Becky's Battle Against Cancer

As many of you no doubt know, my sister, Becky Verrone, is fighting cancer.

This started around Christmas (2022), when her doctor discovered that she had a melanoma. Through further tests and scans, it was determined that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. After multiple biopsies and surgeries, it was further determined that her melanoma is an extremely rare type, accounting for less than a quarter of a percent (0.25%) of all melanomas. In fact, it is rare enough that there isn’t a lot of data on how best to treat it.

She started on an immunotherapy regimen in the spring, which has shown promise for treating melanoma, however, her doctor was unsure how it would work for her cancer. After several infusions and data from follow up scans and biopsies, it was decided to switch her to a combination of two new immunotherapy drugs this summer. The side effects of this medicine combo have been difficult to manage – the worst of which is crushing exhaustion. In fact, she struggles to get out of bed most days.

To make matters worse, she has to travel to Birmingham for all treatment (about 2 hours from her home in Florence), and she can’t drive that distance due to exhaustion. Her incredibly kind network of friends in Alabama have made sure she can get to her treatments, and have also delivered groceries, helped her clean, and ensured her daughter gets to school and activities. Without them, frankly, we don’t know what we would do.

Becky has another surgery in her future, but that is on hold while her doctors attempt to get her into a clinical trial for a novel melanoma treatment at the world-renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The good news is that she has an evaluation appointment there in late October, with the hope that they will accept her as a patient. If accepted, she will need to spend an undetermined amount of time in Houston while undergoing surgery and treatment. If she is not accepted, her care team may submit her to other clinical trials (in FL and CA), or it may be determined to proceed with the next (major) surgery in Birmingham.

The bad news is that no part of her travel to Houston (or even Birmingham, for that matter) is covered by insurance, nor are the fees for the evaluation appointment or any tests or scans they order at MD Anderson. On top of that, Becky can’t work and has not had the strength or energy to keep up with her household tasks. In short, she needs help.

We do what we can from North Carolina, and her friends in Alabama support her greatly, but we know Becky has a huge network of people that care about her. We set up this GoFundMe to offer a way to show some love to Becky from afar, by helping her cover expenses for medical treatment and travel, as well as get the services she needs at home as her expenses pile up. Thanks also for any healing thoughts and prayers!

Update 10/21/23:

Shortly after I wrote the above, things changed again. Becky was admitted to the hospital with severe dehydration, a bacterial infection, and weakness. These are thought to be directly or indirectly side effects of the immunotherapy treatments. We are hoping now she will be strong enough to get to her appointment at MD Anderson in Houston, but it seems likely that will need to be delayed as she recovers and rehabs. This will also likely increase the home healthcare she needs as she regains her strength and stamina. The only constant is change!