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A 30-year-old mom-of-two has been given just three months to live after battling an aggressive form of cancer for the past two years. Erika Diarte-Carr lives in Utah with her 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter. Now, she’s raising money to help pay for her own funeral and set up a trust fund for her children’s future.
Diarte-Carr has been battling small cell lung carcinoma since 2022. What started as an emergency room visit for shoulder pain escalated into a cancer diagnosis.
“The doctor then proceeded to tell me that there were multiple tumors that had metastasized to other parts of my body including my skeletal, which is how we were able to find the tumor that was causing my shoulder pain,” Diarte-Carr wrote on her GoFundMe page. “By that point the damage had already been done. In that moment, mine and my kids’ entire lives had changed forever, as well as all of those around us.”
Diarte-Carr initially started a GoFundMe campaign with the goal of $5,000 to cover the cost of a funeral. So far more than 30,000 donors have contributed more than $1 million to her fundraiser.
In addition to her cancer diagnosis, Diarte-Carr was also diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome in 2024. “That’s when I started to decline and things got worse,” she told ABC4.
Here’s what to know about the diagnosis and prognosis of these diseases.
What is small cell lung carcinoma?
Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is a highly aggressive form of lung cancer, accounting for about 10 to 15 percent of all lung cancer cases, according to the American Cancer Society. SCLC tends to grow and spread quickly, making it particularly dangerous and challenging to treat.
Causes
The most common cause of SCLC is smoking, per the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The carcinogens found in cigarette smoke cause damage to the lung cells, leading to mutations that can eventually result in cancer. Other risk factors include exposure to secondhand smoke, radon gas, asbestos, and certain industrial chemicals, per the NCI.
Symptoms
Early symptoms of SCLC can be subtle and are often mistaken for less serious illnesses. However, as the cancer progresses, more serious symptoms can appear, including a persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, wheezing, and coughing up blood, according to Yale Medicine.
Because SCLC grows and spreads quickly, these symptoms may escalate rapidly if the disease is not detected early.
Treatment
According to the NCI, in order to properly diagnose SCLC, doctors usually begin with imaging tests like chest X-rays or CT scans to identify any abnormal growths. If a tumor is detected, a biopsy is often performed to analyze the tissue for cancer cells. Treatment for SCLC depends on the stage of the cancer and the patient’s overall health. Options include:
- Chemotherapy: This method uses drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. It is often the first line of treatment for both limited and extensive stages.
- Radiation therapy: This treatment uses high-energy rays to target and destroy cancer cells. It is commonly combined with chemotherapy, especially in limited-stage SCLC.
- Immunotherapy: This is a newer approach where drugs stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. It is becoming an important part of the treatment plan, especially for patients with extensive-stage SCLC.
- Surgery: Surgery is rarely used in SCLC due to its rapid spread, but in very early cases, it may be an option.
Prognosis
Unfortunately, the prognosis for SCLC is poor. Even with treatment, SCLC often recurs, and the five-year survival rate is low, particularly for patients with extensive-stage disease, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).However, advances in chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy are offering new hope for patients by helping to extend survival times and improve quality of life.
What is Cushing’s syndrome?
Cushing’s syndrome, also known as hypercortisolism, is a rare hormonal disorder that occurs when the body is exposed to high levels of cortisol for an extended period, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Cortisol, often referred to as the “stress hormone,” plays an essential role in regulating blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and the body’s response to stress. However, when too much cortisol is present, it can lead to a variety of health problems.
Causes
The most common cause of Cushing’s syndrome is the prolonged use of corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone, which are often prescribed to treat conditions like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or other inflammatory diseases, according to the NIH. These medications mimic cortisol, and when taken in high doses over time, they can lead to an excess of the hormone in the body.
In rarer cases, Cushing’s syndrome occurs because the body is producing too much cortisol on its own. This can be caused by:
- Pituitary tumors: Noncancerous tumors in the pituitary gland can stimulate the overproduction of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which in turn prompts the adrenal glands to release excess cortisol.
- Adrenal tumors: Benign tumors on the adrenal glands themselves can directly cause the glands to overproduce cortisol.
- Ectopic ACTH syndrome: This condition causes tumors to grow in other areas in the body, like the lungs or pancreas, producing ACTH. This causes the adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol.
Symptoms
Cushing’s syndrome can manifest in many ways, and the symptoms can be wide-ranging because cortisol affects many bodily functions. According to the NIH, some common symptoms include weight gain, particularly around the abdomen and face (often called a “moon face“), fatty deposits between the shoulders, thinning skin, purple stretch marks, high blood pressure, muscle weakness, and fatigue.
These symptoms can develop gradually and may often be misattributed to other health conditions, delaying diagnosis.
Treatment
The treatment for Cushing’s syndrome depends on its cause. Treatment options include:
- Reducing corticosteroid use: If the syndrome is caused by long-term use of corticosteroids, a doctor may adjust the dosage or suggest alternative medications.
- Surgery: For pituitary or adrenal tumors, surgery is often required to remove the growth.
- Radiation therapy: If surgery isn’t an option or if tumors are not fully removed, radiation therapy may be used to shrink or eliminate the tumors.
- Medications: For those who can’t undergo surgery, medications can be used to reduce cortisol production. Drugs like ketoconazole, mitotane, or metyrapone may be prescribed to control cortisol levels.
Prognosis
With proper treatment, many people with Cushing’s syndrome can see significant improvement in their symptoms. However, if the condition is left untreated, Cushing’s syndrome can lead to severe complications, including heart disease, diabetes, and infections, per the NIH. Early diagnosis and intervention are key to improving the outlook for people with this condition.