Marta Parisi was diagnosed with Invasive Duct Carcinoma Breast Cancer right after 29th birthday. This came as a shock to her and her family since there is no trace of cancer in the family. The doctors want her to get the genetic testing done but it is an exclusion on their insurance policy. They are unable to get the test done due to the high cost of $3200. To date, Marta has already undergone many expensive tests such as a biopsy, breast sonograms, mammograms, breast MRI, CAT scan, bone scan, MUGA test, and has been hospitalized for a double mastectomy on July 22nd, 2010. While she was getting the double mastectomy they found out that the cancer spread to her lymph node which advanced the cancer to stage 2b.
Fortunately, the cancer has not shown up on any of the tests. However, due to the aggressive cancer that she has the surgeon and oncologist are afraid that there could be microscopic cells (that would not show up on any tests) in her body. If there is one cell anywhere they have stated that it will grow very aggressively in a mutated gene and will likely go to her ovaries and organs. This is why they have told her she MUST do Chemotherapy for 5 months. She will need to get a port placed into her body because she can no longer get any blood pressure or IV’s in her left arm since they took lymph nodes from her left arm.
After the Chemotherapy she will need to get a drug call Herceptin which is a biological treatment through the port every 3 weeks for 1 year. One of Herceptin’s side effects can be damage to your heart. So, with the treatments they will be giving her MUGA scans (which consist of getting nuclear medicine) to test her heart periodically. Once, that is finished Marta will still need to undergo two more surgeries for reconstruction of the breasts which will require hospitalization again.
Beyond all of this Marta has also been told that the Chemotherapy may push her body into Menopause, it will definitely age her eggs, and deplete them as well. Tony and Marta have been told by both the surgeon and the oncologist if they would like more children that they would need to undergo the process of freezing her eggs now and then get Invetro 2-5 years after Chemotherapy. Unfortunately, at a discounted rate since she has cancer, the cost to start the process costs approximately $8500. Since, Tony and Marta are both so young and would love to have more children they inquired about this process with their insurance company but have been denied.
Due to some of the nuclear tests Marta is not allowed to be near her 2 year old daughter Alexis for 24 hours after the tests because of the radioactive medicine in her body. She has placed her daughter into daycare in NY while she undergoes the rest of the tests, chemo, and doctors appointments which is costly.
Marta and her daughter Alexis went to NY to visit her family but while she was there she was faced with this horrible news. She decided to remain in NY with the doctors that have diagnosed her while her husband continues to work in Florida so he can try to pay the medical bills.
Marta and Tony have found out that their deductibles are extremely high with all of these treatments. The Parisi’s are also responsible for any charges above the allowable amount that the insurance company will accept. This is a great burden to the family since Marta is out of work for the next year.
This family needs our help because they are facing foreclosure and bankruptcy by the end of the year without assistance. No donation is too small.
They would like me to thank all of you for your donations, support, and prayers.
Thank you
