Still Fighting ... Now the next step

Hello everyone, Sorry during chemo I kinda got busy, sick, and pre occupied so I didnt really blog alot. Chemo kicked my ass .... I never was so sick in my life. My last treatment was August 28th, 2017. I had to be DRAGGED literally to my last treatment. Imagine going to a garage and having about 30 cars running and all you are inhaling is the exhaust, That is how chemo smells and tastes as it is running through you. I was getting so sick the last couple treatments that I just didnt want to go.

I had surgery September 28th, 2017 I month after my chemo was done. I had a lumpectomy and lymph-node dissection. my chemo did its job though, I had a 4 cm tumor in my breast to start with to now after chemo it was no where to be found. Luckily, my surgeon during my biopsy put a chip on the tumor so he could find it when the time came and he cut enough around and out of my right breast that the margins came back great! They got it all! My Lymph-nodes they removed 31 ... 31 ... to my doctor he says that is alot of nodes to have. At the start I had 12 of them on my pet scan that lite up with cancer to just 1 after all my chemo treatment. But now I have to be careful, I can develop Lymphedema . I have tingling and numbness in my right arm, which sucks cause I am right handed.
I will start Occupational therapy this next week and I have my first radiation evaluation this next week.

Below I do have pictures of my surgery areas.

This is my arm pit area from my lymph-nodes 

Below are the incisions from my right breast. This is a week post op so the bruising has gone down. It was black and blue to where now the bruising is yellow and brownish. 

 

To the warriors that did the drug trials and who paved the way for us warriors in today's age have a chance to fight, THANK YOU! years ago my diagnosis of Stage 3 A (A stands for aggressive) would have been a death sentence and without them trying out drugs and doing clinical trials I wouldn't be where I am today. 

5 days in

Well I am 5 days into my first chemo treatment. Does your body feel weird, Yup. Can you feel your cells being pulled in every direction, Yup. It is the weirdest feeling ever. But I know there is an army of soldiers now in my body fighting this disease.

The Side Effects I been feeling so far: Tried as hell ... Nauseous ... & Diarrhea (If you do not want to know the truth of chemo dont read a blog written by someone who is enduring it). Learning to sleep and rest is a new adventure to me. As I hate feeling like a bum, I always been hard working. and not eating cause everything tastes like cardboard, metallic, or gravy. 

Everyone wishes they can help, which I am beyond grateful for. But alot of this I have to fight on my own. There is no switch to turn on and off on days that I am busy to feel "good" and feel bad when it is convenient. Heck that is just how life is. 

My Dad has been feeling bad cause I got sick and he retired. But I look at it this way if I can get through this first year of owning DQ on top of battling this disease I think that will entitle me to some super powers! What doesnt kill me only makes me stronger is only way I am looking at this right now. 

My last chemo treatment will be August 21st, 2017 and I will have the effects in my system for a while after that. So the new healthy Jenn will debut right around Septemeber-ish and hopefully some curly, thick hair to go with the attitude!

Stay tuned for more!

Its here

Well I tried for this weekend to not fly by and already we are at Saturday night. *Deep Breath* 

Well since my last post I have done all my tests and received the results which showed the cancer has spread to my lymphodes in my arm pit. 

I am officially diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Stage IIIa  with HER2+

I am asked "How are you often" My response always seems the same "Fine. OK, Tired" 

I never want to freak anyone out and say what I want to say cause I know they are being kind and supportive. I also know alot do not know what to say. I know when I had friends or family going through stuff like this it was always hard to find words. But I always let them know I was here and was loving them and would always provide them with something if it was within my power. So I know alot of people in my life are the same way now with my diagnose. 

But I can say I am scared out of my mind! 

I hate being sick ... drives me crazy ... I have a business I want to run and work at while it is season.

But I already feel the weight of the disease and I need to learn to balance my work and sleep better. 

Almost like when I became a mother and mom told me to nap when the baby napped. Now I need to sleep when I am not working that way I can use my energy for DQ and have a successful season before you know it winter is here. 

So 36 more hours and I start Chemo. 4 different drugs: T, C, H, P .. They stand for: 

T - Taxotere (docetaxel) 

C - Carboplatin
H - Herceptin (trastuzumab)
P - Pertuzumab (Perjeta)

Out of all the side effects I am worried about vomiting the most. Hair loss of course I dont want it. Yeah its only hair but if i hear that anymore I am handing the next jerkface the razor and telling them to shave their heads! 

x

The Bills are starting to add up and it makes my jaw drop but my life is worth every single penny needed to make me healthy again. I am ready to fight every second of every day. 

To everyone praying for me, thinking of me, sending me sweet gifts and flowers. THANK YOU! 

I been asked many times for my address which it is just easier to send to DQ cause someone is always there to accept the package. 

Northbrook DQ 2770 Dundee Rd. Northbrook, IL 60062 

LOVE TO YOU ALL!!

This week!

I dont think this week could have any more going on in it. On top of DQ getting busy and trying to keep up with cakes and my normal stuff. I have EKG on Monday, Tuesday new ice cream machine being installed, Wednesday procedure for my chemo port (Which I was told I have to take it easy for a day or two cause it is going right above my right breast and it will hurt) Then on Friday is the big day it is Pet Scan and MRI day.

I am nervous for the results for Friday ... I am scared to know if it has spread... I am probably going to cry like a big baby knowing if it has not spread. Not knowing if there is cancer in any other part of body though is weighing heavily on me.  I can tell I think about it to much when I am alone.

Yes I am a positive person, I stay happy most of the time, and yes I am determined to kick Cancers ass. I am driven by running the family business and saying I BEAT CANCER! But there are times I am sad as hell and just want my mom. I think it is all crazy to me because Mom and Dad moved, and my sisters are moving ... I have DQ to run and want to keep it successful but CRAP I have Cancer too.

I been feeling good I just dont eat alot ... I have to make myself eat. I am just not hungry. I also sleep alot. I get very tired very easily. I just keep thinking of my Aunt Nancy the most. She is My moms sister who passed away at 48. In May 2000, Nancy passed away from Breast Cancer and 9 Brain Tumors. My doctor feels that the same cancer I have is what she had because of how aggressive hers was and quickly it all happened. So I know I have angels on my side and I hope they been putting in good words for me.

I will keep you all posted on the next steps in my journey!

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog .... Grab some water and take a seat this is going to be a bumping ride! My life changed March 27th around 1:30pm. I had just got done having lunch with my middle sister Melissa at the new Portillos in Northbrook. I had a voice mail from my doctor who said he would just meet with me in his office on Tuesday with the results so emotionally I was all set to here them the following day. So, I call the office back the doctor calls me back yet again to tell me I have Breast Cancer. A subject that has touched me since I lost my Aunt Nancy May 27th, 2000 She was 48 ... She was 4 years older then I am at this moment when she passed and she had Breast cancer and 9 brain tumors. So when it comes to hitting home this was the closest that this diseased as hit until now. 

Talk about rocking my world! 

I just took over a family business that my parents have owned for 43 years. This is suppose to be my time to work hard, make some money, get the store in order of how I would like, and have fun of course. Now, thats up in the air depending on treatment and surgery. I think that is the scariest part of all of this, I am the head person that knows everything at the store and now I am making sure all my ducks are in a row before I start treatment to make sure the start of season goes smoothly. 

1:30pm Monday March 27th it all changed, The moment of shock lasted for 2 days. The WHY THE HELL ME moments. The crying, I cried myself out of tears. 
And now the boxing gloves have come on to fight. I have 3 kids and a granddaughter to see their futures grow. I have a store to make successful and many friends to make magical memories with. Trying to stay positive is easier to day then to do, I have my reason to be positive of course. I also have my moments of crying and being upset.
I can say " I have Breast Cancer" without crying, it took a few days to accomplish that. 

Now my next hurdle it to do my PET Scan to make sure it has not spread.