Support Keiko Honda recovering from Breast Cancer

※日本語版は英語版の下にあります。

Hello everyone!

My name is Keiko Honda.

I found out about 6 months ago that I had breast cancer.

As you can imagine, this is terrible news to receive.

I am asking for your support to help me pay health care costs, and basic expenses to support me through this next a few years pre- and post-surgery.

Here is my story.

I moved from Japan to Jacksonville, Florida five and a half years ago when I was accepted to be a cheerleader for Jacksonville Jaguars, an NFL team, which had been my dream for many years. Since then I have spent 6 seasons with Jaguars and I have loved every minute of it!

Just before the last season started, I visited Japan for my visa renewal. That's where I was told by a doctor that I have a high probability of breast cancer.

After I came back to the U.S. I had a number of examinations and tests, and my doctor in the US confirmed that I have breast cancer. Although she said it is not guaranteed until she opens up my chest during surgery, the test results showed that the cancer was likely to be at an early stage and that there was a small chance of metastasis.

Considering my wish to finish my last season, the doctor agreed to delay the surgery, and to slow the progression of the cancer with medication. Now that the season is over, I am preparing for surgery.

It is often misunderstood because it sounds very prestigious, but unfortunately NFL cheerleaders often do not get paid very much. Most of my teammates have their primary employment outside of cheerleader activities.

In my case, it is even harder to earn income due to being from a different country and culture, and considering language barrier and visa issues (although I was aware of the situation before coming here).

Even though I have been depending on a lot of people's kindness and help, I have tried my best not to ask for financial support.

However, considering all the costs for tests and exams I've had, the surgery cost, the cost of chemotherapy and radiation therapy after the surgery, the cost for receiving hormone therapy to prevent metastasis and/or recurrence for next 5 years, and of the cost of insurance, it has come to my attention that I must reach out for community support to get through this next chapter.

I am 41 years old and cheerleader activities are everything to me. My dream is to have a successful surgery, to make a full recovery, and to audition and get back on the big stage as a cheerleader again.

Up until now, my activities have been only possible with the help of many people. I am very lucky that my life is not in danger at this moment, very lucky that the cancer was caught early, and very lucky that I was allowed to go through to the end of the season.

Any support you can offer me will be received with extreme gratitude and appreciation. I do not yet know how I can show my thanks in return. So I know it is selfish, but I would be very grateful if you could help me once again so that I can face my treatment and activities without financial stress.

Thank you very much.

みなさん、こんにちは！

今回はみなさんにお願い事があり、この投稿をさせて頂きます。

長くなりますが、最後まで読んで頂けたら幸いです。

チームの規定によりジャガーズを今年で去ることを覚悟して臨んだ今シーズン、シーズンが始まる直前日本にVISAの更新のために帰国中、日本で乳がんの確率が高いと診断されました。

その後、アメリカでも診察、検査を受けました。

結果はやはり乳がんでした。実際には手術をしてみないとわからないという前提はありつつも、検査結果からは好運にも癌が早期発見の可能性が高く、転移の可能性も低いことから、私のラストシーズンで最後まで全うしたいという気持ちを考慮して下さり薬で進行を遅らせ、シーズン後に手術を行うという治療方針を取ってもらいました。

そしてジャガーズが負けてしまいシーズンが終了したので来週、手術を行うことになりました。

違う国、違う文化、言葉の壁やビザの問題から、今まで、いろんな方々に多大なる協力をしてもらって来ました。それでも経済的なサポートはなるべくしないで来たつもりです。

しかし、これまでの検査費用、手術が終わっても5年間、転移、再発予防のためホルモン治療を受け続けなければならず、保険も払い続けなければなりません。転移がないとも限りません。今シーズンもチームのことを優先してきたつもりですが、常に癌のこと、かかる費用のことが頭のどこかにありました。

私はもう41ですが私にはチアの活動がすべてであり、できれば今後も続けて行きたいと思っています。わがままかもしれませんが私はまた手術を受け、完治させ、オーディションを受け再び、チアリーダーとして大舞台に戻りたいと思っています。

今まで、私の活動は色々な人の助けの元に成り立ってきました。今回も命に別条はなく、胸を全摘する必要もなく、シーズンも最後まで突き進ませてもらえて私は本当にラッキーだと思います。

自分のわがままだということは重々承知ですが、もう一度、経済的なストレスを感じずに治療と活動に向き合えるようにご協力頂けたら嬉しいです。

宜しくお願い致します。