Because the cost is so high, it limits the amount of time Michelle is able to access the clinic. Ideally, she would like to access the clinic for more than two treatments a week.

Michelle has connected with another integrative naturopathic clinic in BC that can offer her even more directed integrative treatments for her specific cancer. These treatments are research based, supported by many medical staff, and are only offered in BC, as Alberta does not have the same permissions to offer them. Travelling to BC and the cost of these treatments would significantly add to the monthly cost Michelle and Alex are already facing.

 

Both Michelle and Alex have a large journey ahead of them. They continue to tackle this cancer head on and are daily putting in the work to overcome the diagnoses and statistics laid before them. We continue to ask God to provide for their needs and walk beside them every day. We know He is a good God and we are thankful for each person and family that would choose to donate any funding towards this journey. Thank you for taking the time to consider supporting our Go Fund Me!