Help Cassandra Davis Fight for Her Life
Our beautiful, strong, and fiercely loving friend Cassandra Davis is in the fight of her life. At just 32 years old, she is a proud new mother to her 3-year-old son, Paxton, and recently married to the love of her life. Her world should be full of beginnings – not battles.
A Rare and Aggressive Cancer
In 2021, while pregnant with Paxton, Cassandra’s routine lab work raised red flags. That lab work led to a life-changing discovery: a massive tumor on her adrenal gland. She was diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) – an extremely rare and aggressive cancer that affects only 1 to 2 people per million each year. It often goes undetected until it’s too late. In Cassandra’s case, her son helped save her life before he was even born.
At 5 months pregnant, Cassandra underwent surgery to remove the tumor. She delivered Paxton soon after and bravely began radiation therapy. For a year, she remained stable, and we all had hope that remission might be possible.
But in January 2024, scans revealed that a lesion in her lung had grown. A biopsy confirmed the cancer had spread – her disease had metastasized. Instead of moving to more intensive treatment, her medical team at Kaiser Permanente placed her on oral chemotherapy and delayed any follow-up imaging for nine months.
By the time she was rescanned, the cancer had rapidly progressed. She was now facing Stage IV cancer, with multiple tumors in her lungs and trachea.
She Chose the Hardest Path — And Kept Going
After learning the cancer had continued to grow unchecked, Cassandra chose to pursue the most aggressive treatment available: multi-agent intravenous chemotherapy, including the drug commonly referred to as the “Red Devil.”
The “Red Devil,” or Doxorubicin, is one of the most potent chemo drugs available. Known for its deep red color and harsh side effects, it attacks fast-growing cancer cells but can also cause serious damage to the heart, immune system, and overall health. It’s often used when the cancer is aggressive and other treatments have failed.
Over four intense cycles, Cassandra underwent a combination of three chemotherapy drugs. She lost her hair. She lost her appetite. Her energy faded. She spent more time in bed than out. But she never lost her fight. She continued to show up to every appointment. She held onto her faith. She stayed present for her son, even on the hardest days.
Then came the next scan: no improvement. None of the tumors had shrunk or disappeared.
That’s when her care team at Kaiser told her they had “run out of options.”
Immunotherapy Is Not Enough
Her doctors placed her back on the original oral chemotherapy and started her on immunotherapy — not to shrink the cancer, but to help boost her immune system just enough to keep her body going. It is not a cure. It is not fighting the disease directly. It’s simply a support in the background — and time is not on our side.
Denied a Lifesaving Referral
Cassandra and her family have pleaded for a second opinion or access to a more advanced care team at UCSF Medical Center — one of the top cancer institutions in the country. UCSF is listed as a Kaiser affiliate hospital, and their own website confirms that Kaiser insurance is accepted with referral.
Yet her oncologist stated flatly:
“Kaiser is not going to want to foot the bill for you to be seen outside of our network.”
Every day without action is a missed opportunity. This isn’t a technicality – it’s a system failing a young mother who still has so much to live for.
Why We’re Raising Funds
Cassandra is being denied access to critical second opinions and treatment options that could extend or even save her life. We are raising funds to help her break through this medical dead end and seek care at UCSF or other expert cancer centers outside the Kaiser system.
Your donation will help cover:
Private consultations and second opinions
Out-of-pocket imaging, labs, or genetic testing
Travel and lodging for treatment
Any medications not covered by Kaiser
Advocacy support or legal action if necessary
This isn’t just about Cassandra – it’s about standing up for anyone who has ever been told “no” when fighting for their life.
How You Can Help
Please consider donating. Any amount helps and will go directly to Cassandra’s care. If you’re unable to give right now, please share her story with your network. Awareness matters.
Cassandra is a mother, a wife, a friend, and a fighter. She is not giving up — and neither are we. Thank you for standing beside her during the most critical moment of her life.
With deep gratitude,
— Friends and Family of Cassandra Davis
