There are the people we like, there are the people we love, there are those who challenge us, support us, help us grow, help us heal, and those who bring light into our lives. My beautiful cousin Yulia is all of those things and she has breast cancer.



Anyone who has met her has left her presence feeling warmer, safer, and happier. She has the ability to melt the iciest of demeanors, making her someone who brings people together and who many count on as a pillar of positivity in their own lives. Though I know this is likely a consistent reaction in this scenario, the words "She doesn't deserve this" or "Why her? Of all people, why her?" seem to be stuck on replay in my mind.



Yulia's response was completely opposite. "Why not me? I'm blessed to have good things in life, a beautiful family and a support system. Who better to get, fight, and defeat cancer than me?"



This is typical Yulia. And it's this positivity combined with the livelihood of her family that drive her everyday.



I'm reaching out to her friends and family for help. It's no surprise the financial burden that cancer brings and Yulia's case is no exception. Your donation will help support her out-of-pocket medical costs (treatments, copays, medication) and consequently, minimize the financial impact on her family.



I love her so much it hurt to make this more real by writing about it. But if you can help in any way, no matter how small, you'll justify sharing her story.





About Yulia's Cancer:



Yulia has Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in her right breast. This means that the cancer began in the milk ducts and moved out into her breast.



The initial biopsy on the lump was "favorable", meaning it is estrogen positive 100%, progesterone positive 100%, and Her2 negative. It also showed it was 1/2 inch in size. An MRI confirmed this information and additionally, showed that it has not spread to her lymph nodes.



Treatment will begin with a lumpectomy*, which is a surgical procedure that removes the lump of cancer cells from her breast. After a minimum of 2 weeks of recovery, she will then begin radiation.



Radiation will be be given to her in daily doses, 1 minute long each day, for a total of 6 weeks. This will not cause her to lose her hair but over time, it will make her very tired. Assuming all goes well with radiation, she will require hormone medication, Tamoxifen, for 5 years post-radiation.



*Yulia's lumpectomy is scheduled for Wednesday, October 18th and will be conducted by Dr. Sylvia Campbell.

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