On September 5, 2019, my world was turned upside down. While sitting and eating breakfast with my daughter, I felt a lump in my left breast and immediately went to the bathroom to self examine myself. Realizing that something was wrong, I immediately called my doctor and scheduled an appointment. I went the same day on September 5, 2019 for a mammogram and was told that within a few days my doctor would receive the results. The results came in on September 9, 2019, the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System results were incomplete (“0”), and additional images were needed to diagnose what exactly the lump was.

If it wasn’t for my daughter I would of been left in the loop because my primary care doctor did not explain what the incomplete (“0”) results were, my daughter explained that they need additional imaging to confirm what the lump was and that they will most likely need to do a biopsy. I was then scheduled for a Diagnostic Mammogram and Sonogram for October 8, 2019. The anxiety that I experienced during this time was gut wrenching; because of the fear of the unknown of not knowing what my end result would be.

On October 8, 2019, I went in for my Diagnostic Mammogram and Sonogram test. On October 9, 2019, I went in for my results, the results of my mammogram and sonogram results were abnormal. The mammogram Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System results were ” (5) Highly Suggestive of Malignancy”. They then scheduled me to see a breast specialist.

On October 16, 2019, after seeing the breast specialist, he scheduled a biopsy for two days after the initial appointment. On October 28 ,2019, I received my biopsy results and it read ” Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma”, and “Estrogen Receptor (negative), Progesterone (negative) and HER2 (negative), my diagnosis is “Triple Negative Breast Cancer”. This form of breast cancer is one of the most deadliest forms of breast cancer because it has no receptors to target, which makes it harder to treat.

Soon after, my surgery was scheduled a month and a half away in December 2019. My surgery was scheduled for December 10, 2019, then quickly rescheduled to December 16, 2019. The preparation for my surgery were a variety of pre-screening test that were performed to ensure that I was in good health. All test came back good and my surgery moved forward. My surgery date, December 16, 2019 came and I felt so anxious and scared. I am so grateful that I had my daughter Jhonnelle by my side to encourage me and tell me that everything will be ok, and that everything is in the creators hands; and indeed it was. My surgery started at 8:30am and ended around 4pm. After surgery when I woke up my daughter was there to take care of me.

My recovery from my double mastectomy was difficult and painful, it was weeks of pain but through it all I had my daughter Jhonnelle by my side to take care of me. After weeks of healing from my surgery, I had to go to see an Oncologist at Jamaica Hospital for additional testing to see what Chemotherapy regimen I would start. I went in to have an initial meeting with the Oncologist at Jamaica Hospital, where he explained the Chemotherapy Regimen in which he would start treating me with which is Doxorubin and Cyclophosphamide every two weeks x 4 cycles, then Taxol 300mg IV every three weeks x 4 cycles.

When my daughter asked the Oncologist if he would also administer FDA approved Chemoprotectants (Mesnex and Dexrazoxane) which would help to prevent the harsh side effectives of Chemotherapy to protect my bladder from hemorrhaging from the Chemotherapy drug Cyclophosphamide; and help to protect my heart from tissue damage which can be caused by cancer medicines such as the Doxorubicin drug that causes heart problems like leaking from the blood vessels, he refused.

Since the Oncologist in Jamaica Hospital has refused to provide any FDA approved Chemoprotectants for my Chemotherapy treatments, I came across another doctor in San Francisco who administers Chemoprotectants with this Chemotherapy treatments. This new Oncologist in San Francisco, does not accept insurance and I have to pay out of pocket for these Chemotherapy treatments. I will possibly need up to 14 cycles of Chemotherapy along with the Chemoprotectants, each cycle is $5600 USD, plus I will have to move from New York to San Francisco for a year to get these treatments.

I have teamed up with my daughter’s company JHON’ELLE BEAUTY COSMETICS EE, INC. which has made me a line of cosmetics items (Marcia’s Hue™) to help me raise money for my cause to get my treatments done in San Francisco. All the proceeds from donations and all purchased items of the Marcia’s Hue™ items will go to my cause fully. Thank you all for of your support.