Rare Breast Cancer Turns Rare Brain Tumor

Aanii Boozhoo! My name is Krystina John and over the last year, I've been battling a rare agressive breast cancer. I was diagnosed June 2022 at 34 years old. I started Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy July 2022. I had a double mastectomy in January 2023. I completed radiation in April 2023, and began additional Chemotherapy the same month and will be on until the end of this year. Well...pending further treatment.

Yesterday, July 24, 2023, I was diagnosed with metastatic brain cancer and I have surgery this Friday to remove a 3.5 cm tumor, who ive named Dingo. To be honest, I'm scared. I consider myself a strong person, but that doesn't mean I'm not allowed to be scared.

On June 26, 2023, I met with my oncologist on a routine visit and I mentioned a headache. Dr. Kier said to call if I ever had a headache that didn't go away with medication. The next week, I called and made an appointment for a headache. I met with the physician assistant who advised me to drink caffeine. She said if that didn't work over the next few days so go to urgent care. She did submit for MRI testing tho. The next weekend, I went to urgent care where they gave me a beefed up IBprohen shot which relieved the headache but only for a few hours. Last week, I had headaches every other day that had me laid up in bed all day. But the next day I was completely fine. Finally, Saturday night into Sunday morning, I woke up several time throughout the night with a sensation if falling and dry heaving. Sunday morning, I headed to the ER, had a CT, and was told of the met tumor. I was scheduled to have my original MRI for Tuesday night so technically we would've found it two days later, but still, I don't think I would've made it another 2 days with headaches, the wobbles, and the falling in my sleep.

This is definitely unexpected as I'm told that doctors don't usually see metastatic brain cancer from breast cancer any more with the latest cancer treatments. We are unsure of what the recovery process will look like or how many radiation treatments and physical therapy will be needed.

During this challenging rare aggressive breast cancer journey, I haven't been able to work, bring in any income, have been denied disability, and the amazing IRS has decided to hold my tax refund hostage for the last 6 months with no indication of when they will release it.

A little bit about my financial responsibility. I was lucky enough to have paid off $75,000 debt over the course of 30 months working 4 jobs in 2017, 2018, and 2019. I saved up to buy my first new to me car in 2020. After that, I saved up a 6 month emergency fund. In looking back now, I'm very grateful for the decisions I made to prepare for the unknown.

I've managed to stretch out my 6 month emergency fund over the past 12 months but my financial situation has come to a head and put me in a fiscal vulnerable position where I am unable to provide for me and my daughter in the near future. I have roughly $500 combined in my accounts, which i could probably stretch out again, and am humbly requesting asistance from the communities that I am part of. Please believe me when I say that I wouldn't be asking for help if it wasn't necessary.

I'm a local Traverse City community member, a tribal community member, a Harvard student, and a single mother to a beautiful daughter.

I enjoy Paddleboarding, watching historically dramatized movies, coppecting old pennies, participating in local 5K charity runs, crafting anything I can get my paws on, and will most likely be the one (jokingly/not jokingly) steal anyone's dog/puppy/fur baby. Seriously, the first thing I say to any pet is, "I'm your new mom, call me mom."

All funds with help with medical bills, basic home bills, everyday living expenses, and any unexpected expenses during the recovery process. Trust me when I say it's been a long journey juggling and managing financially on my own. I appreciate any help that anyone can give.

I'm truly happy to report that I have an amazing emotional support system and I'm incredibly grateful for all that they do. I've managed to keep my hopes up and will continue to do so as I am still a loyal friend, a goofy sister, a loving daughter, but most importantly, a proud mother. I can only imagine how my teenage daughter is handling all of this but I raised her to be strong, resilient, and fierce. Im not fighting this cancer for myself, I'm fighting for her.

Again, thank you and chi miigwetch in advance for all off the help and good vibes that are being sent my way.

Also, if you know me personally, please feel free to reach out and offer some good vibes as you all know I love to laugh. I'm definitely trying to make light of the siuation but would love some words of strength as well. Please include overachiever jokes. Who knew I could top Harvard? Really? Rare breast cancer? Then brain cancer? Yup, that's me.

-Krystina John

Me and Ace at TC Zombie Run.

Me and Ace at pow wow.

First Breast Cancer appointment.

Progress picture of 90% hair loss.

Excited to get Harvard Student ID.

Last Chemotherapy treatment! (Or so I thought...)

First day of chemotherapy.

Another pic of me and Ace.

Me at a pow wow.

MRI of Dingo (what I decided to name the brain tumor). He is in a good spot for surgery. Fingers crossed all goes well.