Niki Palmer VS Breast Cancer - Help me beat this!!

My name is Elizabeth (Niki) Palmer. A loving mother and wife; I never thought I’d find myself writing something like this after my 40th birthday, but here we are and it seems so unreal.

My husband found what he thought was a lump in my left breast in July 2023. I thought it was because my breast implants were just old so I put it on the back burner.

In August 2023, I thought I should get it looked at since I was only 39 and it was starting to concern me. When i finally got into my OBs office she verified I should have a mammogram done.

The fastest place I could get into was at HCA South Tampa , as a wife and mother I decided I should move forward with them in October 2023. They checked everything were very thorough. After my appointment, I spoke to the radiologist who requested I have a biopsy done immediately.

HCA sent something to my OB’s office so they could write a prescription for the biopsy, and it was a little pain to get back in, but I got back in and got my biopsy done November 22, 2023.

I waited till after Thanksgiving and didn’t hear a thing from HCA or my OB. I called and couldn’t get in touch with anyone at HCA and my OBs office hadn’t heard anything either, so I thought I was in the clear.

Soon after however; they suggested I check out my patient portal from HCA which I didn’t know I had, On January 9th, It said invasive ductal carcinoma; estrogen positive, progesterone negative, and her2 positive.

Once I googled the terms I realized that I have breast cancer.

Shortly, I sent my OBs office an email detailing everything in my patient portal so they would now know, because HCA never contacted them or I.

After that, I made an appointment with Moffitt with a few close friends help, and got in to do a few MRIs and to see a surgical and medical oncologist, who quickly had me do every scan under the sun and more biopsies.

Turns out not only do I have a tumor in my left breast, but I also have cancer in one lymph node under my left arm. In Addition, one lymph node under my right arm.

Because of this I’m considered stage 4, but since it’s localized, they are treating it like stage 3.

I will undergo chemotherapy once every 3 weeks for 6 times. A few weeks after my chemo treatments, I will undergo a full mastectomy, and they will take some lymph nodes under both arms. A few weeks after that I will undergo 5 weeks of radiation treatment. Then 6-9 months later I’ll be able to have reconstructive surgery. It’s looking like a very long process and it would be a lie to say that I have processed it all. I’m trying to keep my head held high and push through. If I beat this it will become a full mommy makeover and new hair. I always try to find the bright side of things.

At this point, I’ve been through 2 rounds of chemotherapy treatments with 4 more to go. I've just recently started losing all my hair. As heartbreaking as it was I decided to shave my head, which was very tough, but I know hair grows back and I’ll be stronger because of it to continue to take care of my family.

I’m a healthy 40 year old with 2 kids and a stepson that need me. I have a loving husband and a thriving career I love. I’m trying to do everything right and do exactly what my doctors recommend.

I feel like I’m in a fight for my life that I hope I win.

It’s very shocking because breast cancer doesn’t run on any side of my family and all the genetic markers were negative, so I was totally blindsided by all of this. This treatment plan demands my full attention and commitment for the next five years, with the next 7 months being particularly crucial as I focus on kicking cancers a*s.

It's do or die. Nothing else matters.

It's time to fight for my life and that is why I am posting this.

Sometimes we all need help and for me that time is now.

The financial devastation and emotional devastation to myself and my little family are what nightmares are made of. I cannot even put into words.

Nothing is cheap in this world anymore and when you throw in a Breast Cancer Diagnosis- then it's a real sh*t show. If you know me, you know I like to keep things real, but this is taking it to an entire new level.

Anything helps at this point.

How you can help? Listed below.

DONATE here to help me pay my medical bills and support my family over this next 7/8 month+ if you are able.

Please SHARE my gofund me link to your friends and family to raise awareness of my situation.

Please hug your loved ones a little tighter today and please please check your boobies, don’t wait!!

Thank you so much!

Im Forever Grateful,

Elizabeth (Niki) Palmer

(Future Breast Cancer Survivor)