Community Joins To Help Woman About To Lose Her Tongue To Cancer
DUARTE (CBSLA.com) — A fundraiser was held Monday to benefit a Pomona woman fighting Stage 4 oral cancer.
Angelina Mattos, 25, will soon have her tongue surgically removed in an effort to save her life.
According to doctors, Mattos received the devastating diagnosis just over three weeks ago.
After undergoing surgery next week, she will not be able to talk or possibly even eat for the rest of her life; however, this is her only chance of a cure.
Mattos will need a feeding tube for nutrition and will need to find another way to communicate with her soon-to-be husband.
CBS2's Kristine Lazar spoke with Albert Madrigal about his fiancee's bravery in facing surgery.
"Just to know that I'm not going to be able to hear her say anything to me hurts," said Madrigal. "If we have kids, she won't be able to talk the kids."
Dr. Ellie Maghami, chief of head and neck surgery at City of Hope, reported that if the cancer had been caught at an earlier stage she could have kept her tongue.
"That's why her case broke my heart in essence," said Maghami. "Were going to do this operation. She's a young lady, and she has to live with the consequences of not just the treatment itself but the cancer, too."
Mattos attended the event in good spirits with her hair dyed bright red as a promise to family and friends to beat her cancer.
The event was held by her In-N-Out Burger co-workers at Red Devil Pizza in La Verne.
Hope4Angie awareness wristbands were sold along with raffle tickets to help raise money. The restaurant donated 20 percent of all proceeds to her cause.
A Facebook page has been set up for Angie, along with a website to collect donations to help alleviate the stress as she battles cancer and help pay for medical bills.
Lazar reported that doctors at City of Hope have seen an alarming increase in the diagnosis of young adults with oral cancer.
Doctors urged anyone who discovers sores on their tongues that do not disappear within to weeks to be examined by a specialist.