Hello, my name is Brenda Daniels, I am very grateful and appreciate you taking a moment to read my story. I lost my full-time job with benefits at the end of 2024 and had no medical insurance. I was going through a very stressful time in my life. I was always fatigued and couldn’t rest properly. I was blessed to find a part-time job where I could work from home 2-3 days a week with only 20-25 hours weekly. My bills were piling up and physically too fatigued to a work full-time job. By the grace of God, one of my relatives asked me if she could move with me temporally until she can find a cheaper place to live. I immediately agreed because I knew this would help me pay my rent as well. She saw how tired I was looking and pushed me to see a doctor. I had to explain to her that I had no medical insurance with my part-time work. Then She mentioned to me that she has affordable care insurance, and the premium is very low for her, and she sent me the link to apply. Once I applied in February 2024, I was able to get medical and dental insurance the next month. I was so grateful. Once I received my medical card, I made an appointment with my primary physician in April 2024. During the examination, my physician asked me “When was the last time you had a mammogram?”. I could not remember so He checked my chart thoroughly and stated it has been over a year and a half since my last mammogram. He asked the nurse to set me up for a mammogram right away. I was scheduled In April 2024 for screening. A few days later I was called from the Mammogram facility that my mammogram was abnormal, and I had to follow up with a diagnostic mammogram. Once I went back to get the diagnostic mammogram, I had to wait about 30 minutes to get my results. Finally, I was called back to the room by the nurse and the radiologist, and he showed me that I have a spot on my left breast. I could see it was something abnormal compared to my right breast and, he stated that one lymph node looks suspicious. He could not tell me if it was cancerous. I was shocked and could not think about what he was saying. I ask him again if this was cancer and he stated again that he cannot tell me if it is or if it is not cancer and that I had to have a biopsy to determine if its cancer. Still in disbelief and not understanding how this could happen. Along with being tired, I got to my car and do not remember how I got there. I remember waiting for the biopsy schedule and praying for negative results. The Biopsy of my left breast and Lymph node was completed on May 16, 2024. I received my results by a phone call from the pathologist facility. I was told that my left breast biopsy measured 1.5 cm and it was cancerous and the lymph node has not cancer. I was truly out of my mind. After the shocking news that I had cancer in my breast was sent to a surgeon first instead of an oncologist. The surgeon that I saw told me that I didn’t have cancer in my breast and that it was in my lymph node. I was all confused and could not understand what was happening. I called my primary doctor and ask him what was going on and that I was sure that I was told that I had cancer in my left breast and not my lymph node. He assured me that he would double-check my chart and biopsy report. I could not wait; I called the pathologist myself and ask for him by name and the nurse was able to get him on the phone. I ask him directly what the concern was from my biopsy report and he remembered me and stated that he was concerned about my left breast and that the results showed mammary duct carcinoma. He apologized to me because he stated that the biopsies got mixed up. The breast biopsy was put in the lymph node container and the lymph node biopsy was put in the breast container. So, yet again I ask my primary physician to give me a new surgeon. Then my primary stated that his office should have referred me to an Oncologist first to prepare for surgery to remove my breast or to have a lumpectomy. I was a little confused about what effects having my whole breast removed versus having the lumpectomy. I decided on having a lumpectomy on my left breast and to remove the lymph node nearest my left breast. (I know this save my life because I was told that it had no cancer). After surgery, the surgeon told me that the Lymph node tested positive for cancer. That was scary because if I had known what I know now I would have had my breast removed to sure that the cancer will not return. I am writing all this because, I feel it will help someone who is not aware of how the breast cancer process works and during this time of my life, I had to go through 16 rounds of chemotherapy. For the first 8 weeks, I was given two chemotherapy medications Doxorubicin (the Red Devil) and Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) every two weeks and for the last 8 weeks, I was given Paclitaxel every week. They were high doses because my insurance would not pay the $5000 for the Oncotype Test. The Oncotype test is a test for the cancer cells to see if the cancer will come back or not and how likely it will grow and spread. The process wasn’t as bad as I thought. I got nauseous 2 days after each chemotherapy and the vomiting may once or twice after each session. My blood count stayed very low the whole time I was taking chemo until my oncologist had to stop the chemotherapy 3 times during my treatments. I was very weak and could not work a full day or schedule. I could not have visitors so I wouldn’t get sick because my blood count dropped so low. Also during the middle of the chemotherapy treatments, I developed a blood clot (thrombus) in my neck from the port. That was also an ordeal because I could turn my neck nor speak well. My Oncologist put me on a blood thinner (Eliquis). I am grateful that I was able to keep down chicken soup broth. Lastly, the radiation-Proton Treatments weren’t so bad. It first irritated my vocal cords after 4 weeks into it and the last week the burning of the skin. I didn’t care as long as it was killing the residual cells if any were left behind. All during the first signs of Breast and Lymph node Cancer, Surgery, Port implantation, PET scans, 3 chemotherapy treatments medications, a blood clot in my neck, and radiation-Proton Therapy has caused a lot of financial, mental, and physical breakdown. My bills are piling up and I can’t seem to catch up. I have got behind on all my bills. The medical bills just keep coming as well. I have called several charities either they send me to another charity or there are no funds available. One Charity stated that they would only help with rent if I had COVID! Well, I don’t or didn’t have COVID. I have a part-time job because I can’t afford to work at all. I have had help from family members and now I am facing another eviction and my credit has decreased. I am asking for financial help with whatever your heart desires to help me with rent, food, electricity, or car payment. My health is getting better and better each day. I follow up on all my appointments as a Cancer survivor started in June 2024. Any funds will help me deeply for Rent mostly until I am able to focus on a great job and make more monies to pay all my bills. I am asking because I believe help is from God and I am asking by faith and the mercy of God. God Bless you, a cheerful giver......... Brenda Daniels
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