Support Veteran Battling Breast Cancer

**TLDR**

We are friends and family trying to raise $15K to cover living expenses for Tashina Bennett, an Air Force Veteran, Nurse, and mom who is going through cancer treatment. Donations to this campaign will go directly to Tashina. If additional funds are raised beyond the goal, Tashina would like to donate them instead of keeping. Please keep reading for additional details.

**Introduction**

Tashina is someone who has always aimed to make the most out of life. She's had her share of challenges. She served our country proudly in the United States Air Force and is currently pursuing her passion for psychology with a PhD now being her last step. Tashina is a devoted single mother to her young daughter and works as a psychiatric nurse, while taking care of her grandmother who suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease, which is both physically, mentally and emotionally demanding. In these challenging times, we understand that many of us are facing our own struggles. We are reaching out to you with a special request to support Tashina, a resilient individual who has always aspired to create a brighter future. Beyond her current battle, Tashina aspires to continue her education, becoming a Neuropsychologist, working with veterans who suffer PTSD. She dreams of helping others navigate life's challenges, and your support can help her get back on track to pursue these goals.

Life has a way of presenting us with unexpected challenges and she is now facing Stage 3 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (breast tumor) with Mucinous Adenocarcinoma (lymph nodes) Triple Positive Breast Cancer. This is a rare type of IDC that is rapid spreading and aggressive. She will have 1 year of aggressive chemotherapy, a double mastectomy after the first 6 cycles, 26 sessions of targeted radiation therapy, and 5 years of hormonal therapy. The treatments will proceed to become more difficult, and she will need assistance with her living expenses and transportation to medical appointments. In time, she will not be able to work due to physical and emotional demands between work and treatments, continuing to get sicker and weaker until she is better. She will need the time to heal and give her body the rest it needs. Facing breast cancer has brought significant financial strain already, having complications that have put her in the hospital and missing work, thus impacting the need to cover living expenses and transportation to crucial medical appointments. It will only get worse.

Your contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference. Please donate and share this campaign to help us reach our goal of $15,000 quickly. Every dollar counts in supporting Tashina and her family during this challenging journey. If excess funds raised, they will be donated to St. Louis Children's Hospital - Washington University.

If you are unable to donate, we kindly ask that you consider sharing this campaign. Your share could reach someone who can help, and together, we can make a difference in Tashina's life. Your support means the world to Tashina and us. Together, we can bring hope and relief to her life as she fights this battle and works toward her dreams. Thank you for your generosity.

**Treatment Details**

**Chemotherapy** (TCHP) Chemotherapy is a rigorous treatment that comes with side effects such as extreme fatigue, nausea, bone pain, GI issues, shortness of breath, anemia, heart failure, increased risk for Leukemia, infections and hair loss, and many more. Tashina is showing immense strength as she faces these challenges.

**Double Mastectomy** This procedure is a critical step in her battle against breast cancer, requiring a significant recovery period of 6-8 weeks. It's a brave decision she's making to improve her chances of a cancer-free future.

**Radiation Therapy** After the surgery, Tashina will undergo 6 months of radiation therapy. This treatment can be physically and emotionally taxing, but she remains determined to overcome it.

**Hormonal Therapy** Often used after surgery as adjuvant therapy to help reduce the risk of cancer coming back. This generally takes 5 years and sometimes up to 10 years. It is offered to women who have a higher chance of cancer reoccurring. With this process, the ovaries will be shut down to block estrogen from connecting to cancer cells.