Hello, my name is Nola Ingram & I am stage 4 with Merkel Cell Carcinoma Cancer. I was first diagnosed Jan 27, 2025. I had a tumor on the outside of my left thigh. I was scheduled for surgery in March 2025. Once surgery was done & lymph nodes were removed, I recovered for 6 weeks. I then went & completed 5 weeks of radiation. After radiation I had a blood test that showed I had tumor fragments in my bloodstream. In September I found out the cancer had metastasized to my spine, my bones, my pancreas, my L1 in my spine, & T1-4 in my spine & the main tumor was on my C6 vertebrae which grew to the point it was sitting on nerves. I was hospitalized & I was told I couldn’t have surgery to remove the tumor in my neck because the doctors were afraid if they did surgery it could paralyze me. So, I began Immunotherapy. After 13 days in the hospital I was released. I had another hospitalization in Nov 2025 for 10 days where I had 5 days of radiation to the front of my neck with hopes of shrinking the tumor so it would release the pressure on my nerves. After radiation, I began having issues swallowing. In Dec 2025, I went to see my Radiologist Oncologist & told him the symptoms I was having from the immunotherapy & from the radiation. My Radiologist Oncologist consulted with my oncologist who then admitted me to the hospital. While in the hospital, my oncologist ordered that the immunotherapy be stopped & chemotherapy was to begin. During my hospitalization I couldn’t eat, drink & barely able to swallow because of the radiation. Once I was released from the hospital, I continued my chemotherapy. My chemotherapy was at the cancer center in Morgantown WV which is 3.5 hrs from my home. My whole team of doctor’s are located in Morgantown at the cancer center. I finished chemotherapy and at the end another blood test was done & the cancer was still in my body. Now, I am back on immunotherapy with hopes I don’thave the same side effects that I had before. I travel to Morgantown at least 2 or 3 times a month. Traveling 3.5 hrs away that many times is very hard on my car & now there are things wrong with my car that is going to need to be fixed. I am on SSI & as we all know thats very little income a month. I never ask anyone to help me because I’m very embarrassed but it’s come to the point that I have to because that is my only transportation to my appointments. If you can help it would be greatly appreciated more than anyone knows. If not, please remember me in your prayers. Thank you very much!!
