STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – A 33-year-old mom of two was just lately identified with breast most cancers whereas her 3-year-old daughter battles a uncommon type of epilepsy — leaving her husband, a former Staten Islander, overwhelmed by mounting medical payments.
“I’m very wholesome. I train. I eat wholesome. I’m not like this hardcore drinker. It occurred to me,” Kim LaRosa mentioned.
Kim, who lives in New Jersey along with her husband Vincent LaRosa, a Rossville native, and their two daughters, Lily and Valentina, was identified with Triple Negative Breast Cancer on Oct. 3, after present process her first spherical of testing.
“I seen a lump on my nipple once I was going to bathe at some point,” Kim mentioned. “I went to my OBGYN, and he mentioned, ‘Oh, it’s a cyst,’ however he despatched me for imaging.”
After her first-ever mammogram and ultrasound, each recommended benign fibroadenoma. However, the physician on the imaging heart advisable a biopsy to make certain, which Kim underwent every week later.
“The subsequent day the outcomes got here in my portal in shiny purple lettering: Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma,” Kim recalled. “My coronary heart simply sunk. I’m 33 and it doesn’t run in my household.”
Triple-negative breast most cancers (TNBC) refers to the truth that the most cancers cells lack estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors, making it “destructive” on all three exams. It accounts for 15% of invasive breast cancers and is extra widespread in premenopausal ladies beneath 50, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Kim shared that she is a part of a gaggle chat with 12 different ladies, aged 26 to 35, all at the moment present process remedy for triple-negative breast most cancers throughout the East Coast.
“You’re not too younger. My oncologist simply identified a 23-year-old with the identical triple destructive breast most cancers… no household historical past,” she added. “Unfortunately, it’s taking place youthful and youthful. Do your month-to-month checks. If you’re feeling one thing, simply go get it checked and don’t be naive that it’s not going to occur to you as a result of, sadly, I felt the identical method.”
Breast cancer rates are rising, particularly among younger women, regardless of a 44% decline in breast most cancers dying charges since 1989. From 2012 to 2021, breast most cancers incidences elevated 1% yearly, largely in localized and hormone receptor-positive circumstances, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society.
Kim’s journey to therapeutic
Kim might be present process 16 weeks of chemotherapy, which incorporates 8 rounds of dose-dense remedy each different week. Dose-dense chemotherapy includes administering chemotherapy extra continuously whereas sustaining the usual dosage.
After chemotherapy, tissue might be examined to make sure the remedy was absolutely efficient earlier than continuing with a double mastectomy.
Kim’s first spherical of chemotherapy began on Nov. 1, and she is going to return for her third spherical this Friday.
Kim LaRosa, 33, was identified with Triple-negative breast most cancers on Oct. 3. (Courtesy of Kim LaRosa)Broken Crayons Photography
“The first remedy, I used to be nice. I used to be like, ‘Oh, that is nothing.’ And then I jinxed myself, as a result of the final remedy was actually, actually tough. I received very sick throughout remedy, after which all of final week I couldn’t transfer from the sofa,” she mentioned.
Kim is utilizing a cold cap to protect her hair throughout chemotherapy. The cap circulates liquid at round 32°F, inflicting blood vessels within the scalp to constrict, which reduces blood circulate and limits the quantity of chemotherapy treatment that enters the hair follicle cells, serving to to attenuate harm to hair follicles.
“I’m going into my third remedy and I’m positively dropping hair, nevertheless it’s not popping out in clumps. And I might nonetheless depart the home and really feel like I look considerably regular,” she mentioned.
Patients usually put on the cap half-hour earlier than, throughout, and 90 to 120 minutes after chemotherapy.
Kim shared that she is going to endure reconstructive surgical procedure by June or July, a number of months after her mastectomy, to permit time for breast tissue expanders to stretch the pores and skin and supply extra tissue for reconstruction or implants.
Lily’s story
During her chemotherapy remedy for breast most cancers, Kim shared that the hardest problem has been being separated from her 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Lily.
Kim LaRosa, 33, who’s battling breast most cancers, poses along with her 3-year-old daughter, Lily, who’s present process remedy for a uncommon type of epilepsy. (Courtesy of Broken Crayons Photography)Broken Crayons Photography
“All of this has been taking place whereas Lily has been within the ICU for her epilepsy,” Kim mentioned.
Lily was identified with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, a uncommon type of epilepsy outlined because the failure to answer not less than two anti-seizure drugs. On Dec. 11, it should mark two years since her prognosis.
Recently, Lily was within the hospital for 2 weeks present process mind surgical procedure.
“It actually sucked as a result of I couldn’t go to the hospital. She’s been there for 2 weeks, she really comes house tonight, which could be very thrilling,” Kim mentioned. “But for 2 weeks, I’ve not seen her due to my immune system being so weak. My physician didn’t need me to enter the hospital.”
The household has been out and in of the ICU, hospitals, and ERs with Lily so many instances that Kim says she’s misplaced depend.
“And then I used to be identified on prime of that. So the medical payments are simply… as you’ll be able to think about, between her and me, are insane,” Kim mentioned.
Thus far, Lily has had three mind surgical procedures.
According to the National Institute of Health, sufferers with drug-resistant focal epilepsy usually tend to be appropriate for surgical procedure and profit from it, notably the removing of the tissue chargeable for seizures. Those who endure surgical procedure earlier in life and sooner after the onset of epilepsy usually tend to expertise cognitive and developmental advantages — resulting in larger treatment charges and enhancements in each neurodevelopment and high quality of life.
“As her dad and mom, our principal aim is to get her to be seizure free,” Kim expressed.
“As far as therapeutic collectively, she is my inspiration. I have a look at her and I see every little thing she has been by way of at such a younger age with a smile on her face, and that simply makes me say, ‘OK, if she will undergo this with a smile on her face, I can overcome most cancers and attempt to stay as constructive as potential,’” Kim mentioned.
Lily, 3, has been residing with drug-resistant focal epilepsy for almost two years. She has undergone three mind surgical procedures so far. (Courtesy of Kim LaRosa)Broken Crayons Photography
Lily’s first seizure occurred when Kim was 9 months pregnant with Valentina, which is why she calls Valentina her “angel child” as a result of she’s such a peaceful and laid-back child.
“And Valentina is so little. Thank God, I don’t assume it actually impacts her… till this final hospital stick with Lily, I seen, I assume as a result of I’m house along with her, she’s been asking, ‘Where’s sissy?’ and she or he doesn’t fairly perceive. But for essentially the most half, fortunately, she’s doing very, very nicely,” Kim mentioned.
With Kim and Lily’s well being struggles, the medical payments are piling up.
Lily’s mind surgical procedure in January was billed at over $1 million, with Kim sharing they needed to pay a “fairly penny.” Kim added that, in September, Lily was hospitalized for 2 weeks, and the household continues to be battling a $275,000 invoice. This month, Lily was within the hospital once more for one more two weeks.
“The complete level of the GoFundMe is to take the stress away from my husband as a result of not solely is he the only supplier, however he’s additionally the only caregiver now, so he has to care for Lily and me,” Kim mentioned. “The hope is that we will take the large stress off of him, which is monetary. That could be wonderful.”
Since Kim’s prognosis, Vincent joined a help group for breast most cancers caregivers, which Kim is grateful for. She shared that whereas it’s simple to speak to mates, they will’t really perceive until they’re residing by way of it.
“We’re simply grateful for something we will elevate. It’s actually simply to take an enormous stress off my husband,” Kim mentioned. “You know males, they type of maintain it in. He doesn’t let me see how he’s feeling. I feel he’s actually good at attempting to remain cool and calm and picked up.”
To help the LaRosa household as they navigate these well being challenges they’ve been going through, please go to their GoFundMe web page at: gofundme.com/f/donate-to-the-kim-lilys-health-journey.
