Support Lisa Unruh in her fight
Donation protected
Hello Friends and Family,
After months of a cough that persisted through many different types of treatment Lisa received some life changing news from her doctor.
Please read it in her words:
My doctor and I had been experimenting with different inhalers to treat a chronic cough I've had since mid-January. We thought it was just my asthma acting up. Then during my routine physical, she decided to get a chest x-ray done, "just to make sure we're not missing anything." And that was the start of many tests to come. The x-ray showed my right lung was collapsed, and could possibly have a fatty tumor (benign and very common) on it. So she sent me to a pulmonologist for a CT scan, that still couldn't tell what the problem was. Then I went in for a bronchoscopy, a super fun procedure where they stick a tube down my nose and go in and look with a camera, and use a little brush to take samples. There was still no visual evidence of anything wrong. On the following Tuesday, May 14, we were scheduled to talk on the phone to discuss the lab results of the biopsy
I could hear the shock and surprise in her voice when she called and said I need to come and see her immediately. "You have lung cancer, and we have some work to do," were the words that shook my world. My mom and I drove to her office at Methodist, and my brother Jon and brother-in-law Ray met us there to look at the CT scan photos and discuss next steps.
A PET scan, where they inject a radioactive sugar solution into me, was next. When cancer cells are exposed to sugar, they get excited and their metabolic activity (shows as 'lighting up') is captured by the PET scan. On May 22, my brother's birthday, we met with my oncologist to discuss the results.
I have Stage 4 (which means it has spread out of the initial area) non-small cell lung cancer. We'll likely never know what caused it, as I've never smoked, and am extremely conscientious about what I eat. But rather than looking for a cause, which wouldn't matter even if we knew it, or lamenting about 'it's not fair' (cancer doesn't care about 'fair'), I'm choosing to look ahead and get ready for the fight.
I'm overwhelmed with gratitude by the many people who have reached out to send prayers, good wishes and offers to help.
Again, thank you SO much to everyone who has reached out to my family to convey their support and prayers. I appreciate it more than you'll ever know.
Yesterday my oncologist called to tell me we received results from genotyping the cancer cells. That means we now have a targeted therapy that we can use to attack Louie the lung-prey (like a lamprey, he's attached himself to somewhere he shouldn't be!). The medicine is $18K/month, so I'm now doing research on patient financial assistance programs. My insurance will cover 90% of the cost, but I'll still be looking at $1,800/month. I'm grateful there is a targeted medicine available, but being the frugal person I am, I'm still going try and find the most cost-effective way of getting it.
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After reading this I knew there was a way to help her out. I immediately thought "Go Fund Me" would be the best way to allow those who wanted to help, do so financially, by donating money toward her treatment so she can beat this!
Thank you for donating so she can get well!
You can also see her updates on CaringBridge at: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lisaunruh/journal
After months of a cough that persisted through many different types of treatment Lisa received some life changing news from her doctor.
Please read it in her words:
My doctor and I had been experimenting with different inhalers to treat a chronic cough I've had since mid-January. We thought it was just my asthma acting up. Then during my routine physical, she decided to get a chest x-ray done, "just to make sure we're not missing anything." And that was the start of many tests to come. The x-ray showed my right lung was collapsed, and could possibly have a fatty tumor (benign and very common) on it. So she sent me to a pulmonologist for a CT scan, that still couldn't tell what the problem was. Then I went in for a bronchoscopy, a super fun procedure where they stick a tube down my nose and go in and look with a camera, and use a little brush to take samples. There was still no visual evidence of anything wrong. On the following Tuesday, May 14, we were scheduled to talk on the phone to discuss the lab results of the biopsy
I could hear the shock and surprise in her voice when she called and said I need to come and see her immediately. "You have lung cancer, and we have some work to do," were the words that shook my world. My mom and I drove to her office at Methodist, and my brother Jon and brother-in-law Ray met us there to look at the CT scan photos and discuss next steps.
A PET scan, where they inject a radioactive sugar solution into me, was next. When cancer cells are exposed to sugar, they get excited and their metabolic activity (shows as 'lighting up') is captured by the PET scan. On May 22, my brother's birthday, we met with my oncologist to discuss the results.
I have Stage 4 (which means it has spread out of the initial area) non-small cell lung cancer. We'll likely never know what caused it, as I've never smoked, and am extremely conscientious about what I eat. But rather than looking for a cause, which wouldn't matter even if we knew it, or lamenting about 'it's not fair' (cancer doesn't care about 'fair'), I'm choosing to look ahead and get ready for the fight.
I'm overwhelmed with gratitude by the many people who have reached out to send prayers, good wishes and offers to help.
Again, thank you SO much to everyone who has reached out to my family to convey their support and prayers. I appreciate it more than you'll ever know.
Yesterday my oncologist called to tell me we received results from genotyping the cancer cells. That means we now have a targeted therapy that we can use to attack Louie the lung-prey (like a lamprey, he's attached himself to somewhere he shouldn't be!). The medicine is $18K/month, so I'm now doing research on patient financial assistance programs. My insurance will cover 90% of the cost, but I'll still be looking at $1,800/month. I'm grateful there is a targeted medicine available, but being the frugal person I am, I'm still going try and find the most cost-effective way of getting it.
------------------------------------------------
After reading this I knew there was a way to help her out. I immediately thought "Go Fund Me" would be the best way to allow those who wanted to help, do so financially, by donating money toward her treatment so she can beat this!
Thank you for donating so she can get well!
You can also see her updates on CaringBridge at: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lisaunruh/journal
Organizer and beneficiary
Michelle Hansen
Organizer
Lakeville, MN
Lisa Blomeke Unruh
Beneficiary