I’m sorry you found my blog.

HA! What a funny thing to say on a blog!! But seriously, if you landed here, you either know me, or know someone that has cancer. That’s why I’m sorry!

Cancer.

I hate that word.

I remember sitting in the oncologist’s office in my early 20’s listening to the Dr. tell me that while it was not likely I would get Ocular Melanoma like my Mom, 3 out of 4 people would be diagnosed with some sort of cancer in their life. Since all of my Grandparents and my Mom have died of some type of cancer, I knew my day would come. I just never thought my diagnosis would be the day after my 41st birthday and as a mother of a 10, 7 and 6 year old.

Fast forward 4 years (October 2019) and the cancer has returned in other bones. So here we are, ready to fight again…and looking to be on some sort of treatment for the rest of my life.

This blog is my journey as I fight to leave cancer behind and move on in my life.

I should probably back up and introduce myself . . . my name is Jennifer. I’m a Christ follower, married to an amazing man (who happens to be a chef turned Co-CEO of a restaurant), have 3 beautiful daughters and I’ve been diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer which originally spread to my sternum, but has now spread to quite a few other bones and one of my lungs as well.

I know it can be confusing when you stumble upon a new blog, so let me help you get started.

I have a blog to keep track of my thoughts and to let friends and family know what’s going on.
You can get to know our family or read my personal testimony here.
As I’ve been going through different procedures, I’ve written down what it was like. You can find a list of those over in the side bar (or down at the bottom if you are on a mobile device).
Click here to receive an email when I publish new posts.
And finally, if you noticed above that I’m married to a chef and think that must be the MOST AMAZING THING EVER, click here and browse through my blog about what it’s really like to be married to a chef. (I love blogging. Can you tell?)

Jennifer

Here’s what’s going on with me right now . . .

Just another problem

Oct 28, 2020 | Blog | 10 Comments

“Christy, can you get me to Valley in about 45 minutes?”

“Sure. When do you want me at your house?”

“In about 10 minutes.” (She lives about 7 minutes away.)

That conversation happened at 3:10 this afternoon because of a stat ultrasound Dr. Leung ordered to check on a possible blog clot in my leg. I had 50 minutes to get up to the appointment and Tom and Sage were on their way out the door for another appointment.

I’m glad we went, even though it was a little chaotic getting there.

Yesterday, I noticed my left ankle was swollen and I felt a large vein in my upper left calf. I messaged the Dr. this morning about that and about my breathing, which is getting more difficult already.

Test Results

Oct 26, 2020 | Blog | 10 Comments

Good news – the spots on my kidney appear to be cysts and not cancer at this time. The doctor would not say he’s 100% sure they are not cancer, but that they do not appear to be cancerous at this time. For now, that’s good news, so I’ll take it.

The other news I guess is good in some way. The fluid that keeps building up near my lung does have cancer cells in it. That’s good news because that we don’t have figure out what else is wrong and causing the fluid build up. It’s still just cancer causing problems. Hooray??

Thankful To Be Breathing Better

Oct 24, 2020 | Blog | 8 Comments

No, this is not chicken stock.

Yuck!

How is it possible that this fluid was in a cavity in my body below my right lung? This is what was making it hard to breathe because my lung couldn’t fully expand because the fluid was in the way. The nurse said this is the most fluid she has seen taken from that area. Great….

Another Cancerversary Has Passed

Oct 22, 2020 | Blog | 15 Comments

I passed my 5 year cancerversary last month.

I’ve survived over 5 years with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Only 27 out of 100 women live past 5 years with this disease.

I’m very thankful to be one of them!

Chemo, MRI, Fluid on Lungs….

Oct 19, 2020 | Blog | 15 Comments

I love this new quick chemo! My blood work came back quickly today and the chemo takes between 3-5 minutes to give. I love how quick that is! Today, I also got a bag of fluid as I waited for my labs to come back.

While I was there today, Dr. Leung stopped by. We talked about how my pain is much more under control and how I’m not having to use short acting pain pills during the day as often. He was pleased that I am less bloated. (I am pleased as well, although I think I still have a little bit more to go.)

Back Home, New Chemo and Pain Management

Oct 14, 2020 | Blog | 24 Comments

A lot has happened since I wrote last. My attention span isn’t very long, but I’ll try my best to give you an update.

I came home from the hospital with a pain management plan and a bowel management plan. Ready or not….we were headed back home!

Once we got home, thanks to Amazon and a medical supply store near the hospital, we got a few things to make things possible for me to function at home without Tom having to help me with everything! I am using a cane to keep me steady as I walk. We have a long reach toilet aid tool…quickly moving on…a bed assist rail, a beautiful new toilet seat with handles, a handle in the shower for balance and a grabber/reacher tool so I can pick things up off the floor (or try and pinch the girls).

I feel so old!

Sigh!