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Aug 13, 2023

Family of PC grad holding raffle to raise cancer treatment funds

A local family is seeking the community's support to raise money for their daughter's breast cancer treatments, and they're currently selling raffle tickets for a Razorback-themed giveaway. Brenda and

A local family is seeking the community's support to raise money for their daughter's breast cancer treatments, and they're currently selling raffle tickets for a Razorback-themed giveaway.

Brenda and Paul Blaylock's daughter, Brooke (Blaylock) Phifer, was diagnosed with invasive carcinoma breast cancer in February at 30-years-old. And while early screenings helped her get a diagnosis and start treatment before the cancer spread to her lymph nodes, the cost of care has proved to be a heavy burden.

According to the National Library of Medicine, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the average cost for breast cancer treatment can range from $60,000 to $134,000 depending on the severity of the disease at the time of discovery.

Luckily for Brooke, her cancer was detected very early, but it could have been a different story, her mother said. Brenda Blaylock said that Brooke only sought genetic and general cancer risk assessments after it was recommended to her by a Little Rock nurse practitioner.

"This has definitely given me a new perspective on the importance of preventative screening for women, and early detection," she said. "If she had waited until she was 40, she would be Stage V and wouldn't have a chance."

Brenda Blaylock said her daughter visited the Cornerstone Clinic for Women in Little Rock earlier this year, seeking fertility advice. She saw nurse practitioner Lisa Grummer, who, after learning that Brooke had a family history of cancer, recommended advanced cancer screenings.

Brooke was tested for a genetic predisposition to several types of cancer, and that came back negative. But a cancer risk assessment found that she was at a high risk for breast cancer, so she was subsequently referred to a breast specialist at CARTI. She qualified for preventative measures, including two mammograms annually – usually only recommended for women 40 or over -- , an MRI each year and examinations by a breast specialist.

It was during her MRI screening for the year that Brooke's cancer was detected. In April, she had a lumpectomy, a type of breast cancer surgery where the tumor and some of the tissue around it is removed. And now, she just completed a four-week course of radiation, which included 20 separate sessions.

According to the National Cancer Institute, another DHS agency, the incidence of breast cancer in the U.S. has been on the rise in recent years. For women born in the 70s, the risk of developing breast cancer was about 10%, meaning one in 10 women would likely develop breast cancer; now that risk is around 12%, or one in eight.

Brenda Blaylock attributes Brooke's positive prognosis – she's due for a followup soon to check for any remaining evidence of cancer – to her preventative care and early start on treatment. She said she thinks all women should have access to early breast cancer screeings.

"If we know women who are in their late 20s and early 30s are being diagnosed with cancer, the government needs to step in and intervene and make insurance companies responsible for that early screening," Brenda Blaylock said.

Brooke graduated from Parkers Chapel High School, where she cheered on the Trojans for six years, in 2010. Since her surgery, she has turned 31. She is married to Ricky, and works as a massage therapist in Beebe. They were trying to start a family when Brooke was diagnosed, her mom said.

"When she was diagnosed, they had been trying unsuccessfully for two years, so the diagnosis has put that on hold," Brenda Blaylock said.

Now that she's finished her radiation treatments, Brooke will start taking Tamoxifen, a hormone treatment that's supposed to reduce the risk that her cancer might return. The drug will simulate menopause in some ways, and Brenda Blaylock said getting Brooke's insurance to cover fertility care has been another road block.

"The breast cancer was hormone-positive – the cancer can feed on hormones – so the meds will suppress her hormones, put her into early menopause for five years, and if she's still cancer-free, then she can try to get pregnant again," Brenda Blaylock explained. "Her doctors referred her to a fertility clinic. By the time she can try, she'll be 36. It's really sad that insurance doesn't cover fertility treatments when it's needed in the case of a person who's suffering from cancer."

Brooke also had to take time off work, both to recover from her surgery in April, and again after receiving radiation treatment, which her mother said gave her severe burns.

In spite of all the challenges she faces, Brenda Blaylock said her daughter has stayed positive.

"With any diagnosis like this, it was alarming and she felt fear, all the emotions that come with that, but after the initial shock, she's really had a positive attitude," Blaylock said. "She's researched, done all the healthy things she can do to take care of her body to try to prevent something like this happening again, or any other kind of illness."

To help Brooke start getting back on her feet now that her treatments are mostly over, the Blaylock family is holding a raffle fundraiser. Brenda Blaylock said they don't have a goal for how much they're hoping to raise, but that any support can help.

Young's Funeral Home, where Brooke's grandmother, Nelda Blaylock, works, has donated a 20-quart Arkansas Razorback Yeti cooler, valued at $300; it will hold additional prizes for the raffle winner, including two tickets to an Arkansas football game, an encased, autographed football signed by head Hog Sam Pittman, an Arkansas tumbler and a hat.

"I felt the need to help one of my employee's granddaughters. And that's a cool Yeti cooler," said David Garner, owner of Young's.

Raffle tickets are available for $5 each, or $20 for five tickets. Tickets may be purchased at Diversified Services, 709 Timberland Dr., and Wild Roots Studio, 2662 Haynesville Hwy, or through links posted on Paul or Brenda Blaylock's Facebook or Instagram pages, or via PayPal, CashApp or Venmo to @bravelikebrooke23.

The raffle drawing will be broadcast live on Facebook from Young's on Friday, Sept. 15, at noon.

Brenda Blaylock said Brooke's early access to treatment might have saved her life, and she encouraged other women with a family history of cancer to seek similar care.

"Her breast surgeon, the specialist she sees, did commend her on following through with those opportunities she was given; so many young women her age might find out they qualify but don't take advantage of it," she said. "Her being proactive with her health might have saved her life."

She also said it's important to care for loved ones suffering from serious disease as humans, not just patients.

"The most important thing we can do as friends and family of cancer patients is to continually love, support and care for them the entire journey. It is typical to initially extend these actions upon learning of the patient's diagnosis, then we go back to living our lives, while the patient continues fighting and living with cancer daily," Brenda Blaylock said. "It is such an emotional journey and the unknowns can attempt to steal your joy. That is why the emotional support of the patient is so very important."

The family also has a GoFundMe fundraiser online that is open for donations. It's at gofundme.com/f/brooke-blaylock-phifer-breast-cancer-battle.

"Financial support helps ease the burden and worry of medical debt and costs associated with traveling for treatment," Brenda Blaylock said. "But love and prayers are what give the cancer patient unexplainable strength. Our family is grateful for the strength that our community has provided Brooke during her battle and the strength they have also given each of us. We are also appreciative of the financial support that continues to help alleviate the medical debt associated with a cancer diagnosis."

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