At only 38 years old, Rachel was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. Following treatments and medication, she survived. But this was unfortunately only the beginning of her experience with cancer.
Cancer has taken so much from my family. We can’t wait any longer for breakthroughs for better treatments. We don’t want to hear “You have cancer” anymore.
Over the nearly nine years Rachel fought her rare form of ovarian cancer, she sadly lost two of her sisters to cancer. The siblings inherited a genetic mutation that increases their odds of multiple cancers.
After barely two years in remission, Rachel again heard the dreaded diagnostic words when she was told she had colon cancer. She underwent treatment again and received medical care to help her recover from the physical damage that the treatment inflicted. In September 2024, Rachel was diagnosed with TML secondary leukemia that was found in her bones. She still receives a weekly dose of medication to address her leukemia.
Cancer continues to take a significant toll on her life. Despite periods of remission and attempts to return to work, her health challenges have persisted, and she has utilized Medicaid to maintain access to the life-saving treatment and care she needs. Rachel is grateful for ongoing cancer research to try to find new treatments and cures that could help her and her family.