Introducing Jen!
Christmastime is usually a time of togetherness, joy and celebration. Families gather around to savor their favorite holiday snacks, participate in festivities, and truly enjoy the gifts of the season. Christmas of 2018 was not that idyllic scene for Jen and her family when Jen learned of her breast cancer diagnosis. As Jen tried not to overthink too much of her trials and tribulations to come, she set off across the ocean with her family to enjoy a trip to Italy. She said good riddance to 2018 and returned in the new year with a vengeance toward the breast cancer beast. She also embarked on a new journey that didn’t quite look like a gift with a pretty bow on top, but it was a gift that surely kept on giving.
Jen was diagnosed with ER+, and HER2- invasive lobular carcinoma. Invasive lobular carcinoma is the second most common form of breast cancer after invasive ductal carcinoma, according to breastcancer.org. Jen took charge of her diagnosis by researching and processing every thought that occurred in her mind, and then she signed up for outpatient surgery to test lymph nodes that would otherwise have been tested at same time as receiving a lumpectomy or mastectomy. Her results would be able to provide key information for treatment options, and that they did. Her pathology report showed isolated breast cancer cells in two out of five lymph nodes, which meant more aggressive treatment was called for; chemotherapy followed by surgery. Jen decided on completing four chemotherapy treatments in three-week intervals followed by some recovery time, and lastly, went in for surgery.
While staring breast cancer in the face was difficult, she did her best to practice self-care and a “lounging lifestyle” by sitting on the sofa, reading, blogging, and no doubt, over-thinking the week ahead of her. To her aid was her support system, including her son who flew home from Japan.
Jen’s three boys are a powerful force. One was closing in on his boy scout Eagle rank with another closing in on his boy scout first class rank at the time of Jen’s diagnosis, and the third was on the plane ride home to North Carolina. Additionally, her husband, Rich, helped to make a date night out of Jen’s chemotherapy treatments when the time came. They traveled and stayed overnight in Chapel Hill allowing for some much-needed adult down time. Focusing on date nights helped them realize just how important the little things are, and the family support showed them how much strength there is in numbers. She couldn’t have been happier to have her boys near and dear, and of course, to wine and dine with her spouse. Her oldest son, who flew in from Japan, even accompanied his mom on some road trips to Chapel Hill, squeezing in some mother-son quality time.
Chemotherapy treatments seemed to run their course on about a 5-day schedule. Her treatments were on Thursday’s with most side effects finishing up on Monday. Two weeks after her first treatment, as her hair began to fall out, she donned her new bald look and the same big smile from ear to ear. She wasn’t going down without a fight.
Cancer brought its normal woes to Jen’s life. Fatigue ruled her world for a short time. Some days she had to nap throughout the day just to be able to get through dinner. There was a war waging inside Jen’s body, but she was winning. By her third chemotherapy treatment, her tumor was undetectable. Cancer was waving the white flag.
Jen completed her chemotherapy and was able to proceed with a bilateral mastectomy followed by reconstruction. She joked that she didn’t anticipate breast cancer would “include a boob job.” Reconstruction turned out to be the gift that keeps on giving. Jen faced even more obstacles.
Just when she thought she’d opened the last of cancer’s gifts, an incision from her reconstruction started giving her trouble. Ever the spirited fighter, Jen waltzed right back into surgery to face this new hurdle.
Luckily, her implant replacement went well, and Jen has been able to enjoy a cancer-free life for a just over a year now. Jen makes time to care for herself and enjoys spending downtime near the ocean. Vitamin C helps her bones, and “Vitamin Sea” helps her heal. Ocean therapy has become just as important to her thriving as her cancer treatment was to her survival. And, if you’re asking us, there is almost nothing that sun and sand can’t fix.