Former QVC Host Antonella Nester Battling Breast Cancer and Lymphoma & Asks For Help With Hospital Bills; What Are the Treatment Options?

Now, Nester is facing yet another life obstacle as she juggles breast cancer and medical bills. One of Nester’s friends Jayne Hansen created a GoFundMe where she shared that Nester had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and had a lump removed from her arm. However, after that lump was removed doctors found another lump this one in her breast. After examining the lump Nester has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will need to go through treatment.

Related: Remembering Singer and Activist Nina Simone Who Died of Breast Cancer 18 Years Ago Today; What Are the Screening Options for This Disease?

According to Hansen, Nester will need to go through surgery as well as chemotherapy and radiation. Nester and her husband have lost their jobs this past year and the medical bills will be difficult to pay. So far, the GoFundMe has raised nearly $87,000 of their $150,000 goal and Hansen is imploring people to help Nester and her family.

“As we all know the bills for cancer and its treatments are astronomical! She has tried to offset all of it by using their savings, 401k and selling their house,” Hansen writes. “They are trying so hard!  Having done so much for those around her and always taking the time to ask how others are doing and what she can do to help them. Now is the time for us to help Antonella and Chris.”

Dr. Nina Shah shares some advice on how to get help with cancer bills

On April 18, Nester took to Facebook to give all of us an update on her treatment progress. She shared that during a visit with her oncologist her prognosis is looking promising, and she’ll be going through chemotherapy for three months starting in May. Due to her family selling their house and possessions, Nester and her husband are living on a boat and plan on sailing to Philadelphia where she’ll be starting treatment. She’ll receive the treatment through a port, which is an access area implanted under the skin of the chest. She also shared that she’ll consider shaving her head during chemo as opposed to letting it fall out as a side-effect.

Breast Cancer: Considering a Mastectomy

When faced with breast cancer, or a higher risk of developing breast cancer, some women may choose to go through a surgical procedure to remove the cancer. This is called a mastectomy, which is the removal of the breast. A double mastectomy means the removal of both breasts. There are a number of factors to weigh when considering a mastectomy, chief among them is whether breast-conserving surgery (or lumpectomy) is possible. Your doctor will look at the size and features of your tumor as well as your family history in order to make a recommendation.

Related: Should I Have a Lumpectomy or Mastectomy?

Every patient is different, and ultimately the decision is up to you. However, it’s important to know all your options and how it factors into long-term survival. Breast cancer treatment has come a long way, so there is often numerous treatment options to consider and think over.

Experts share when you should consider a mastectomy

Breast Cancer: Chemo & Radiation

For some women, chemotherapy and radiation can be done on their own or alongside a surgical procedure. The purpose of radiation is to kill cancer cells in a targeted way. With breast cancer, it is often used after surgery to kill off any cancer cells that may remain in the breast or surrounding area. However, there have been some debates concerning the proper radiation procedure for breast cancer. These debates include whether to radiate the whole breast or part of the breast, whether some patients even need radiation at all, and which radiation techniques offer the best outcomes with the least side effects.

Related: Paying It Forward: Breast Cancer Survivor Dr. Beverly Zavaleta Shares Chemo Experience to Help Others Living Through It

There's been a huge shift in how chemotherapy is given to people with breast cancer in the past year, and it could save thousands of women’s lives in the future. Chemotherapy can be extremely taxing on the body, and now doctors have a way of learning whether a woman will be able to go through the treatment and avoid serious side effects this is called the Oncotype DX test. Whether someone is given chemo will depend on their age and their Oncotype score. If a person's score is low, that means their prognosis will not improve with chemotherapy, and they are spared the treatment.

Dr. Elizabeth Comen explains how this test can help determine whether chemotherapy is a good treatment option

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