Thought I better get the news out...
The best news I have gotten throughout this journey came yesterday at my appointment with my oncologist.
First, let me start by saying that this was a hard appointment to go
to... I was having anxiety/panic attacks as the day grew closer, since this appointment would definitively tell me if I had to face chemotherapy or not. And you all know I have a hard time not having control of my future. Well, my future
is bright!!!
It turns out, I will not have to go through chemotherapy after all! No chemo was what the doctor ordered!!! Rather, I will have hormone therapy treatment for the next 5-10 years. I am not sure how I feel
about hormone therapy, but I do know how I felt about chemo. So I'll take it one day
at a time, at least that's what everyone keeps telling me. (My question is how do you do
one day at a time??? Anyone with an idea or direction on how to do that
would be appreciated.)
I will continue my weekly appointments with my
plastic surgeon, and ongoing appointments with my cancer surgeon and oncologist.
But, I am excited to be on the road to the new and better me.
I finally feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and like I said earlier, it is bright!!!
Thank
you again to all of you for all of your kindness, prayers and love. I
have made it this far because of you... If I could give each of you a
hug right now I would!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Week 3 Update
We are almost to week 3, and I am finally starting to feel like me
again. I am so grateful to my mom and mother-in-law, Pickles. They both
come take care of me during the days, taking care of laundry, bathrooms,
floors, making sure I am eating and drinking, and anything else they
can find to keep busy. My cute kids have been amazing, doing dishes,
massaging my feet, doing my hair, cuddling to watch movies. This has
been hard on them, but with faith, support and love they are going to be
stronger for this little road bump. Tony doesn't stop, he is amazing. He continues to work, goes with me to every doctor appointment, takes care
of the kids, homework, hockey tournaments, skating competitions, and me,
the emotional wreck. I am lucky to have him as my rock, and as we come
to our 18th wedding anniversary I love him more every day, and know God
blessed me the day I married him.
I am so grateful to everyone that has taken time to come visit, sent flowers, cards, brought dinners, and have kept me in their prayers. I don't know how I will ever be able to tell each one of you how much I appreciate and love you. Also, I am very grateful to have my sister-in-law, Laura, who has sat with me, cried with me, organized our dinners, and helped with getting our kids all over town. I am not sure how I will ever be able to repay you for all you have done. You are amazing!!!
I have begun the expansion process (for eventual reconstruction surgery), which is NOT my idea of a good time. I will see my plastic surgeon (Dr. Self) every week to stretch for the next few months. He is amazing and makes me feel so comfortable, considering what he has to do is not any fun. I saw my surgeon yesterday (Dr. Lloyd); she has me doing a few more tests, but said I am healing great. I am right were I should be.
I am anxious for my appointment on Monday with the oncologist. I hear my doctor is amazing, and at the top of his field. I will be sure to update the Blog next week. But for now, thank you for your prayers!
I am so grateful to everyone that has taken time to come visit, sent flowers, cards, brought dinners, and have kept me in their prayers. I don't know how I will ever be able to tell each one of you how much I appreciate and love you. Also, I am very grateful to have my sister-in-law, Laura, who has sat with me, cried with me, organized our dinners, and helped with getting our kids all over town. I am not sure how I will ever be able to repay you for all you have done. You are amazing!!!
I have begun the expansion process (for eventual reconstruction surgery), which is NOT my idea of a good time. I will see my plastic surgeon (Dr. Self) every week to stretch for the next few months. He is amazing and makes me feel so comfortable, considering what he has to do is not any fun. I saw my surgeon yesterday (Dr. Lloyd); she has me doing a few more tests, but said I am healing great. I am right were I should be.
I am anxious for my appointment on Monday with the oncologist. I hear my doctor is amazing, and at the top of his field. I will be sure to update the Blog next week. But for now, thank you for your prayers!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
More Info about Chemo
From Morry:
Here's a message from Jenn this morning, further explaining the news that she got yesterday that she'll have to proceed with chemotherapy treatment:
"So it looks like the Over Achiever gets to go all the way! The cancer [tumor] was bigger than the mammogram, ultra sound, or MRI showed. Just over an inch all the way around. Chemo is a must to make sure there are no other sucker cancer cells floating throughout my body. They have also sent my cancer off to a special lab to do more testing. The doctors need more information since it should have been slow growing, not over an inch in size! Dr. Lloyd said the oncologist is going to need to know if the cancer is a stay in the house nice kitty, or a big carnivore-eating kitty that needs to be caged - basically they need to have as much information as possible going into the chemo arena! I'm l looking forward to a new hairdo... Look how gorgeous Mary's new blond hair looks, and Des has the cutest new hair style too, with just a touch of curl. Maybe mine will come back blond and straight! Please thank everyone again for their concern, love, food and prayers. We are humbled by all the support coming our way!"
I promised to take her hat/scarf/wig shopping when I come to Utah in a few weeks to see her. Let's all help her have a lot of fun with finding her new style! I suggest this wig to start - don't you think she'd rock this look?! :)
Here's a message from Jenn this morning, further explaining the news that she got yesterday that she'll have to proceed with chemotherapy treatment:
"So it looks like the Over Achiever gets to go all the way! The cancer [tumor] was bigger than the mammogram, ultra sound, or MRI showed. Just over an inch all the way around. Chemo is a must to make sure there are no other sucker cancer cells floating throughout my body. They have also sent my cancer off to a special lab to do more testing. The doctors need more information since it should have been slow growing, not over an inch in size! Dr. Lloyd said the oncologist is going to need to know if the cancer is a stay in the house nice kitty, or a big carnivore-eating kitty that needs to be caged - basically they need to have as much information as possible going into the chemo arena! I'm l looking forward to a new hairdo... Look how gorgeous Mary's new blond hair looks, and Des has the cutest new hair style too, with just a touch of curl. Maybe mine will come back blond and straight! Please thank everyone again for their concern, love, food and prayers. We are humbled by all the support coming our way!"
I promised to take her hat/scarf/wig shopping when I come to Utah in a few weeks to see her. Let's all help her have a lot of fun with finding her new style! I suggest this wig to start - don't you think she'd rock this look?! :)
Monday, February 4, 2013
Biopsy Results
From Morry:
This is the message I received from Tony this evening, which pretty much sums it up:
"The doctor just called and because of the size of the tumor, we are going to have to go the chemo route. Jenn was pretty upset about this as you can imagine. We won't get in to to see the oncologist for three weeks by design to allow Jenn time to heal. It sounds to be more of a precautionary treatment as they feel they were able to remove all the cancer. Jenn did not think to ask what stage so we will have to find that out later. We are just trying to stay positive and we will hit this head on. Thanks again for all your support."
So, we all know what that means: more prayers, karma, good wishes, positive energy, cool vibes...whatever you can send her way, please do!
This is the message I received from Tony this evening, which pretty much sums it up:
"The doctor just called and because of the size of the tumor, we are going to have to go the chemo route. Jenn was pretty upset about this as you can imagine. We won't get in to to see the oncologist for three weeks by design to allow Jenn time to heal. It sounds to be more of a precautionary treatment as they feel they were able to remove all the cancer. Jenn did not think to ask what stage so we will have to find that out later. We are just trying to stay positive and we will hit this head on. Thanks again for all your support."
So, we all know what that means: more prayers, karma, good wishes, positive energy, cool vibes...whatever you can send her way, please do!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Home and Resting
From Morry:
I finally spoke to Jenn tonight, and it was so wonderful to hear her voice. She has been home from the hospital since Saturday afternoon. She's uncomfortable, exhausted and in a lot of pain, but all of that is to be completely expected. She's got drainage tubes that require tending, and it was discovered that she's got a silver dollar-sized blister on her back that is adding to her discomfort. She's also very emotional - the tears come easily - again, to be completely expected. But Jenn being Jenn, she was still her wonderful lighthearted self on the phone in between the tears, able to crack jokes about the Super Bowl's half time show. Oh Beyonce....
At any rate, she wanted to make one shout out to her dad, who stayed with her through the first night at the hospital. Not only did that allow Tony to be at home with the kids, it was a tough night for Jenn and she doesn't think she could have made it without him there by her side. She's had a lot of support, of course, from all of her family, but she is, after all, still daddy's girl (my words, not hers, but I suspect she'd agree). Having him by her side through one of the roughest spells meant the world to her.
Tomorrow, Monday, is another big day: she will learn the complete biopsy report of the tumor that was removed. She'll know the stage of the cancer and how aggressive it is. Those results will dictate whether or not she'll have to undergo chemotherapy and radiation. So, once again, everyone is praying for good news. I'll post results when I get them.
On a final note (again - Jenn being Jenn) - she wants everyone to know that she hasn't checked her voicemail, texts or emails since her surgery (to which I responded: "I should hope not!"). At any rate, she knows that she's got well-wishers out there who may be trying to reach her, so please understand that she's simply otherwise engaged. :)
I finally spoke to Jenn tonight, and it was so wonderful to hear her voice. She has been home from the hospital since Saturday afternoon. She's uncomfortable, exhausted and in a lot of pain, but all of that is to be completely expected. She's got drainage tubes that require tending, and it was discovered that she's got a silver dollar-sized blister on her back that is adding to her discomfort. She's also very emotional - the tears come easily - again, to be completely expected. But Jenn being Jenn, she was still her wonderful lighthearted self on the phone in between the tears, able to crack jokes about the Super Bowl's half time show. Oh Beyonce....
At any rate, she wanted to make one shout out to her dad, who stayed with her through the first night at the hospital. Not only did that allow Tony to be at home with the kids, it was a tough night for Jenn and she doesn't think she could have made it without him there by her side. She's had a lot of support, of course, from all of her family, but she is, after all, still daddy's girl (my words, not hers, but I suspect she'd agree). Having him by her side through one of the roughest spells meant the world to her.
Tomorrow, Monday, is another big day: she will learn the complete biopsy report of the tumor that was removed. She'll know the stage of the cancer and how aggressive it is. Those results will dictate whether or not she'll have to undergo chemotherapy and radiation. So, once again, everyone is praying for good news. I'll post results when I get them.
On a final note (again - Jenn being Jenn) - she wants everyone to know that she hasn't checked her voicemail, texts or emails since her surgery (to which I responded: "I should hope not!"). At any rate, she knows that she's got well-wishers out there who may be trying to reach her, so please understand that she's simply otherwise engaged. :)
Friday, February 1, 2013
Hospital Day 1
From Morry:
Jenn had a very restful night last night and was able to get some much needed sleep. Today, she's been awake, eating (yogurt and a waffle - breakfast of champs!), and even took a walk. But she is very sore and in a lot of pain, as to be expected. Her doctors are attempting to wean her off of the intravenous pain meds, switching her to oral painkillers which is what she'll be able to have at home. Tony was able to go home last night and spend time with their kids, all of whom are very relieved that their mom made it through the surgery so well. I will probably have more news later this afternoon, and hopefully will be able to talk to her and get a personal message posted here as well. So check back this evening for additional updates.
Also, please sign your name when commenting on this blog; most comments come across as anonymous, so unless you say who you are, Jenn won't know who is sending her all the well wishes. Thanks!
Jenn had a very restful night last night and was able to get some much needed sleep. Today, she's been awake, eating (yogurt and a waffle - breakfast of champs!), and even took a walk. But she is very sore and in a lot of pain, as to be expected. Her doctors are attempting to wean her off of the intravenous pain meds, switching her to oral painkillers which is what she'll be able to have at home. Tony was able to go home last night and spend time with their kids, all of whom are very relieved that their mom made it through the surgery so well. I will probably have more news later this afternoon, and hopefully will be able to talk to her and get a personal message posted here as well. So check back this evening for additional updates.
Also, please sign your name when commenting on this blog; most comments come across as anonymous, so unless you say who you are, Jenn won't know who is sending her all the well wishes. Thanks!
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