Story
Name
Amy Anderson
Injury/Illness
Breast Cancer
We are the Anderson family. Curt (husband), Amy (wife) and our two kids, Addie (16) and Asher (7), and our two dogs (Vizslas!) who are 14.5 and 13 and full members of our family! In February 2022, Amy was diagnosed with Stage 3 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (Invasive ductal carcinoma—a highly aggressive, invasive breast cancer) that had spread to the axillary lymph. Care plan was identified as 1) treatment/chemotherapy; then 2) surgery; then 3) radiation. We wanted to “get at this” aggressive disease with everything we could. Amy already lived a healthy lifestyle and supported her body naturally, so we felt strongly compelled to follow an integrative plan (combining functional medicine with standard oncology) to support Amy’s body through treatment and manage pre-existing sensitivities and autoimmune disease. In June 2022, Amy completed 11 Paclitaxel+Carboplatin chemotherapy infusions, and though suffered significant peripheral neuropathy, Amy had an "incredible response."
However, an ultrasound biopsy in July 2022 showed one remaining treatment-resistant tumor to be HER2+ disease. This presented a challenge, and perplexed every colleague our oncologist consulted. At that time, we also learned that our oncologist was moving out of state and would be unable to continue our care. He recommended an oncologist from his network, and also sent referrals to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and the University of Minnesota Cancer Center for second opinions. During the next several weeks, we met with oncologists, surgeons, functional and medical doctors, seeking their advice on this new twist, while also searching for a good fit for a new oncologist that would support Amy's desire to continue integrating functional and standard care (especially since her body responded so well thus far to this approach). For every practitioner we met with, we had a different recommendation … the opinions varied wildly, and it felt a bit like starting over with a whole new cancer diagnosis. It took time to get second opinions and find a new team. During this time, we kept up the fight: Amy completed various functional therapies, including a series of antigen injections with RGCC (Research Genetics Cancer Center) aimed at revitalizing Amy's flatlined immune system and preparing for targeted HER2 treatments. In January 2023, after new baseline imaging, we established a new plan of (integrated) care with our new team.
Amy completed four HER2+ standard targeted therapy infusions of Herceptin + Perjeta in early spring 2023 for the remaining HER2+ disease with “little to no” treatment response, and an increase in tumor size. A recheck biopsy showed additional HER2 neu expression, and targeted chemotherapy (Enhertu) was ordered with hopes of better treatment response.
Amy’s strong desire is to continue to incorporate integrative therapies so long as resources are available, in order to maximize the effectiveness of treatment and help her body fight this disease well, while managing side effects. (All held loosely, based on risk of developing resistance, recurrence of the original Triple-Negative disease and risk of advancing neuropathy.)
In December 2023, it was concluded after several reviews by our care team that the targeted HER2 neu therapy was not working. Early Jan 2024, amy completed a functional treatment through RGCC called SOT (Supportive Oligonucleotide Therapy). In Jan 2024 a repeat PET revealed mixed results, with some decrease in primary tumor and axilla, while some increase in axilla and one new node in the AP Window/Mediastinal area. This new node moved Amy from Stage 3 to a clinical Stage 4 disease.
We continue to persevere, with hope. What began as a "five-month" journey has continued for more than two years of active treatment, taking one step at a time. We are grateful for the medical teams who have come alongside us to help us navigate our unique situation. We have weighed numerous mixed professional opinions, and we have relied heavily on our team, and ultimately our faith to help us know what is best for “us” and best for treating Amy individually and wholly as we walk this out one step at a time.
As this journey has been much longer than we ever anticipated, we have finally found ourselves in a place of financial need. After a harder season of Curt’s business still impacted by the pandemic, and a critical job loss, we have found we can no longer keep up with our bills and some of our most critical care (Mayo Clinic, RGCC and all Functional therapies) have been out-of-network and out-of-pocket. Over the past year of this journey, we have exhausted our resources, including our entire savings, to carry us through to this point. We are grateful for the treatments we have been able to do so far, but very much appreciate any assistance to continue to receive the care that has been the most effective, and the best chance for Amy’s complete healing. We are so very grateful and absolutely could not walk this road without your help. Thank you for your support!
