Marie-Ange is a 30-year-old mother of three living in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. To support her family, Marie-Ange worked as a street merchant selling cosmetic products. About two years ago, Marie-Ange felt a small mass in her left breast. She saw a doctor, who told her that the mass was not dangerous and prescribed her some medication. Noticing that the mass did not go away, Marie-Ange sought a second opinion from a doctor at our medical partner’s care center, St. Luc Family Hospital.
Doctors at St. Luc did a biopsy of the mass and diagnosed Marie-Ange with breast cancer. However, before she could begin chemotherapy Marie-Ange found out that she was pregnant. Doctors therefore decided to forego chemotherapy and conduct a mastectomy.
After giving birth, Marie-Ange was still feeling discomfort at the site of the mass. She returned to the hospital to have the mass re-examined and doctors suggested she undergo a second mastectomy and then chemotherapy.
Our medical partner, Innovating Health International, is requesting $1,085 to fund the surgery. Marie-Ange is hopeful that after treatment she will be able to return to her job and continue to care for her young family. Her surgery is scheduled for August 26.