Alice’s Story of Hope
Alice is 91 years old and living with breast cancer while managing significant financial strain. She receives treatment every two weeks at Penn State Health Cancer Institute and relies on paid transportation and support from friends to get to and from appointments.
Alongside her medical journey, Alice has been working to manage high household expenses on a fixed income, including costly winter oil bills that have been difficult to keep up with. Through Bringing Hope Home, she received assistance with her gas and oil expenses during a critical time.
She shared how that support helped ease her financial stress and made it possible to stay more comfortable in her home.
In Alice’s Own Words
“I am 91 years old, and I was first diagnosed with cancer in 2019. Over Christmas, I developed a really bad cough and shortness of breath I went to the doctor the next day and had a chest x-ray. The doctor called me with the news that I had several cancerous lesions in my lungs and needed to go for a PET scan later that same afternoon. The report came back that I had a primary breast tumor with metastasis to the lungs. I met with several doctors who felt that I could not have surgery, radiation or chemotherapy because some of the tumors were too close to my heart. After many many years of medication, biopsies, and scans, my scans are reported as stable. In January of 2026 my oncologist and I decided that since my scans were stable, I could take a break from some of my medications. I know I will have to go back on them or some other chemotherapy; but for now, I am enjoying the rest. The medications and treatment I’ve been on have unpleasant side effects, and I am feeling so much better and am happy for the time off of them. I go to Hershey every 2 weeks for blood work and to see the oncologist.
My oldest son passed away from kidney cancer 16 years ago at age 41, and my husband died 11 years ago from a severe stroke. Today, I am fortunate to have a son and a daughter who make sure I am well cared for. I also have a 10-year-old Bichon who is my constant companion. Despite the challenges I’ve faced, I find great joy in my family. All three of our children were adopted as infants and went on to build successful lives of their own, and I also have a granddaughter who is studying to become a teacher, just like her mother. Recently, I was able to spend two wonderful weeks visiting my son. We celebrated his birthday, spent time together, and enjoyed a few shopping trips. The visit was a special gift and a reminder of how fortunate I am to have such a loving family.”
Support From Bringing Hope Home
Through Bringing Hope Home, Alice received direct financial assistance to help cover her gas and oil expenses during a time when rising heating costs were creating significant stress on her fixed income.
She shared that this support brought real relief:
“Bringing Hope Home has been a true blessing for me. Without their help, I would still be trying to cope with oil bills that were too high for me to pay on my limited and fixed income. I also kept my thermostat at 65 to conserve oil. A side effect of my medication is you feel very cold all the time even in very hot weather. So with the temperature at 65, I had to stay wrapped in blankets and wear sweaters all the time to feel warm. They will never know how truly thankful and appreciative I am for their help. I was really worried about my oil bills when fall started. I am also very grateful to my social worker who helped me connect with Bringing Hope Home. Otherwise, I would never have known their organization was there to lend a hand where help was really needed.”
Alice’s Words of Wisdom
“I would like to add that you should never give up hope. There are people out there who are willing to help you with your cancer journey. Once you have been diagnosed with cancer, you know it is not just a cold that will go away. It is with you all the time. It consumes your every thought and emotion. Every small twinge causes you to think that maybe it is your cancer reacting or coming back. You definitely have many challenges to face like transportation to and from your cancer center for tests and treatments. I felt very fatigued after some of my scans and treatments and became afraid to drive home alone. I have to depend on my friends to help me, and that uses their time and money to get me back and forth. I sometimes sit on pins and needles waiting for test results to come back. I am discouraged about my lack of ability to walk very far or do my housework, and grocery shopping is a real chore for me. Like I said, there are so many challenges when you have cancer and are in active treatment and testing. There are new challenges every day. It is an emotional roller coaster for the most part because some days you don’t even feel like getting out of bed. You know you don’t want to die from cancer, but it is very likely that you will. So, all you can really do is tie a knot and try to hang on.”
Alice’s story is a powerful reminder of the daily realities many individuals face while living with cancer – not only the physical and emotional challenges, but also the financial burdens that can make each day harder.
Her experience also reflects the impact of community support. A little help at the right time can bring stability, comfort, and dignity back into someone’s life when they need it most.
We are grateful to Alice for sharing her story so openly. Her resilience and honesty remind us why this work matters – and why no one should have to face cancer alone.