Two days before Christmas in 2022, Chhorvivoinn (Chorvy) Sumsethi was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer — a rare form of aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

“I was pretty devastated,” Chorvy recalls. “I was 42 years old and at stage 4 when I learned this. But I have a family, so I was determined to throw myself into a treatment plan.”

Chorvy, a mental health social worker living in suburban Massachusetts, found herself in the position of having to advocate for her own care, though the learning curve was steep. “Going into cancer treatment is like going into a black hole,” she says, noting how complicated it can be to navigate the healthcare system.

She began a rigorous therapy schedule, including multiple rounds of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation, which began to take a toll. In June, she was still undergoing chemotherapy when she learned about the Ellie Fund — a Gilead Oncology grant recipient that provides support services to any Massachusetts resident diagnosed or being treated for breast cancer in the state.

Ellie Fund is just one of many patient-centric organizations that Gilead supports. Last year, the Gilead Oncology Grant program awarded more than $3 million to 22 organizations across the U.S. that supports patients and caregivers in the metastatic breast cancer community.

“Our goal is to support breast cancer patients with practical and financial help during the first months after diagnosis and beyond through ongoing resources like patient education and support groups,” says Danna Remen, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Ellie Fund. “We’re a very nimble service that provides assistance for groceries, meals, transportation, childcare, housekeeping and more, based on the needs of our patients and their families.”

Once a week for three months, Chorvy traveled three hours roundtrip from her home to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston for chemotherapy treatment. She didn’t have the energy or time afterwards to prepare meals for her family, so the Ellie Fund helped pay for meals for her family in addition to gas for her long commute.

“My teen boys eat a lot, so having precooked meals on hand for them was a big help,” she says. “Plus, my extended family is in Cambodia, so the support of friends and a service like this was wonderful.”

Chorvy is still in treatment but says she’s maintained a positive mindset around having cancer. “It has really opened my eyes as to how to live life.”