2025 Recipients
Please scroll down to read all the stories of our amazing & inspiring recipients
Suzanne Marcus
Saugus, MA
My name is Suzanne. I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer stage 3A in July 2024. But let’s back up: My husband was diagnosed with melanoma in 2016. It came back 2 more times, the last being leptomeningeal disease on August 5, 2023.
Seven weeks later he passed away… so I was left navigating life with our three-year-old twin daughters and our six-year-old son. Of course, I was under stress, grieving, and trying to figure out what was life was going to look like going forward. I had stopped working when the twins were 1 - twins daycare was so expensive. The plan was to start working again once they were in school. I started having irregular periods… (that I can remember) back in February or March 2024. I noted it, but went on with my life because I attributed it to stress, lifestyle changes and, given my age (44 at the time) perimenopause.
As the months went on it didn’t get better, only worse. By the time my yearly gynecology check up was scheduled, my periods continued to be heavier with no signs of letting up. I called my doctor the month before my annual and told her what was going on. I am grateful that they did not dismiss me and give me the reasons that I had already thought we’re going on. I was scheduled for an ultrasound, followed up by a biopsy which turned out to be cancerous. My care team moved very fast and by August I was scheduled for a full hysterectomy.
​
Ladies - if something seems off - get it checked!!!
Tumors were going on both ovaries as well as the one in the endometrium and I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer stage 3A.
I underwent six rounds of chemotherapy three weeks apart. I was prescribed a cocktail of 2 different chemo drugs, and an immunotherapy (which was added afterwards). I think I fared pretty well overall - but the fatigue has been real! Between treatment and caring for 3 young kids it hasn’t been easy! I am thankful however, for my family and friends who have so been here to help me out on the really bad days.
​
Needless to say I haven’t been able to return to work (yet). The chemo is over now. My last round was mid-January. I am scheduled for scans in early February and will continue getting the immunotherapy infusion every 6 weeks for a year. Throughout all of this I had some genetic testing done and it was found that I have Lynch Syndrome which makes me more susceptible to certain cancers. So while I should be free and clear from here on, I will have to follow up closely and that dread of ‘is it back’ will almost always cast a shadow.
I am so appreciative for this foundation and the hope and support it gives. Grateful to be able to share my story and hope that this gives someone else out there some hope!
​
Suzanne Marcus
Allison Spampinato
Cumberland, RI
My name is Allison Spampinato. I am forty-eight and have been married for 23 years. I am a mother of three incredible children, a 20-year-old daughter and two sons, aged fourteen & fifteen. They have given me the strength to keep moving forward with my journey as a woman battling stage 4 breast cancer, metastasized to the brain.
My journey began when I felt a lump in my right breast during a self-breast exam. Of course, it was benign. One month later, a diagnostic mammogram showed a 3.1cm mass. A biopsy was quick to follow and on 4/25/2022 I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. My treatment started immediately, and I had to leave my job as a registered nurse. I completed 6 months of chemotherapy and nine out of 12 months of immunotherapy. My immunotherapy had to be discontinued early because it caused Adrenal Insufficiency. To stay alive, I will be on steroids for life due to that condition.
In October 2022, I had breast surgery. After surgery I had one month of daily radiation to the right breast. Once all my treatments were completed, I was informed that I was NED, no evidence of disease. I was able to return to work and life was good again.
On 12/13/23, I had two seizures and I was rushed to the hospital. An MRI showed a 3.7cm brain tumor. One week later I had brain surgery, and the tumor was removed. Pathology confirmed the tumor was metastatic triple negative breast cancer. I had five rounds of radiation to the tumor location and will have to be on chemotherapy for life. I am no longer able to return to work as a registered nurse now that I am stage 4 and on chemotherapy again.
Cancer has changed my life forever and I am heartbroken because of it. I try to life the best life I can given my health status. My medications make me tired, and I have lost a lot of my strength. My financial status makes me worry every day, but I will continue to have hope and love in my heart. I will rally will all that I have to provide a good life for myself and my family.
Karen Botelho
Massachusetts
.jpg)
.jpg)
Hi my name is Karen Botelho. I live in Massachusetts with my husband Steve and three children - Jared, Leiha and Adam. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian cancer in September 2023. I later learned that it has spread to my abdomen. I started chemo on October 12th.
I remember the day so clearly, especially because while getting treatment I received a phone call that my Mom had been rushed to the hospital by ambulance. My Mom passed away 6 days later. The chemo had made me so sick that I could barely stand on my own and the trips to the hospital to see my Mom were excruciating. She was nonresponsive so we just tried to be there for one another and tell her how great a Mom she was.
I had surgery on January 22nd, 2024. I needed a radical hysterectomy and debulking, which also involved removing my gallbladder and appendix, followed by a HYPEC procedure. The HYPEC procedure involves filling my abdominal cavity with chemo while they have me opened up and then closing me and heating up the chemo. The chemo is then drained and my abdominal cavity was rinsed with a saline solution. I spent 3 days in the ICU and 7 days in the hospital in a regular room. I finished up with more chemo and was told that I was now considered cancer free.
I went for a routine CAT scan to see how things were going and in June 2024 was told that the cancer had returned. I started chemo in July 2024 and after 2 months was told that the tumor was gone. I continued with chemo until problems started to arise. Besides the usual side effects, now there were white cells in my urine so the chemo was cancelled until the next date. I received chemo until the next visit when they told me that there was too much protein in my urine and cancelled that treatment as well. Another treatment was cancelled because of protein in my urine and chemo was put on hold. I was not well in October, but things got worse in November.
I have had several problems arise that the doctors cannot explain. I have seen my primary dr., my gynecological oncologist, my oncologist, my gastroenterologist, and a colorectal surgeon. I have been to the outpatient 3 times since November 30th, I have had 5 CAT scans, I have had several blood and urine tests. I am now waiting for a colonoscopy and a biopsy of the fluid in my stomach both to be performed in the same week. I have a constant bad taste in my mouth which makes it hard to eat. I have constant pain in my stomach and lower back and other problems that are too numerous to mention.
I am so blessed to have my family which have all come together to take over all the household chores and try their best to do what they can for me. I am also so blessed to have come to be a part of the CMF Foundation. I don't know what I would do without people like you. Thank you so much for your generosity and help. God bless you and everyone else that has taken the time to tell their story. I pray for healing for us all.
​
Thank you,
Karen Botelho