Chemo knocked me out today . . . even fell asleep at the infusion center so here’s a quick update and hopefully I won’t fall asleep while typing!
Dr apt. yesterday:
- tumor has shrunk 1 cm in both length and width
- a PET scan will most likely be done before my surgery to see how well the chemo worked and to see if the cancer has spread anywhere else
- Radiation after surgery might not be done if, 1) the cancer has spread somewhere else or 2) the Dr. is confident the chemo killed all the cancer. I believe this decision/recommendation will come from a radiation oncologist which we have not met with yet.
This past round, I had no pain so the Tramadol worked! It started off to be a great week, but Monday and Tuesday came with great fatigue and all I was able to do those days was put a couple loads of laundry in the washing machine.
With that fatigue came lots of time for my mind to go crazy as well. Yesterday (Tuesday) morning, I woke up to find out Holley Kitchen, a fellow metastatic breast cancer patient, had passed away. I did not know her personally, but a quick video she made at home one afternoon stating the truth of Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer went viral last year and that’s how I found her. I’m not sure why this hit me so hard, but it was a day of tears and I struggled all day with fear of the future, not so much for me but for Tom and the girls. It’s a great video and I can relate to every card she holds up and I’ve only been fighting this for 4 months.
This round will you pray specifically for:
- My thoughts – keeping focused on today and not worrying about the future
- Success with pain management again this round
- Fatigue
- Tom as he balances taking care of us and working. He’s been able to work a bit more lately since I’ve been able to do more around the house (with the exception of a couple days this week).
- Our financial aid application with the University of Washington
- One other one – not cancer related – I have a couple friends who are due to have babies this week and they are on my heart and mind a lot.
Thank you for continuing to pray with us. Thanks for the texts and emails as they really mean a lot, especially on chemo days.
If there is something specific I can pray for you, please email me and let me know!
So much to be thankful for . . .
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Much love, Jennifer. Only my heart can speak, no words, just my heart.
May you awaken with renewed hope & strength this day that only He can provide. He knows your course. He’s leading you through, step by step.
So thankful the tumor is shrinking! Sorry you are so sick.
Jennifer, my heart goes out to you and pray that the cancer will continue to shrink in size. “I watched the video and cried knowing more about what you are going through. I continue to pray not only for you but Tom and your girls and of course that your mind will focus on today and God and not the future. We love you and pray for you everyday. Love, Aunt Carol and Uncle Dave
Hi Jennifer, thank you for posting the video as it was so helpful. I think we all want to say and do the right things and unfortunately fail often. We so want for life to resume to “normal” for those we love. Dave and I pray for you, Tom and your girls each day. Prayer for strength to face whatever the day holds and the comfort that only God can provide to you supernaturally. We pray that your mind and heart will not get discouraged but will hope in the Lord. Thank you for sharing your heart in all honesty and helping us as we walk with you on this journey. I did pick up the book you suggested “Just show up” and have found it very helpful. A friend of mine also has a daughter with terminal brain cancer (age 40) and both of them are now walking through the same hard place as you. May God’s grace be yours today. Love to you
I’m glad to hear the book was helpful! They are both such wonderful writers with such loving and caring hearts which is evident in their writing! 🙂
So sad about Holley. So many just don’t know what to say and I guess it is best to say nothing and pray. We all mean well. I’m praying every second for a miracle. I know our God can do this if it is his will. Love to you my darling Jennifer and Tom and the girls. Praying you’ll have a good weekend.
I don’t know what to say either, and I’m the one with the cancer. 🙁 Love you Mom!
I could not love that video any more than I already do ❤️
I’m here praying, friend
So many hard, joyful, and real things in this post. Thank you for sharing all of it. Thinking of you guys constantly.
Thanks Shannon. After re-reading it, I feel like it was a pretty depressing post, but some days are just like that. 🙁 Hope you are doing well.
We pray things will get better for you. Think of you daily.
You know I worked in pathology for 20 years Jennifer, there’s not much I don’t know about cancer. It surprises me how ignorant people are, ill informed. I watched the video. I guess your man or woman on the street probably doesn’t know what it all means. I lost a friend to cancer this week, colon, 61, her son just turned 18. Feeling it.
I had no idea that you worked in pathology for so long! I have learned so much in the past few months. I think that unless you’ve walked this road yourself, or with someone close to you (or are in the medical field), you only know the little bit you hear from acquaintances or in the news. I know I had no idea until October. So sorry to hear about your friend. 🙁