Description

A low income breast cancer patient and her daughter speak of all the difficulties it has added in their life.

Transcript

Helping Doctors Beat Cancer Part 3/7 Jennifer Whitney: Elonzer Erwin is struggling with that reality. Elonzer Erwin: They didn’t say breast cancer. They say they saw something. They saw a spot and they’re going to watch it. Jennifer Whitney: A year and a half later, Elonzer wasn’t feeling well. More test and a biopsy determined the spot was indeed malignant. She had a mastectomy. That was seven months ago. Elonzer Erwin: I haven’t gone. I was signed up staying home but in home care and I have received it last night of last July. Jennifer Whitney: Like many low income women especially women of color, Elonzer’s breast cancer was diagnosed in a more advanced state. Jessica Zeigler: It’s been like a rollercoaster ride because like from the beginning I was in shock and I’ll be the strong daughter. So I just try to be supportive and try not to break because she’s going to somewhere and she sees me breaking down and it kind make her stress even more so I try to keep her calm and collected. Jennifer Whitney: Elonzer is unable to sit up and keeps her arm elevated because it’s swelling. It’s one of many complications since her surgery. Jessica Zeigler: High blood pressure, heart problems, she didn’t have any kind of problems with high blood pressure before the cancer. Jennifer Whitney: Through all of this Jessica graduated from high school with honors and is being courted by some of the best colleges in the country Yale, Harvard, Cornell. But instead of going to school she has the responsibility of staying home with her mom. Jessica Zeigler: When she’s feeling like she can't make it at home anymore she have to go to the emergency she deserves better. She deserves someone to come out to her home and assess her situation and play the role that her daughter has.