UPDATE 10/28/2022:

If anyone wants to support my fundraiser for my birthday, your help is appreciated. Thanks to all of you, I'll be able to get all of the prescribed, costly vitamin c injections during radiation. I will also be seeking to finance a hyperbaric chamber for my house. The medical grade therapy I need is $300 a session. I'll have to find a less costly alternative that looks like a used, the under-warranty hyperbaric chamber will save me tens and thousands of dollars over the next five years. I've got to aggressively attack the stem cells and prevent a recurrence, and it'll be a five-year marathon.

Yesterday I found the likely culprit of cancer that's dying, a mutation of gene TP35. When this happens, your cells don't receive messages to stop replicating, making tumors possible.

After being diagnosed in February, I discovered my father died of leukemia tied to agent orange exposure in Vietnam during his tour as a war slave conscript to the Federal Government. I likely inherited this mutated gene from him.

Had I known this information early in life, as you can see by how I radically adapt to a new lifestyle with new information, I would have made different anti-cancer lifestyle choices. The more I go through this journey, the more upset I become that DNA precision medicine is not part of standard care. We are not one-size-fits-all replicas but unique individuals with specialized medical needs, which she anticipated through understanding our genetics.

This is not good news, and it'll take me some time to process. Today is my 40th birthday, so I'm not getting upset about it right now. My first worry is whether this gene could be passed to my kids. I'll speak to both doctors on Monday about what this means. But for now, I am choosing to understand that knowledge is power. Millions of cancer patients don't get genetic testing (I pushed for Signatera and helped MD Anderson in the ordering process), and now that I know the likely culprit, I can attempt to target this gene.

This brings me to hyperbaric oxygen. Several studies show it as efficacious with cancer patients carrying the mutated gene, so I'm going all in.

I love you all,

Tiffany

UPDATE 10/11/2022:

Update fam: I had my first radiation consult at MD Anderson last week and return tomorrow to get fitted for my sweet new protective gear. Of all the gauntlets I've run since diagnosis in February, this one scared me as much as chemotherapy while pregnant. I'll have to radiate my neck, clavicle, underarm, and chest wall. No other way to slice it.

But my radiologist, Dr. Eric Strom, threw his big doctor energy around and reminded me he's been curing cancer as long as I've been alive, and I turn 40 on October 28th, so that's a long damn time. Ha! He enrolled me in a Phase III clinical trial to test proton vs photon-guided radiation, starting October 18. This is a newer procedure, one he believes is superior to old-school radiation. I'm here for that.

The surreal gratitude I felt while sitting in that chair, accepting access to the latest cutting-edge technology, overwhelmed me with determination and confidence that it would be alright. There are women worldwide who would do anything to be in my shoes, and I think of them daily. I will be away from my kids in Houston through December, but I will travel back over the weekends and finish before Christmas. Radiation is daily, Monday through Friday, with no breaks except for Thanksgiving Day. Then the third standard of care gauntlet is complete, and the alternative treatments begin.

Today is my daughter's fifth birthday, and I'll do whatever I've got to do to see her sixth. More on this later over at Patreon. Love to all.

Tiffany

UPDATE 8/16/22:

Thank everyone who gave to the GiveButter campaign or snagged things from my Amazon Wishlist. I cannot thank you enough.

Most importantly, you have shown my 11 and 4-year-old children the power of giving. I’ve kept them shielded from most of the chemotherapy experience, but they’ve witnessed your generosity repeatedly bring me to tears. You have set an example of the power of giving, kindness, and community, and I love you for it.

As for my treatment funding, thank you to everyone that donated. I’ve tried to send everyone personal thank yous, but I’ll make sure that’s done by this month.

I'm halfway to my fundraising goal on Givebutter, which takes 0% fees. I’ve adjusted the goal to accurately reflect the new costs, so if you’re compelled to donate, I would appreciate you very much.

The fund is now for an alternative + standard of care clinic specializing in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer treatment and corresponding treatments. I am expected to have residual cancer after surgery this September, which must be treated aggressively.

At this time, I am recommended to have one year of hyperbaric oxygen, weekly high dosage Vitamin C infusions, and supplementation for CoC Protocol. Countless triple-negative breast cancer survivors with a worse prognosis than me have done this protocol and beat this cancer. Thank you all.

Love to all,

Tiffany

Tiffany Madison was diagnosed with stage 3C triple-negative breast cancer. She was 28 weeks pregnant. Tiffany is a dedicated mother of two, a military spouse, and an entrepreneur who has tirelessly dedicated her life to her family, veterans, and civil liberties causes. Tiffany and her husband, Matt, an active-duty 19-year combat veteran, are expecting their third child, Madeline. Matt was just granted emergency leave from Operation Atlantic Resolve over increasing tensions with Ukraine.

Within weeks of diagnosis, doctors recommended pregnancy-safe chemo to urgently stop stage 4 progression. She delivered Madeline at 37 weeks via c-section and immediately resumed chemotherapy for five months. Her next phases are immunotherapy, mastectomy, radiation, and attending a complementary treatment clinic. Triple-negative breast cancer is fast and deadly and requires an equally aggressive response.

This diagnosis was a complete shock, and they are gearing up for the fight. If Tiffany and Matt have ever touched your life in any way, any support is deeply appreciated.

TIFFANY'S FAMILY NEEDS

Tiffany has worked part-time throughout chemotherapy. Where possible, she is exchanging consulting services to reduce costs and fundraising only what is needed.

She will need the following support to help her fight:

STILL FUNDRAISING: Costly immunotherapy injections for addressing aggressive cancer's ability to spread and side effect management (not covered by insurance)
STILL FUNDRAISING: Alternative cancer therapies clinic after radiation (Germany or Mexico).
COVERED: 12 months of at-cost supplemental health insurance (for services not covered by primary insurance)
COVERED: Integrative Nutritionist through MD Anderson (not covered by insurance).
COVERED: Food and supplements to match treatment regimen (determined at each phase of treatment by MD Anderson's team)
COVERED: Excess expenses for lodging and travel support from Austin to Houston for 12 months (Tiffany will stay at discounted lodging options)

HOW TO SUPPORT

Resources are needed in the form of cash and in-kind donations. Some of our friends have requested that we have specific items we need to be listed so they can help. We put together a wish list for those that would like to support that way: Amazon Wishlist

CashApp: $mstiffanymadison

Venmo: Tiffany-Madison-5

For Tiffany's friends wishing to contribute cryptocurrency:

Bitcoin: 17soktXDU2uCi57QiAFV1UVJRUpqthYpWD

ETH: 0x64518c29bfF6058AA69bd29D1FE668Df437F7e3B

Tether: 0x257b2872e9f42a926d23991297af60072e58b814

USDC - Coinbase: 0xaEE209B1569a34B27eFAe9Bb9D6798dA09526D0E

For those wishing to help with meals during treatment, DoorDash gift cards are tremendously helpful: https://www.amazon.com/DoorDas...

WholeFoods gift cards: https://www.amazon.com/Whole-F...

ABOUT TIFFANY

Tiffany is an 8th-generation Texan from Dallas living in Austin, Texas.
A dedicated military wife, Tiffany, and Matt have been married for 10 years and together for 12. She has stood by Matt's side through five Global War on Terror combat deployments.
Tiffany is a bonus mom to Liam (11) and her daughter Charlotte (4).
Before having Charlotte in 2017, Tiffany endured seven miscarriages and multiple interventions. In 2018, she was told conception wasn't possible without similar interventions. Tiffany and Matt had no plans to conceive. After beating COVID-Delta in July, they were shocked to find out she was pregnant with Madeline.
Without Madeline, they would not have not likely found the breast cancer until too late. Tiffany was not due for her first mammogram for another two years.

ABOUT MATT

CW4 Matthew Fogg has earned a hard-won legacy of competence, self-service, and humility in the US Army. He has given to this great nation five combat deployments and one non-combat deployment to Germany. He served 52 months overseas service in Iraq and Afghanistan as an AH-64 aviator. Matt served six years with the 101st Aviation Brigade and received a Bronze Star, Six Air Medals, and multiple pending medals.

Matt retires after 20 years of service this year as the 1st Air Cavalary Brigade Master Gunner based out of Fort Hood, Texas.

ABOUT TIFFANY'S DIAGNOSIS

At four months pregnant, Tiffany found a lump and began treating presumed early-stage mastitis. Mastitis is the blocking of milk ducts and can occur in pregnant women, and Tiffany painfully endured this condition with her daughter. While awaiting her radiology appointments, Tiffany proactively and faithfully followed mastitis treatment protocol and sought lactation specialist support. She used lactation warmers, cabbage, and lymphatic massage to break up the ducts. Unfortunately, this was not mastitis but breast cancer. Mastitis protocols broke up the tumor and spread the disease into her underarm and clavicle, advancing her stage.

Never in a million years did she imagine she had breast cancer. She has no family history of breast cancer; however, her father was exposed to Agent Orange during his conscription to Vietnam.

Tiffany has been given multiple treatment plans in three weeks:

Tiffany was biopsied on February 14th and diagnosed on February 17th with invasive, aggressive triple-negative breast cancer. Since diagnosis, her stage has rapidly progressed from 2 to 3C.
On February 17th, she was told she would need an immediate mastectomy while pregnant, chemotherapy, then a planned C-section, followed by six months of chemotherapy and radiation.
On February 24th, she sought a second opinion at MD Anderson, the top cancer hospital in the world.
March 3rd, Tiffany was accepted to MD Anderson.
March 5th, MD Anderson found more cancer, and their protocol changed her treatment plan. Her pregnancy-safe chemotherapy regimen started on March 8th. Tiffany is 8 months pregnant.
To prevent progression from staging 4, with two weeks to heal from chemo, she will undergo a planned cesarean for her daughter Madeline at 35 weeks, followed by 8 months of aggressive chemotherapy and immunotherapy, a mastectomy, and radiation to begin her survivorship.

ABOUT TIFFANY'S WORK

Tiffany works tirelessly in the veteran community advocating for combining Eastern and Western medicine to heal. This is why, with the full endorsement of her oncologist and MD Anderson's Integrative Health department, she is fundraising to assist with expenses and aid her in getting the best holistic treatment possible. This belief in combining both approaches gives Tiffany the best chance possible of beating this aggressive, deadly cancer.

In addition to being a military wife, Tiffany has dedicated her life to veteran causes.
- She has co-founded and led multiple successful veteran services organizations.
- She co-founded Ryan’s Project, a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to getting wounded Marines to their annual birthday ball.
- She is a former veteran’s crisis counselor and Washington Times journalist that covered veterans’ affairs, Middle East foreign policy, and international geopolitics.
- Tiffany served as city leader with Bunker Labs, a 501(c)(3) for veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs.
- Tiffany advises veteran mental health organizations, such as Sheepdog Program, an organization dedicated to integrating western and eastern modalities to treat veteran mental health with 21st-century strategies.
- Tiffany co-founded AMMA Healing, a wellness CBD brand dedicated to providing high-quality hemp-based products to the world. The company tagline is "modern tech meets ancient wisdom".

FROM TIFFANY

Thank you for supporting my family during this shocking, emotional time. The last few weeks have been an utter whirlwind between navigating this diagnosis, pregnancy, parenting, and supporting my business partners. I'm fighting to get my husband home from European deployment despite ratcheting tensions with Ukraine during the approaching treatment. He retires in six months after five combat deployments and 20 years of service. Together, we will take on this challenge and fight together.

In the last few weeks, I've realized this diagnosis opened a new community of survivors willing to offer more guidance, wisdom, and support than I ever imagined. Before launching this fund, I consulted them all to estimate costs associated with complementing my western medicine with nutritional support and integrative medicines, all of which my doctors agree will help me beat this aggressive, dangerous disease. Though I plan to work throughout treatment, any advocacy or support for my family that you feel called or inclined to provide is tremendously appreciated.

As a former journalist, I plan to document this journey to help others. I plan to share my research, resources, and any help I can provide to inspire others on this journey with me. I'm a hard woman to kill and plan to take this bull by the horns and kick it in the teeth (remind me of this bravado during chemo). I love all of you. My heart has been overwhelmed by the gratitude I have been shown, and I will reciprocate in any way I can.

Help Tiffany Madison's Breast Cancer Fight

Stage 3 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, and Fighting

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