A quick little update!

Jamie had her LAST Chemo on Tuesday! Woo Hooo!!! What a great Christmas present! Unfortunately mother nature had a few Christmas presents too. GERMS!!!! There are a few sick kiddos and even a Sick Grandma at Jamie's house right now. She isn't feeling very well today and all the extra germs is forcing her to play keep a way with her family! Feel free to shoot her an email. Or comment on here or a quick text. She "plans" to update this dusty ole blog of hers this weekend! So let's all say a little prayer that everyone feels better soon and Jamie doesn't get this lovely present too!

A New Doctor Update

I am getting chemo today, which is number 5. The last appointment we had with our oncologist we found out that number 6 will be our last chemo. I think Lj and I misunderstood 6 cycles, for 6 months. So that will be good if it sticks. There is a possibility that they may add on a couple more since these last few have been so spread out and delayed. I will do whatever is best but I am so ready to be done with this stage of treatment! :) After chemo 6, the plan is to do a full body PET scan to check progress and then address surgery.

We went to Johns Hopkins a while back for a second opinion and had a good apt. They told me that they thought I was getting good local care, that I can continue to go up there as well, that the docs can collaborate and I may be eligible for some clinical trials, Super cool!

I am also having a second opinion with Johns Hopkins breast surgeon and plastics next week to see what their opinions and approach would be in my case. Anxious to hear what they say!

Hello from long lost me...

Hello long lost friends and family...I hope there are actually still people checking this blog! :) I haven't updated this forever and I hope you will understand why sometimes when things are hard it is so much easier for me to avoid all the sicky sweet happy comments on Facebook and I really don't want to just vent on my blog. I can imagine hearing everyone saying, we still love you, we want to hear your troubles and fears and be there for you. And I get that, I truly do, but for me this time I kind of turned inward a bit during this rough patch. I tried to get through the days, loving my kids and husband, appreciating the help of my family and friends and then letting myself slip into other worlds in the evening, through my books, tv shows and sleep.  I hope you haven't felt too neglected! I love you all!

The trouble is in the blood. When you are going through chemo the day before you are to have treatment, you go in and have your blood tested. They are watching four things very closely. 1) Red blood cell count 2) white blood cell count
3) Hematocrit number 4) and platelet count.

At first everything was super low, I had just gotten bronchitis, then was on antibiotics for that and started chemo number 4. Those things, adding in my body is still slowly recovering from my radiation, and my blood took a nose dive. I had to get a blood transfusion. I tolerated it just fine, watching Eclipse while I got the treatment (LOL). Everything came up pretty quick except for my platelets which were stubborn. I had to go in and in get my blood checked almost every other day, the mental pressure of gearing up/being positive for good news and then getting so let down when I didn't pass for chemo, was devastating. I am at chemo today!! YAY, it took two extra weeks of waiting and waiting to get my little platelets to get over 100. Today my platelet count was 106! Whew!

More Pink Pics to Enjoy!!

I know this was all over facebook but I forgot to put it up on my lovely lazy blog!! Here are a couple pics of my fam and friends in KC running/walking in the Susan G. Koman race for the Cure. Love them!!

And then my sweet cousin's State Farm office in Summerville, SC has been so supportive too! So sweet, her is pink day at their office, thanks guys!!!!

Jamie needs YOU!!

Jamie is going for Round 4 of Chemo TOMORROW! It will be the HALFWAY mark! Jamie has loved all the support and encouragement and love. BUT she isn't through yet. I thought it would be great for her to come to Chemo tomorrow and for her to open her blog and have TONS of comments be there. This is where I need your help. I was hoping you would add a story of something you were working on and how you got to the halfway mark and what you did to FINISH the project. Whether it was build a bedroom, or make a dress, maybe start a diet or an exercise program. Honestly anything will do. I know when I go out for a run, that first mile is the worst but I always remind myself that this IS the worst part and I CAN keep going. You can make your story anonymous. If you have a problem for some reason posting on the blog plese feel free to email me at 3foxgirls@gmail.com and I will post it for you..if you don't want your name on it. I wont post it.
THANK YOU so much for all your help and please remember to keep the Jensen family in your prayers!
Much love,
Lisa
********** UPDATE*************** Jamie's white blood count was low so Chemo is postponed until Monday! Please keep her in your prayers that her white cell count will go up she can get this over with! Positve note: More time for comments. please leave a comment, I know we can do better than this! Thank you everyone!

A family Reunion!!

Landon's family has a family reunion each year and for the 12+ years that I have been blessed to be a part or this awesome tradition (twelve as a wife and a once as a girlfriend), it is an much anticipated highlight of my year. This year, like several in the past, we were unable to make the trip to Utah for the reunion. I love Landon's family so much. I lucked out in the in-law department, his sisters are really amazing women and I really enjoy a lot of the relationships that I have made in his extended family. They are awesome people! So I was very touched when I found out that the 50+ people who made it to the reunion this year, sported some pink in my honor. After seeing the pictures and the video that Landon's cousin Holli put together, it looked like so much fun. There were pink aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews galore!! Pink shirts, pink spray for hair, pink scarves, pink necklaces, pink blow-up guitars and more. So fun!

Thought you might like to see a collage of the day...thank you to Landon's family for making me feel so special! I miss the family reunions, maybe next year!!

Love,
Jamie

Hair today, so gone...annoying...irritating...bugging big time tomrrow!!

So the hair is long gone, buzzed by the fam. But for some reason unknown to me the gray ones,,  and I am just going to leave it at there are more than one, and only my two hairdressers know the truth, will not die off with the rest. They BUG. I have to resist the urge to get tweezers and pull them all out. So my hubby suggested that getting a razor and shaving the whole head so that it was perfectly smooth. And I believe I married a genius, but that did the trick! Now my hats and wigs don't bug me at all...so much better.

Speaking of wigs, I need to address something for a moment. A while back, my darling friend Nicolette, who is a hairdresser but is currently on a break since she just had a baby, decided to open her home-salon for several days to her old clients to come and get color, cuts, and styles and she gave me all of the proceeds to me! I was so touched! She raised over $1000 just for me. I was able to buy not just one wig, but three reasonably priced wigs, one read, one brunette and one blonde!! And still use my Nicolette fund for downloading Itunes for chemo sessions, new books to put on my Kindle for chemo and comfy socks and sweats. There are so many things that I have bought to be more comfortable during this cancer journey and it has been SO NICE to be able to buy it and not worry how it will affect our budget. I love you Nicolette, you are one of the most beautiful women I know, but by far your HEART is your most beautiful feature!

A New Day!

Well, as my friend Cobin has instructed me to do, I am FINALLY cleaning of the dust that has sadly gathered on this blog and keeping the flow of info alive! That time I disappeared it was because I just felt so good, I didn't want to go back to chemo and rehash the unpleasant. This time was different. After my second week of chemo they sandwiched a high dose of radiation in. It was a high dose in a shorter amount of time. I would go everyday for fifteen minutes. They, of course go over the side effects with you, but do so in such a sing-song nice voice that you kind of breeze over it. Dry mouth, fatigue, skin irritation, and diarrhea were mentioned with out much alarm or concern and then me moved on.

At the beginning everything was fine, at the end of the first week I was a walking zombie, no check that crap, laying-on-the-couch-directing-orders-zombie. I had all the energy drained out of me. ALL OF IT. I felt horrible. They kept checking my blood and my oxygen carrying red blood cells got so low I almost needed a blood transfusion.

Then just as my count finally started to come up, I was beginning to feel slightly better, avoided the blood transfusion by .4, a whole different set of problems hit. It starts with Dia and ends with rrhea. HOLY COW. They had told me that since the radiation would be going through some of the intestines that might pose me some problems. Did it ever. I have never been that sick! I lost 9 pounds, never felt hungry, was so sore, couldn't keep anything in, was desperately trying to stay hydrated but was slowly failing, was taking Ammodium AD like it was going out of style and ............still ended up in the ER. They filled me up with fluids and sent me home. I did get a cool sign on my door that said this lady is a chemo patient don't go in her room with checking in first. Rock On! I was so sick they had to push my chemo out a week so I could recover...no since throwing chemo in on top of this hot mess, I would never recover. SO, now I feel much better have recovered, and I get to start feeling like crap again probably tomorrow night or Sat. :)

But you know, I continually am looking for the positive. HOW ELSE CAN I GET THROUGH? God is helping me stay positive and notice each thing I can be grateful for through all of this. My supportive hubby has been great, my family is taking turns coming out to VA to help, my friends are my local family and they have been such a help, and I am the topic of many prayers and good vibes. I am lucky that I have the means to afford wonderful treatment, live in this wonderful country and have such a loving support system.

P.S. I am trying to watch funny movies as much as possible so please send in suggestions of your favs!! :)

Lots and Lots and Lots of LOVE

Saying that LJ and I are extremely blessed in family and friends is certainly the understatement of the year. Our family has sacrificed their time to come visit on moments notice, help clean up the house, get everything put back on the walls and in closets (things were taken apart in prep for our Taiwan move), sent me so many amazing presents that make me smile, pinked up our hair, got a football signed by a KC Chiefs player, buzzed/put pink in their hair, working on hats for my bald head, and coordinated a Suzanne G. Komen race in my honor. I love my family!

Our friends have cooked, called, babysat, fixed Lj's explorer (Pres, Darin, Elijah...my deepest thanks) brought over the most thoughtful gifts, sent wonderful packages from Missouri stocked with laughs and smiles, and poured out an immeasurable amount of love! I can feel the support coming in from so many places, Missouri, Utah, Virginia, Idaho, Nebraska, Kansas, Alaska, Italy, Taiwan, South Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, and soooo many more wonderful places. I feel the love and the prayers!

Hello Chemo numero 2!

I am hooked up, premeds all in, done with loopy half-hour from Benedryl (kind of fun) and am now started on the hard stuff. Today will be shorter, only 4.5 to 5 hours today, I will get my shot tomorrow and Aredia treatment next weeks so that breaks things up a bit. My doc gave me new nausea meds, and some Percoset pain meds to combat all of the body aches and bone pain from the Nulasta shot and Aredia bone strengthening treatments. So hopefully it will be smoother ride this time.

My awesome husband took the day off and is having a "Daddy Day" today with the kids. They were SO excited to have their dad home from work! It was adorable. Shelley has been been awesome to hang out with this week, and she is accompanying me to chemo today. She has been working so hard on my race/walk and so many people have donated/sent packages/sent sweet cards/words of support and I am soooo grateful. It really does make my day make me feel better.

Today I am updating my blog for my loving loyal followers and then I am going to work on thank you notes, read a bit on my (gasp) Kindle, and then watch some Twilight (prob Eclipse) with Shell. Chemo and Twilight...can it get any better than that? My first day of chemo I started re-re-re-reading Twilight for bazillionith time and the chapter I ended on was chapter 14: MIND OVER MATTER. That is what I have to keep telling myself about this journey, I can do it!! Mind over Matter, thanks Stephenie Meyer! LOL.

As I look around (see pic) and think I should be in an ad for Target or Best Buy! I have my camera, (gasp) Kindle, DVD, IPOD, and Laptop. I am a high tech chemo gal! :)


JJ

Finally a Doctor Update!!

I am back!! I am sitting here at my second round of chemo chatting with my sis, two lovely ladies that are here getting treatment for ovarian cancer, and my favorite nurse Rachelle.

August 14: I need to recap the-total-hell-that-was-chemo-round #1: The meds I am on are Taxol, Carboplatin, Herceptin, Nulasta and Aredia. I first had an appointment with my Radiologist to go over our Radiation plan that will start on the 15th, then I started chemo. I was here ALL DAY, we shut the place down, I was the last one to leave. I felt fine during treatment, luckily didn't have any allergic reactions to the meds, and had a nice day hanging out with LJ. I came back Friday for my Nulasta shot (helps keep my white blood count from dropping too low) and my two hour Aredia treatment (bone strengthening). At the end of the Aredia I was really starting to get tired. By the time we got home I was exhausted! Then my legs started to hurt, the migraine, started to set in and then ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE!!! :(


Saturday...Felt like I had been hit by a truck..., threw up, add in a migraine

Sunday...still ran over...with a migraine

Monday....bruised...migraine, went to pool and sat in loungy chair to watch kids...

Tuesday...a little bit myself...after my migraine went away

Wednesday...finally feeling better...saw my doctor and next time he swears we are "tweak" treatment next time so that I won't feel so awful. Fingers crossed!

How did everyone know to wear pink?

A girl named Megan sent a message on Facebook asking everyone to wear PINK to church this past Sunday. This simple request spread all over the country. Friends in Missouri,Michigan, Utah and even Puerto Rico wore pink yesterday for our dear friend Jamie. What is so sweet about Megan is that she is in High School and should be living up summer vacation. Instead she is thinking of our JJ. The church we go to teaches all of us to Love One Another. This simple phrase has spread through our congregation like wild fire. Not everyone knows Jamie as well as some of us, but all of us LOVE her as the daughter of God she is. Jamie had her first round of Chemo on Thursday. It has left her feeling awful and tired and sore and just yuck. BUT, she still has her smile and her amazing family right next to her. Jamie we knew you wouldn't be able to be at church on Sunday but we wanted you to know that we are here and we love you! Now GO FIGHT LIKE A GIRL!

My family is wicked supportive!

So, now that I have some uninterrupted time on my hands, (uh, say about 6 or seven hours while I sitting here dong chemo...see next post) I wanted to take a minute to sing the praises of my family. To start out the sappy-mushy-family-love post let's talk about Landon. My husband is just wonderful. I keep looking at him like I suppose a scientist or doctor would, looking for signs of Post Traumatic Shock Disorder or cracks in his armour. He is so supportive, kind and caring. He is taking such good care of me and kids. I am so blessed.

Then we go on to Mom. My mother came out here to help us for two weeks during the bone biopsy, subsequent result and first chemo treatment. She has been a huge support to me. I have asked for a positive environment at home. I am not breaking down in front of the kids. I asked this of my mom too. Anyone who knows her, knows she has a very huge, and sensitive heart and I knew while this would be hard for her, it was imperative for for my mental well being. And she has rocked it!!!! She has been such a great help to me both mentally and physically, by helping me kick my totally messy-cluttered-laundry-overloaded house into shape. Thanks mom!

When we found out the results of my biopsy and that the cancer had spread and it was stage four, my dad, sister, brother and sister-in-law jumped in my dad's truck and high-tailed it from Missouri to Virginia (16.5) hours to just be here four me. Both my brother and sister have little children that they had to make arrangements for and they still came out...just to be there for me. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN! We laughed, made fun of each other (that is what we do), went wig shopping for me (I got an awesome, cute, sassy, short one) ate out, played with my kids. My family is good for my soul. They made such a horrible weekend, wonderful. I will need my family fix every 8 weeks or so!

Even though I can't see my extended family on both sides I truly have been brought to tears by the amount of love and support I have. My mother-in-law, counsin, sister-in-laws and aunts have all talked about coming out in rotation to help me out, others have offered up SO many prayers. And you know what, I can't feel my Heavenly Father and Jesus lifting me up. I am not a preacher type believer. My faith is strong. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) and I will totally openly talk about anything you ask me, but I don't go screaming from the rooftops. But I will type out my testimony here. Prayer is strong. Prayer works. I am sitting her typing during chemo and I can feel my Heavenly Father's arms around me, comforting me. I can feel my Savior's love for me. I have an ARMY if fighters prayer for me, and their prayers are being heard, and I have so much gratitude in my heart for my family, friends, and followers.

Love,
JJ

And now...a belated Dr. update

Ok, so I am behind on doctor updates. I would much rather just have all the fun pink party posts on my blog then this stuff but it helps me to keep everything up to date and organized and it helps to keep all of you informed and in the know. :) I think that for the most part I will be a little behind because it seems to take me a bit to process the info before I am able to sit down to the computer and write about it. I have had a couple more doctors appointments since my last post:

1. July1st, I found out the results of my PET scan. They told us that the PET scan showed a few spots on the bone in the pelvis that we needed to get biopsied to confirm if they were cancer or not. Our doctor was unsure if it was cancer or not because there was not cancer in the lymph nodes at all which is usually the next place breast cancer travels too. The news made me very nervous, I was really hoping for a much clearing path from here on out. "PET scan just shows cancer in breast, so you are Stage 2, we will proceed with chemo as planned." That is what I was really HOPING to hear!
2. July 5th, I went for my bone biopsy. I was extremely nervous, but it really wasn't that bad, especially compared to the breast biopsy. The big game changer? SEDATION!!! I got to have this lovely "Twilight Sedation" that made me drowsy but not fully asleep. I don't really remember the procedure. Once it was over we went home and began the waiting game. On Thursday we would find out of we were at Stage 2, or Stage 4 breast cancer.
3. July7th, My hubby (who is amazing by the way) and I went to chemo class. We spent two hours learning all about chemo, the side effects, what to expect and how to cope with everything. It was a bit overwhelming. What I remember from chemo class: I CANNOT HAVE PEDICURES DURING CHEMO, I can't clean our fish tank anymore (uh, I am not very good at that now, but now I have a real excuse), my taste is going to change, and I CAN'T WEAR PERFUME. I really did listen to all the real stuff but that is the real life stuff that stuck out to me.
4. After we had chemo class we met with our doctor to find out the results of the bone biopsy. I am going to be very short and to the point here and maybe later after I have had more time to deal and reflect, come back and expand on this. But, he told us that the biopsy showed that the cancer was in the bone, which put us at Stage 4 breast cancer, which means that it is no curable, just treatable. The average is 3-4 years to live, but he has had patients live much longer than that and my outcome is brighter than that especially since it isn't in any organs or lymph nodes. The goal is that the chemo (six months now) will shrink everything down in breast and get rid of what is in my bone for now. Then I will have surgery, then reconstruction, then radiation. Then hopefully a long period of dormancy, but they will always be monitoring and scanning to check for a reoccurrence of cancer anywhere and then we repeat.
5. July 8th, To prepare for chemo I had a medi-port placed in out-patient surgery. If I was keeping track, WHICH I AM...that was the worst thing by far!! I was again under the sedation, but I think that this procedure was more painful so I was much more aware. They placed this plastic port which is a small device used to carry medicine, my chemo, to your bloodstream. It sits under my skin just a bit below my collar bone on my left side, it has a catheter that runs to a major vein so that they don't have to try to get an IV started in my arm all the time. I am already hooked up with my port. I was supersore after getting it put in and am STILL sore today several days later. I think it will take a while to get used to having something foreign in my body all the time. I feel like a robot, every time I turn my neck I can feel it. Weird.
6. July 11th, ONE MORE TEST before chemo...jeez! I had to get a MUGA scan which is a scan of my heart to make sure it is strong enough for chemo. So they drew blood, mixed it with radioactive stuff, then re-injected it into my bloodstream then took scans. I am happy to say that most people's left ventricles perform somewhere between 50-80% and mine was pumping at 74% so it was kicking some butt. At least one test came back with good news right?! Oh, I forgot to mention that they tried to start a reg IV on me, failed, and decided to use my Medi-port, let me just say that since it was still new and tender, I felt like I was being skewered by a harpoon instead of stuck with a needle. NOT FUN. Hopefully it become easier as we go along. I did get numbing cream for my chemo on Thursday. Landon and I wondered, hmmm...shouldn't everyone with a mediport have numbing cream in their back pocket?  Why did I have to ask for a script for that??? :)

Thanks to everyone following me on this journey, it really does help to type out my thoughts on this blog and know that there are so many who care! xoxoxoxo
JJ

First...a big thank you!

So seriously, do I have the best friends in the whole wide world or what? I really have been overwhelmed with the show of support, genuine concern and love that I have felt so far through this cancer process. I have had my husband, children, and family pull together as a force to be reckoned with, so many people offer up prayers in my behalf, an entire congregation show that we are all fighting this together, little children from my primary class draw me pictures and make me bracelets, there is a message quilt being made so that when I am at chemo I will always have warm wishes to keep me company, and last night over 30 of my amazing friends went pink in my honor. I hope their hubbys are ok with it, because it was all I could do to keep it together last night, looking out over all that pink. It was pure love. I would be there for anyone of them, and it warmed my heart to see that they felt the same way for me. I sure am lucky in friendship.

Pictures from the Pink Party!

Here is the first of many more pictures to come. We had such a fun time putting pink in our hair. Lots of pink in the room betweeen food, decorations, clothes and hair. The love and support for Jamie and her family is so strong. Thank you to everyone for coming and showing their love. A HUGE shout out to Cathy Squires...the one with curly blonde hair in the black apron and Nicolette Gelvin the other blonde with pig tail braids. They stayed on their feet the whole night pinking hair. AMAZING!!
We love you JAMIE!
P.S. I will add more photos as they come in!!

PINK PARTY!

I am another friend of the amazing JJ! We became tight the moment we both heard TWILIGHT come out of our mouths!!!
If you want to rock pink hair like these crazy kids. Come to my house Tuesday July 12Th 8pmish. We are doing this to pump up Jamie's spirits and show her we love her fun and wild style. If you don't want some pink but still want to come and show love. We would love it. If you live far away feel free to host your own pink party. PLEASE send me a picture and I will gather them all up and share them here too. Please email me if you need directions my email is 3foxgirls@gmail.com
We love your fighting spirit Jamie and we are ready to FIGHT LIKE A GIRL!!!
Love you,
Lisa Fox

What You Should Know...

Hi All...
My name is Cathy Squires. JJ has been one of my dearest friends since we both found ourselves transplanted here to Virginia. She is my rockin' concert buddy, my Girl's Night Out Coordinator, all around good time planner as well as my dear friend. From time to time I will update the blog for Jamie with basics when she needs a break and she will come back to add her beautiful amazing writer touches to it! Thanks for hanging out and loving and caring for her!

Things to remember when visiting Jamie Jensen

Please remember that Jamie is beginning Chemotherapy, her health and well being are of the utmost importance. Jamie loves to have visitors! Please consider calling rather than just dropping by. She will have family in town often, they may be in and out with Doctors appointments, she may be resting or they may just need family time. We all have the best intentions but need to remember to be considerate.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR SNIFFLES YOUR SNIFFLES!
Jamie's immune system will be highly sensitive. There will be a sanitizing station in the foyer as soon as you enter. It cannot be stressed enough how important it is that you take the moment to utilize what is available to be germ free upon entering the home. Even if you think it's just a minor thing such as allergies, or maybe you've been in contact with someone else who has been sick. Wait to come by until all is well.

When visiting, always be positive no matter the topic of discussion. Even the slightest Debbie Downer moment can change one's mindset. Positivity is crucial to not only Jamie's but her family's well being. Don't come in if you can't be POSITIVE! Again this goes to your health as well as attitude. Keep communication open but be a good listener. The best medicine..verbalize your love and support for them. Be creative, write it, say it, or show it by your actions.

How Can I help?
Flowers are not the best. Patient's immune systems may be compromised and living plants, flowers and Spanish moss are not allowed. Look for alternative ways to say you care.

Losing hair is a hard thing...no doubt about it! Consider having a hat party and inviting everyone to wear a hat, party hardy, and leave the hat for her. Hats should be practical as well as fun!

Keeping in touch is important. Send cards, notes, banners, kids drawings, or any message of hope to show you care. Receiving "get well" cards with the message "while you recover" can be very important to her healing.

Form a "Relay for Life" team. This can show great team support while giving Jamie something fun to look forward to!

Remember the family with food and treats.

Gift certificates to area fast food/restaurants surrounding her Chemotherapy (Lake Manassas in Gainesville) or hospital (Prince William) are very helpful.

Pretty new P.J.'s with front opening for IV access is essential. Throw in a pair of fuzzy slippers for added fun!

Themed gift boxes or baskets for the family are a great idea. For example: a movie basket filled with videos, video coupons, candy, popcorn, etc. is always fun.

Arrange to help with laundry and housecleaning. Her job right now is to heal, not be overwhelmed by day-to-day chores.

Short visits can take the family's mind off of stress. Share laughs and make wonderful memories, just remember to call first.

Stay connected. Say "I'm here and I care" is better than nothing at all.

This Wednesday July 13th
The Jensen's church family as well as all friends and loved ones are invited to participate in a fasting. Please keep this good family in your prayers that the medical treatments may be successful and that through faith, fasting, prayer and through the power of the priesthood her body may be made whole and well. Please pray for the comfort and sustaining strength of Jamie as well as her family as they endure this process.

With Love,
Cathy

I am Spiderman!

My sister called me today and asked me if I was Spiderman! It took me way too long to realize she was referring to my RADIOACTIVE CT/PET scan that I had today. They injected me with a radioactive sugar substance that filters through my body and gravitates toward any cancer in my body. I waited for 45 minutes while it went to work, then they scanned me for about 30 minutes. It is really hard to hold still that long. And to make matters worse I totally forgot to take my Xanax before the scan. I did ok though. No problemo. Thirty minutes, all alone, staring at the tube of the scanner...a lot runs through a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient's mind. Today I spent the time thanking my Heavenly Father for all that I have. To keep calm, I ran down the list and thought of my wonderful husband, children, parents, siblings, extended family, and friends. I have so much love in my life. I am truly blessed. I was so worried when the scan started, and then I did this, and it ended before my list of loved ones was even half way done. What a lucky girl I am!

The doctor visit list...

Here is a list of the appointments I have had thus far and what I learned at each appointment. I am going to try, from here on out, to publish a post after each new appointment so that everyone who is interested can keep updated on what is going on. I really didn't want to put all of this on Facebook but I have been so touched by how many people have reached out, showed concern and wanted me to keep them updated...so the blog sounded like a good idea.

1. June 7th, I had my regular annual exam with my family doc. During the visit I mentioned that my right breast felt fuller, firmer than my left. While both breasts have always been firm, the tissue very fibrous I have been told, the right one just seemed a bit different. She told me that she would have me get a mammogram to rule anything out and just add to the things I was checking off my list before we moved.
2. June 8th, I went to the hospital and got a mammogram, they told me the right breast looked very dense, they wanted to get a better look with ultrasound. After waiting a bit they did ultrasound. I started to get a bit worried when the tech started taking pictures of two dark areas. I think she ended up taking about 25 pics in all, measuring and snapping pics for about 15 minutes before she went to get the Radiologist. In comes the Radiologist. He proceeds to tell me there are two "areas of concern" and I am scheduled to see my family doc tomorrow at 11:30 (he already scheduled an apt for me? RED FLAG) He says that I will need a biopsy to rule out anything serious. When I push a little bit, telling him that we are supposed to be moving in a week and a half, and asking if I can have the biopsy done today, he looks down and tells me that he thinks this is very serious, I need to talk to my husband about the move, that unfortunately he thinks I have BREAST CANCER. I was all alone for the news. Of course at this point nothing was confirmed, but when you hear those words for the first time all alone, it is a very scary moment.
3. June 9, met with my family doc, she just went over what Radiologist found, and referred us to a surgeon who will be the one to order biopsy.
4. June 10, met with surgeon, he ordered biopsy to be done.
5. June 14, went to hospital for MRI, then ultrasound guided biopsy of right breast. So MRIs are no cup of tea when you are claustrophobic like me (the Xanax helps), but I tell you the biopsy was the worst thing I have gone through so far! They numbed the right side of my breast, inserted a needle to numb the two pathways to the two tumors, then inserted a larger hollow needle to each tumor, then they shot this tissue capture thingy into each tumor (6 times for the larger area, and 4 times for the smaller one). Everything was numb except for the tumors and tissue right around them, so each time they captured a tissue sample it felt like I was getting my ears pierced inside my boob! Not pleasant. The bruise that resulted from this wasn't pretty either.
6. June 17th, met with doctor for results of biopsy. He told me I have two different kinds of breast cancer. I have cancer in the lobules of the breast as well as the ducts. He referred me to the group's breast cancer specialist, for the rest of my treatment.
7. June 21, when they did my first MRI, they saw a blip on the left breast they wanted to double check so they ordered a MRI guided biopsy (my fav). It ended up that when they did the MRI this time they didn't see anything on the left breast. I thought it was weird, but since I am having a double mastectomy anyway, it didn't really bother me.
8. June 24, met with new breast cancer surgeon for "the gameplan." We are starting with three months of chemo first to shrink down the cancer. About half of my right breast has cancer or precancerous cells present. He said that if we don't do the chemo first it will very difficult to get clean (non cancer) margins around the cancer, and he won't be able to save a lot of my skin, making for a very difficult post-mastectomy reconstruction. SO, if we shrink everything down first then there is a more positive outlook for my mastectomy and reconstructive surgeries down the road.

So that is what has happened so far...whew! I need a nap and a Dr. Pepper after typing all that! :)

Welcome to the fight!

So, I was supposed to be moving to Taiwan for Landon's job, on June 19, 2011. Instead of learning the Taiwanese culture, exploring Taipei, tackling Mandarin, and enjoying this awesome adventure, I am here. I am staying in Virginia. In a matter of days our plans changed from moving abroad to fighting a disease. I found out on June 17th, 2011, I have cancer. I have breast cancer. I can't freaking believe this. It is going to be a long year, but with the support of my amazing family and awesome friends, I am going to kick cancer's butt! I am going to FIGHT LIKE A GIRL! Welcome to my fight!