Support Janet's Fight Against Metastatic Cancer

This Go Fund Me is to help Janet DuRant Thomas with expenses involved in fighting metastatic breast cancer. We hope to raise $25,000 to pay for non-covered medications and legal guidance for end of life matters, especially concerning her adult special needs daughter, Tori.

Six years ago, in 2018, my sister Janet was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Metastatic means it had already spread to other areas, like the spine and most recently, the liver. Because of this, they do not perform mastectomies on patients like Janet. Newer hormone receptor therapy pills and chemotherapy pills are the most current treatment, with radiation in certain areas when necessary. The amount of pills she has taken in the past six years is phenomenal. Also phenomenal? The cost and the side effects of all those pills.

A second grade teacher most of her career, Janet was teaching when diagnosed (in spite of yearly checks, as many have wondered). She struggled to continue teaching at first, then in 2020, Covid came on the scene. The medications do lower her immunities, so she had to take disability retirement. The toll of the illness and medications completely changed the path of her life.

Janet is married to Jimmy and has Tori, one of her three daughters, living at home. Tori will always live at home, she will never be able to develop the life skills necessary for independent living. Janet has been her advocate and cared for her without failing, up to this very day, in spite of Janet’s cancer.

Janet is now 58 years old and on Medicare disability, as well as being medically retired. Anyone on Medicare knows that it is not “free”. Her monthly bill for Medicare is higher than someone over 65, due to her age. The coverage is like any insurance - never is 100% of the bill paid. When it comes to her special medications, copays can be hundreds or even thousands each month.

The medications that treat metastatic breast cancer advertise often on television. They show smiling young women cutting flowers in the garden, or having lunch with friends. While those things are not impossible for Janet, the reality is that once you are known as a “patient” it multiplies with immense force. Whereas she may go out to lunch on one day, she trades that in for many days of exhaustion and pain. Needless to say, her quality of life is nothing close to that of a healthy person.

Some, not all of the effects of Janet’s treatments include constant pain and exhaustion, weakness, memory loss, shingles, cataracts, hair-fingernail-skin problems, blood clots, stomach issues of all types, back spasms, leg cramps, itching burning eyes and cataracts.

This Go Fund Me will be used to supplement the medical bills, prescription and non-prescription medications that Janet must purchase to alleviate these many symptoms. Also, funds will be put toward legal advice as she prepares and plans for all the eventual outcomes of this disease; especially as it concerns Tori. As harsh as that statement seems, it demonstrates the gravity of the need. Please consider donating today.