Jennifer's Cancer Journey

 My first post surgery scans are coming up on Saturday. To say that I am anxious would be an understatement. Hmmmm, wonder if that is why my stomach is unsettled today. I even came home from work early because it just felt yuck. I guess it has been a while, so I didn't recognize it, but I usually get stomach upset when stressed or worried. Ok, back to the scans...I feel like this is BIG. This obviously determines my next steps. I am hoping and praying the cancer doesn't return so soon after a major surgery. Truthfully, there are 2 people who I have strived to be like through this journey. For the past 2 years I ahve prayed to be a miracle and I have named these two in my prayers. I want to be the walking miracle. I want God to use me and my story for many years to come. One man was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when I was in middle school...maybe the late 80's 1990. He lived 30 years. Y'all that is unheard of and a true miracle. The other has had stage 4 cancer for o...

  People have asked me about my lack of updates. I am sorry. I didn't realize how long it had really been. I am about 11 weeks out of surgery. Recovery is going how it is supposed to...I guess. I know my insides will be healing quite a while longer than my outside.  What is next? What is the plan? I had a ctDNA test done at the end of July. It was negative! That is a good sign,  but not completely foolproof. I had a negative result back in May after I had been off chemo for a while. Sure, chemo could have still been affecting the result, but I know there was plenty of active cancer in my body at that time. Negative test means surveillance.  I had an appointment with my oncologist a few weeks ago. Things are going as they should. I am scheduled for scans and blood work on November 7 and the oncology appointment on November 9. I am praying for clear scans and good bloodwork, but in my mind is full of doubt. Right now, every little ache and pain is (in my head) cancer g...

 It has been brought to my attention that I have not updated since surgery. Sorry! Surgery was surgery. I read the report and it took 8.5 hours total. Urology did their part first. No issues there other than i went in with a UTI, which caused issues later. The liver surgeon did her thing. Initially, she told me the liver met was actually something that grew from the diaphragm into the liver, but pathology said otherwise. It only had 30% active cancer and was removed with clear margins. The chemo worked on that spot. She also found another spot on my diaphragm that she removed. The gallbladder got to stay, so I guess that is good. Her part was done. Then the bulk of the surgery happened. There were a few spots that were removed that showed no cancer in pathology, so that is good. However, there was a lot of cancer. Both ovaries and fallopian tubes were removed as well as the big mass. Since ovaries are sanctuary sites, there was quite a bit on active cancer there. The plan was to le...

 The last few days have been a whirlwind of pre-op appointments. I am finally ready to sit down and update. For those that may not know, surgery day is tomorrow! It is a major surgery. I will be cut from breast bone to public bone. Here are some of the details. First, they will start with a 3 inch cut to insert a camera to get a look. This will let us know if the surgery proceeds. They will be looking to see how much cancer is actually there. The peritoneal metastasis can be under represented on CT scans. If all is well, we are a go!!!!  Friday I had an appointment with urology. This is because they will be placing stents on my ureters so they don't get damaged during surgery. I made a comment that must have surprised the poor young doctor. He was trying so hard not to laugh. I am kind of glad my morbid sense of humor has returned...not sure others are so thrilled. While on chemo, I was in survival mode and nothing was funny. Those stents will be removed before I get stitched ...

 Well, quite a lot has happened since my last update. JOSH WAS HERE!!! We celebrated his birthday a few days early. We went to the movies and stayed up late playing games. It was WONDERFUL! Then early Saturday morning, Josh, Samantha, and Anthony left for the long drive to California. Samantha and Anthony made it back safely a week later. My grandbaby is now the size of an orange. Next ultrasound is May 27. Hopefully she will find out whether the baby is a boy or a girl.  I had my usual round of chemo on May 4. It was just oh so wonderful. ..NOT. May 9, I had my scans...followed by Dr. appointments all week. Sorry I didn't update sooner. I got a "what for" from several people on Sunday. I just wanted more information first. My scans were stable! There was no new growth. My liver spot shrunk just a tiny bit - 1.9cm to 1.7 cm. The ovarian mass also shrunk a little. The peri mets haven't grown. My first appoint was with the colorectal surgeon. She would be the one doing ...

Who doesn't love a surprise? Well...me! I like to always know what is going on and what is happening. It helps me feel a little bit in control of my life and let's be honest, right now, I have ZERO control of what goes on. I am at the mercy of MyChart and side effects. Color me happy! I got a good surprise. Nor sure how my big kids pulled it off without me knowing. It was probably because last week was a chemo week and it was bad...so very bad.  It was a typical Sunday of chemo week. I went home and went to bed after I agreed to attend a Mattress Firm dinner- tonight. Samantha and Anthony came by on a bike riding with their dogs break. We chatted about a game I ordered on Amazon a few weeks ago. Then they left and I went to sleep.  I woke up around 12:30 to use the bathroom. I saw Josh texted me about his birthday list. I almost responded, but it was only 10:30 his time and I didn't want to get into a text chat. Around 1am I heard someone unlocking the door. Nothing to be a...