Hi everyone, my name is Lana. On September 12th, 2024, I was devastatingly diagnosed with stage 4 mucinous adenocarcinoma after experiencing continuous pain and symptoms for over a year. Little did I know that for the next 2 years, my life was going to be more challenging than anything I have experienced. Before it all began, I decided to do In vitro fertilization (IVF) so I can have children in the future, once all the cancer was gone. I underwent 10 surgeries, 30 rounds of radiation and oral chemotherapy, and 8 rounds of 52-hour IV chemotherapy. I was constantly in and out of the hospital, attending appointments and visiting the ER. This was all very difficult, because of COVID-19 restrictions I could not be accompanied 90% of the time I was in the hospital. At 21 I was advocating for myself, a naive university student who had to take on the health care system alone. It was terrifying. However, I continued on, hoping to cross the finish line. In November of 2024, I was cleared with "no evidence of cancer". Unfortunately, only 4 months later, I was in the hospital with appendicitis and a recurrence in my bladder. Shortly after removing that mass, the cancer returned to my right ovary, interfering with my kidney functions and making me super sick. After this rollercoaster of emotions and feeling neglected by the health care system and my oncological team, in February of 2024 I sat down with my oncologist and received a terminal diagnosis, with potentially 1.5-2 years of life. This infuriating news left me broken, in pieces I don't think anyone could pick up and put back together. I searched for answers, and many doors were closed in my face, I am a "medical mystery". My body has not responded to chemotherapy, there are no immunotherapies that have been proven to benefit me, and my only option (as I have been told) is to let the cancer grow and surgically remove it until it is too difficult to remove any more. Despite this terrible hand that I have been dealt, I am still here, fighting for answers and fighting for more time, more time with all of you. This is my opportunity to do myself the best service I could do and to possibly change the outcome of others like me in the future. I am making this LFEBridge to fund my search for alternative treatment not covered by OHIP and for any other medical opportunities internationally. I want to say that I did everything I could, and with your help, I can say that. Anything is helpful, I will not take your support lightly. Thank you all for all the love.
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