First chemo treatment update

Good day!   Four days after my first chemo treatment and I'm so grateful that the side effects have been minimal and nothing unbearable at this point.  Mainly fatigue, headache, mouth is sore, some tummy issues, but all in all feeling pretty good.  

Thankful that Lacks offered the chemo training class and went over the possibilities of the many side effects, as well as gave a tour of the chemo room.  Thanks to my sister, Kim, and my good friend, Sandi, for taking me. The day of my training/tour, it was an exceptionally busy - "standing room only" in the chemo room and I was hit with an unexpected wave of sadness and had a mini meltdown.  I had to leave the room quickly and felt bad and hoped that none of the other cancer patients saw me crying.  It was the reality of the next phase of this journey where I would eventually lose my hair and look "sick" and not be able to deny that I was battling cancer.  I had a week where I continually prayed for God to not only give me peace, but to continue to use Jon and I to offer light, healing, hope, laughter and mostly love to everyone that we came in contact with for each chemo treatment.  I woke up Friday morning and had my quiet time and this was my daily devotion:

"Trust Me and don't be afraid, for I am your Strength and Song.  Think what it means to have Me as your Strength.  I spoke the universe into existence; My power is absolutely unlimited.  Human weakness, consecrated to Me, is like a magnet, drawing My Power into you.  Instead of  trying to fight your fears, concentrate on trusting Me.  When you relate to Me in confident trust, there is no limit to how much I can strengthen you.

Remember that I am also your Song.  I want you to share My Joy, living in conscious awareness of My Presence.  Rejoice as we journey together toward heaven; join Me in singing My Song".  

God is so faithful and His timing is ALWAYS perfect!


When you first arrive at Lacks,  you check in and then you're called back for blood work, then a brief visit with the oncologist to make sure your blood work looks good and in the meantime, the pharmacy (located outside of the chemo room) is mixing your custom chemo concoction.  My treatment is two kinds of chemo medicines, Taxotere & Cytoxan.  There are three sections to the chemo room ~ private rooms (first come basis), Lounge area with refrig./microwave, T.V., work space area and then the main room has leather recliners with a chair for your guest.  You're assigned to your nurse and mine happened to be Sara, who thanks to our dear friend Kris Grek, who works at Lacks, hand picked Sara and told her about Jon and I before our first treatment and Kris shared with us that she was a tall, country girl that was fun and sarcastic and that we would be a good fit.  It was a perfect match!  We had to be in the main room for our first time since they want to keep a close eye on you.  We picked a recliner next to the window.  Next Sara accessed my port (located below my clavicle on my right side) and put the first IV with anti-nausea medicine then followed with my two chemo meds.  The whole process was about six hours.  During our time, we met three other chemo peeps with their partner/guest.  The first person that we met was a woman that was probably in her late 60's who sat next to us and asked me  "what I was in for?"  We thought that was kind of funny. She was super sweet and she shared that she had Stage 4 Ovarian cancer.  She later moved to a private room that became available and sent our nurse a message that Jon and I could join her and her husband back in the private room.  The next person we met was a gentlemen from GR who was also in his 60's and shared that he had tonsil cancer.  He was actually done with his chemo/radiation treatments, but was there because he was dehydrated and they were replenishing his fluids.  They were boaters so it was fun getting to know him and his wife.  Another gentlemen had throat cancer and was in his mid 50's and we were bantering with his wife who was sportin' a U of M sweatshirt. There were many more beautiful people visiting with their guest and walking freely around accompanying their IV pole.  There was actually a sense of community in the room.  If there is one thing that can build community, it's vulnerability.  We were also visited by a sweet doggie, Chaz and
his handler, a lovely volunteer Irene. They made the chemo room as comfortable as possible;  warm colors, lots of windows over a beautiful court yard and tan leather recliners.  Jon and I packed a picnic with lots of healthy snacks in our new lunch cooler from our dear friend Janet...thank you! We had many laughs, smiles, and felt grateful...we envisioned that the chemo meds were like the Pac Man game where they were eating all the "bad" cells and the "good" cells were escaping (thanks for that visual Bonnie!).

Let's do this!



My new hat! Thanks to the people who volunteer to make them!

Shout out to Chaz and Irene! Thanks for visiting!!

Here,  I am actually getting the chemo....and 1 down!!

Within 24 hours of your chemo treatment, you go back for a shot ~ Neulasta (given in the arm or belly) which raises your white blood cell count.  Typically, the side effects with this medicine is 7 days after the shot where you may experience bone/muscle pain.

Belly Shot! 



I have four cycles of chemo treatments with three weeks in between each treatment.  With treatments, follow-up shot, two weekly visits from home health care nurse, two weekly visits from physical therapy for lymphatic cording syndrome exercises/massages, "fill" for right expander every three weeks, blood work in between chemo treatments, my schedule still remains pretty busy.

The CAT-SCAN for the spot on the liver, has been rescheduled for this Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.  Please pray that it is just a cyst or even better, that it's completely gone.

We finally received the results from the genetic testing from Cleveland Clinic...major praises ~ negative for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation testing!

Thank you so much for your support, encouragement, cards/text/messages/calls, Zumba video tribute, gifts, dinners, love and prayers!  You continue to give us additional strength, hope and peace!

Thank you Tirza and the Zumba peeps for the

 amazing "Overcomer" video tribute and card!!!!

So incredibly thankful that I'm feeling up for a light workout with my incredibly handsome husband/workout partner!

We love you!  God Bless....xoxoxo

Jen, Jon & family