Linda’s Story - Lazarex Cancer Patient

Why I am involved with Lazarex
by Linda Quintero

Read what motivates Linda: Linda’s Story

Being diagnosed with cancer is a life changing experience in so many ways.
It made spending time with my then 19 year old son a priority to me so I took him to Disneyland on his birthday. Little did I know it was the day of the Disney Half Marathon! When I saw those medals around the necks of so many people, I thought to myself “How can I get one of those awesome medals?” I asked and was told I would have to participate in the Disney Half Marathon. I had never run before and didn’t even quite know the distance of a half marathon but I was determined to do this.

That is when I found out about the Lazarex Cancer Foundation and their “Team for Life” and that I could be a part of it. I hadn’t heard of Lazarex Cancer Foundation before and having had a lot of experience in fundraising and donating to many causes & charities, I wanted to know who they were and what they were all about before I joined this team.

I did my research and was amazed at what I found out. Seeing what they were all about, seeing how much money went directly to the patients and how much went to operations, I knew I wanted to be a part of this. I felt really good about Lazarex Cancer Foundation and knew my family and friends I would ask to help me would feel good too!

Another factor that played into this was that I had just lost my 55 year old aunt to cancer just days before I joined this team. I had the privilege of being with her in her last days and hours of her life. I vividly remember when she was sent home being told she had no other options. I got to see first hand a person who was not ready to die go through her final stage with no hope. I remember her saying “if I could just have 3 more years, just a little more time” because the son she left behind was 15. She was one of those who were told she had no other options.

I thought I would just run this event, cross the finish line and it would be over. I have since run many other half marathons and I am training for my first full marathon!
If I can help someone have just another day, give them some hope, I want to do it and that is what motivates me to be a part of Lazarex Cancer Foundation.

Linda Quintero
Team for Life Member, Volunteer & 6 year cancer survivor
Linda Quintero lives in Oxnard, CA with her husband Cornell and sons, Steven & Eric.
Linda has completed 3 half marathons as a Team for Life member; most recently as Team Leader for The Honey Badgers in the 2012 Tinker Bell ½ Marathon. She is looking forward to the Disneyland ½ Marathon in September. Linda is a Realtor with Cobalt Realty Group in Camarillo, CA.

About Lazarex: www.lazarex.org
Lazarex gives hope and life to end stage cancer patients with all forms of cancer by bridging a gap in cancer care. We help navigate clinical trial options and provide financial assistance so patients can take advantage of medical breakthroughs in clinical trials today because they may not have a tomorrow. Our mission is to provide resources for cancer patients who’ve been told they have no other options, but who are not yet done with their journey in life and refuse to give up now.

Have questions or need support?
Lazarex Cancer Foundation
PO Box 741 | Danville, CA | 94526
toll free 877-866-9523 | office 925-820-4517 | fax 925-552-7305
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Champions Event for Lazarex Cancer Foundation

Football legends Dave Casper and Jerry Rice come to Berkeley's Claremont Hotel to help cancer research

The Champions Party Fundraiser for Lazarex Cancer Foundation raised: $21,000 to help late-stage cancer patients find FDA-approved clinical trials and then supporting those patients' travel, lodging and other expenses incurred as they receive treatment. NFL legends Jerry Rice and Dave Casper attended.

Have questions or need support?
Lazarex Cancer Foundation
PO Box 741 | Danville, CA | 94526
toll free 877-866-9523 | office 925-820-4517 | fax 925-552-7305
Lazarex | Team For Life | Blog | Life Through Music

Introducing Carol Meyer

Carol Meyer recently joined Lazarex as our Volunteer Coordinator. She quickly became a friend, a valuable asset and deeply appreciated member in our organization.

Carol Meyer joined the Lazarex Cancer Foundation team in Summer 2011 as a volunteer. Looking to serve in an organization committed to supporting others, Carol is grateful to have found Lazarex.  Like so many, cancer has profoundly affected the lives of several members of Carol's family. She is thankful to have the opportunity to assist those who find themselves in a similar situation. Presently, Carol coordinates volunteers for the various events and fundraisers within which Lazarex participates. Carol also fills various support roles for the other Lazarex team members.

Carol holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of California, Berkeley and California State University, East Bay respectively, and she has over 10 years' experience in the financial services industry. Her favorite role, however, is as Mom; she is the parent of a daughter, Kristiana and a son, Jackson. 

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Message from founder - Lazarex Cancer Foundation

Dear Friend,

As you might imagine Lazarex takes great pride in the work it does and the Very Important Patients we are able to help. While that satisfaction is always its own reward, it is exciting to receive some external recognition.
April 28 was proclaimed Lazarex Cancer Foundation and CAA Day by the City of Las Vegas and separately by Clark County in honor of our sold out Las Vegas Soul Festival and the battle we fight every day on behalf of late stage cancer patients. Promoter Jimmy Smith of CAA International had the vision and drive that created the Las Vegas Soul Festival.
In May, several pictures from the impressive Champions Party and Poker Night with Jerry Rice, Dave Casper, Steve Elkington and Phil Hellmuth, benefiting Lazarex, made the Faces page of Diablo Magazine. You can check that out at Faces, Diablo Magazine.
We celebrated our new offices at 50 Oak Court in Danville on May 31 with an Open House and Ribbon Cutting with the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce. It was a chance to reacquaint ourselves with old friends, make new friends and share our story once again. We particularly want to thank Do Good Vines for donating the wine for the event. Lazarex gets a percentage of their sales, so please give them a look!
Lazarex will be a sponsor at the Danville Chamber's 2012 Aloha Classic on July 23 at the Diablo Country Club. Look for us in the program and at our assigned tee where you'll find some of the Lazarex staff. You can sign up to play by visiting  www.danvillechambercart.com.
I'll close with the celebration of two birthday milestones this spring. Brittany Hess turned 30, an occasion her family never expected to experience when she received her diagnosis 12 years ago; and Michael Robbert turned 37, his first birthday after being declared cancer free earlier this year. Congratulations, Brittany and Michael!
Please take a moment to reflect on all the goodness you help make possible through Lazarex. After all, it's about life

Sincerely,
Dana Dornsife
President, Lazarex Cancer Foundation

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Victoria's Story - Lazarex Cancer Patient Story

Victoria and her husband Andy live in New York with their two children. In September 2011 she received a bone marrow transplant as treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 2012
We are so thankful for the help you have given us. The trip into the city to visit my doctors is not an easy ride. I am not able to do it alone; in fact it takes me the whole next day to recover from the trip. If it were not for your help Andy, my husband, would have had to take a leave of absence to take me to all my appointments.
Your help has been a blessing on so many levels by giving me the independence to get to my necessary appointments, the financial peace, your warm reception and support when we call your office. We feel we are part of the Lazarex community and that is why Andy was so enthusiastic and motivated to represent Lazarex in the ING NYC Marathon. We believe that when you do something with the right intention you are supported. We are thrilled and so appreciative of the support our friends and family have given us throughout this journey and, now, for the marathon.
According to my doctors it will take up to a year (possibly longer) to rebuild my immune system following this transplant. It will be a year on September 22, 2012. There are no words to describe our appreciation for Lazarex's support through this journey...it is the key in recovery for my whole body.
2011
A week after a routine visit to my internist to monitor my thyroid levels I got a call from the office referring me to a hematologist. The nurse merely said the doctor wanted me to see a hematologist and gave me the name of two doctors in my area. I got an appointment on April 20th, which was about a month away. I did not feel an urgency to go sooner since I had no major symptoms except for some fatigue and felt that was easily explained by my long hours of work as a chiropractor and teacher as well as having 2 children, a husband and home.
When I saw the hematologist in April she tested a sample of my blood and then reported that the results indicated leukemia. My jaw dropped, I could not believe it! She said a bone marrow test would verify the diagnosis. I had it done in her office that day. She called me a few days later to say that there was definitely a malignant condition in my bone marrow. I had some form of leukemia so she referred me to a specialist in blood diseases at a local university hospital.
The following week I saw the specialist who determined that I had MDS (a form of pre-leukemia) that could transform anytime into AML (acute myeloid leukemia). Either way it was imperative I receive a bone marrow transplant and undergo chemotherapy. In the meantime I saw 6 different oncologists in a quest to prove them wrong. I could not believe that I had this diagnosis. Unfortunately they all said the same thing.
In a last attempt to find some other reason for these abnormal blood results I saw my dentist about a mouth sore that a month later had not healed. My dentist x-rayed and referred me to an oral surgeon who did a biopsy. The leukemic cells in my bone marrow had migrated to my mouth. This was viewed as a metastasis and is treated as if the MDS transformed into AML.
The following Monday, June 3rd, I was admitted to Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to begin induction therapy and intensive chemotherapy. After another round of chemotherapy I had my stem cell transplant on September 22, 2011.

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