Ashton needs your help fighting rare cancer

Hi all, for those who do not know me I am Ashton, 38 years old, and a single parent. I reside in the country of Madera County, Calif. I was diagnosed over three years ago with Stage IV Adenocarcinoma of an unknow primary. That was in March of 2021. This is a rare diagnosis. In the month of May 2023, I had the most high-risk biopsy ever performed in my cancer journey this far. On a new mass. I had less than an 8% chance of walking away from the biopsy as they had to thread three major blood vessels. This biopsy was successful. We did obtain my primary despite Stanford saying this would never happen. The cancer that was identified has only been around sense 2003. In the world journal of clinical cases an article stated that in March of 2021 there were only sixteen documented cases ever (that is on a worldwide scale) The cancer they found is Thymic Adenocarcinoma Enteric type stage IVB. Stanford has been treating me under a Gastric Adenocarcinoma umbrella.

Going forward with this news is challenging. As I was hoping for immunotherapy, trials, Studies, or targeted treatment plan. I have been on a rainbow of chemotherapy. There is no oncologist that specializes in this cancer. I will be under a lung oncologist at COH. We sent the biopsy out for molecular testing so far; no mutations have been found as it has a poor DNA & RNA. This is not good as we need mutations for trials, studies, and other targeted pathways. COH has sent it out to a third-party testing facility to see if they can obtain any mutations off the samples despite the lack of DNA & RNA in the sample. Down fall to this lab testing is it is not covered by insurances. Still waiting for results.

Our plan as of now is back to radiation. I will start SBRT/ SABR radiation or Stereotactic body radiation therapy next month. We will be hitting two areas as there is a suspicious spot in my abdomen wrapping around my Celiac artery. For those who do not know that artery, it is the vessel that feeds blood to all your abdominal organs, so it is a vital artery. All my tumors seem to like to wrap around major blood vessels. Main tumor is wrapping around the heart and aortic arch, left carotid artery and now the celiac. As for chemo and what the future brings this is all still up in the air. My new oncologist is looking to find any other doctors that have had any successful experiences treating this particular type of cancer. The positive side is that I am not the typical patient with this disease. Meaning I have surpassed the expiration date associated with the diagnoses and am in a much better quality of life than past patients. Meaning I am not on hospice nor am I maxed out at my toxicity level. Looking at a thymoma approach as that is the family I am under; I just got the unicorn strain.

In the meantime, I am behind on my bills. It has been such a struggle getting through the past 27 months. Yes, I have remained on active treatment this whole entire time, from six biopsies, multiple heart procedures, been on over twelve different chemo’s, thirty-one rounds of radiation and more. It would not have been possible without the support of all of you! We are beyond grateful and appreciate every single one of you so much! I have gone dormant due to my stalkers who only want the worst outcome to occur and are still attacking me in court. My child’s wellbeing and protection are just as important to me as beating and or managing this cancer for years to come. While in radiation I will have to provide my own food. This time cancer housing is provided by insurance. I am utilizing angel flights to go to the new hospital COH. I still drive to Stanford. I have written to Newsome and my local congressperson as there is no aid for such rare illness or anything for cancer in Madera County and a lack of aid in Cali in general. I have utilized as many resources as I could, but they are all short-term fixes and usually once in a lifetime aid. We have our dream vacation coming up this Aug and yes, most of this trip is covered by the Dream Foundation, I still have to have some money for food and what not. They provide as much as they possibly can like plane tickets, Car rental, hotel or Airbnb, and 1 or 2 paid events depending on all the money that is raised for my Dream. If anyone is interested in donating directly to the Dream foundation (there are tax benefits) please reach out to me for details or call, ask for Rebecca at [phone redacted].

What my daughter and I are asking for in the amount listed is so I can catch up on behind rent (my property owners have paid my PG&E sense June of 2021. They are a blessing and understand my situation as one of them has had four different cancers. They have not increased my rent and do not charge me late fees), pay a few months in advance so I can really focus of healing with minimal stress why looking for a job to work around my illness, basic needs like car expense, Phone, Gas (both propane and car), Child care so I can return to some form of work once we figure out my treatment plan ( I am on a county aid waitlist). I know we have asked for so much and it has been hard times for all and for that I do apologize. I am back in school. I will be looking at trying to host another fundraiser and am looking at starting a 501C to help other rare cancer fighters across our nation sense we are left out of funding, resources, studies to help understand and beat these cancers. The profit over people is an unacceptable attitude for the FDA and medical world to have.

With all our Hearts, we Thank you! From both Arlyn and I.