My story to you all...

Hello, my name is Cassie and I will be 20 this April.

This is my cancer story and my strength to all of you...

During the summer of 2007 (17 yrs old) my mother started showing odd symptoms on her left breast. It became intensely red and had a similarity to mastitis. She held off, because she didn't like doctors, and thought not highly of it. But when it was still there a week later she became worried. It was only upon a trip online that she self diagnosed what she had...Inflammatory Breast Cancer. She told me and I cried and hugged her and told her "I'm not ready for you to go Mom...". Well she went to the doctors and she kept getting pushed from physician to physician. One took a punch biopsy of her breast and later told us there was nothing and she shouldn't worry. She was even sent to an Infections Disease Doctor. Well finally after being hooked up on to IV's we noticed no imporovement. Little did we know that as Christmas came and went it would be the last joyous one we would have. Over the holiday our insurance changed so we became covered by the Nevada Cancer Institute. She got worse and in February of 2008 she was officially diagnosed with Stage 4 IBC, in her left breast, lymph system, and in her liver. Our god sent angel doctor Karen Milligan treated her as soon as possible. She was on a hard round of chemo...she couldn't even turn over to get juice on the night stand. If we had gone to our doctor a week later it would have been too late. Summer came and I turned 18...and she seemed to be getting better. We beat the monster back...but the wellness we saw was only short lived. I made Thanksgiving that year...and she was so proud. Chrismas came and went but she started to see spots...and upon another visit to our doctor in February of 2009 we discovered it had spread to her brain.  She endured more chemo...and full head radiation...and we stopped it yet again...but not for long...our last summer came...and it attacked her again for the last time. Our doctor who had promised us that when we could fight no more she would tell us now had to fufill this promise. I was now 19.

We put my mother into hospice in the last week of June...on a Monday. On Wednesday evening we noticed that as she slept she looked finally at ease with the pain, and my father and I knew she was not long for the world anymore. Tossing and turning all night brought us into Thursday morning July 2nd, in my pj's I went to get my paycheck from work, not showered not fed...I walked into the room...set my keys down, and turned to be by her side and at that moment...she was gone. Thank god her friend was there with me...that's the most painful phone call I had to make to my father...

My mother was 52, she owned her own business, and was the light of everyone's life...

I want you all to know that even though this cancer is rare and is most fatal, that you have hope. My mother made it two years with this, and set goals, and got to see to most of her goals. Having a positive mindset is what kept her pushing. She had a lot to live for.

Now I check my breasts all the time. My grandmother died of Colon Cancer, my grandfather had melanomas, my cousin had Ovarian Cancer,  and my mother died of IBC. And after having mastitis TWICE as a younger girl I know that my health is important to me. I would have not changed a thing if I had to do this all over again. Working full time, going to high school and taking care of my mother. 

If you need any support please email me, and don't be afraid. I'm willing to share my hope, strength and knowledge with any and all.

CZnemeth@gmail.com