Cancer.
It’s the dreaded word nobody wants to hear come out of their doctor’s mouth at any age.
But it’s especially terrifying when that’s the diagnosis and you’re only 19 years old.
‘I say I’m stuck in a nightmare. That’s how I describe this entire situation,? said LaCresha Levy, a 2014 Oxford High School graduate. ‘Every time I go to sleep, I think I’ll wake up and I’ll be back in my dorm room, but I’m not.?
In December, Levy, a Pontiac resident who attended OHS for four years, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) during her first semester at the University of Michigan.
NETs are ‘relatively rare tumors,? according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, that develop in the cells that make up the neuroendocrine system, which produces hormones that regulate the workings of various organs. Neuroendocrine tumors can arise in various places in the body, most commonly the pancreas, and can spread to the liver.
‘They don’t know the point of (origin),? said Levy, but the cancer is ‘showing signs? in her liver and was found in the lymph nodes in her abdomen.
Levy is grateful to her high school science instructor, Monica Petrous, for teaching her ‘so many medical basics.? She said this knowledge ‘really came in handy? when speaking with her doctors.
Prior to being diagnosed with cancer, Levy had been experiencing a variety of symptoms since September. They included diarrhea, vomiting, back pain and a swollen abdomen.
‘I was feeling horrible stomach pains,? she said.
In early December, Levy had surgery to deal with portal hypertension caused by a blood clot in her liver.
Portal hypertension is a condition involving high blood pressure in the portal vein system, which links the stomach, intestine, spleen and pancreas to the liver.
It was during this surgery that a swollen lymph node was discovered in Levy’s abdomen. ‘That’s where they found the cancer,? she said.
Levy is undergoing treatments and ‘taking a small break? from college life in Ann Arbor while she focuses on her health.
She’s hoping for the best.
‘No doctor has given me an expiration date, thankfully,? she said. ‘They just tell me to stay strong, think positive and believe in God. I feel like it does help.?
Levy also likes to focus on her mother, Bobbie Brown. She is disabled, unable to work and raised Levy all by herself. ‘I want to stay here and be with her,? Levy said.
Although she’s trying to maintain a positive attitude, Levy is working on a backup plan just in case her current treatments don’t work.
There’s a potentially more effective version of the medicine she’s currently taking being offered as part of some clinical trials.
The only catch is Levy needs to raise $40,000 because she said the medicine costs $9,800 per dose and she would need a minimum of four doses.
She would have to go to Texas for the treatments, so she would also need money for travel expenses, food, lodging, etc.
This treatment is still in the clinical trial phase in the United States, but, according to Levy, they’ve been using it in Sweden for years with ‘promising results.?
Levy noted there’s a clinical trial involving this same treatment in Iowa and it’s free, however, the number of patients accepted is limited.
‘It’s harder to get into,? she said.
Since Feb. 9, Levy has been soliciting donations for the treatments at GoFundMe.com, a popular do-it-yourself fund-raising website.
When asked why people should fund her, Levy summed up her pitch with four simple, yet very powerful words ? ‘I want to live.?
So far, she’s received $3,135 in donations from 93 people.
‘It surprises me that so many people I don’t know have opened their hearts and are trying to help me,? Levy said. ‘I’m very glad they’ve donated to me.?
Levy is anxious to beat cancer and get back to enjoying her life. She loves volleyball, watching movies, roller-skating, hanging out with friends, helping young children and swimming, ‘even though I’m not that good at it.?
She’s also anxious to get back to U-M and resume her studies to become a psychologist. ‘People are always asking me for advice. I figured I might as well get paid for it,? she said with a chuckle.