In April 2019, I was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer. I underwent 1 year of chemotherapy, 33 radiation treatments, bilateral mastectomy (with emergent surgery due to large hematoma), total hysterectomy since my cancer was hormone driven and finally reconstruction. I was ready to start life anew cancer free but then started having weakness in my right hand and arm followed by debilitating pain. I was then diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome secondary to nerve damage caused by radiation and the traumatic second surgery after the mastectomy. I now have a spinal cord stimulator, am on an opioid regiment and have nerve blocks on a regular basis. There is a center in Tampa, FL that treats just complex regional pain syndrome, but they are out of network for my insurance. They offer the most state of art treatments including the research recommended high dose ketamine infusions which give me hope for more relief and less medications. Research shows up to 11 months of significant pain reduction. I would need the following funding to attend this treatment: Medical treatment: 12,750 (750 for evaluations, 3,000 for each Ketamine infusion and they do 4 days consecutive with increasing dosage) Lodging and meals for the 10 days my husband and I would be in Tampa: 2600 Travel costs: 1,325 (710 for flights and 615 for rental car) I have been placed on disability retirement due to this syndrome. This treatment gives me hope for less pain and an increased quality of life for me and my family. Thank you for your consideration of this campaign.
