Help Jenn Get Treatment

UPDATE! I had my 11th treatment yesterday which means 1 more to go!!!! I am so happy to be at the end of chemo and look forward to making my body strong and healthy again.
The last three weeks have been tough! I came down with a couple infections which led me to the ER for a night. It knocked me out for a couple weeks but I'm happy to say I'm on the mend!
I have a consultation with the Radiation Oncologist next week to gather all my information on rads. I'm not 100% comfortable with doing it but based on my research there is one type that I feel may be best for me however it's new and not usually used on my type of cancer. We shall see!
I will continue with the drug Herceptin until September which will help me reduce my risk for recurrence tremendously. They say the first two years are when I'm at the highest risk so please continue to keep me in your prayers!I can't wait to get back to life and feel normal again! To say I'm over cancer is an understatement. Experiencing the effects of chemo has not been easy but at the same time it has been doable and I don't regret my decision. I know I have a long way to go but I will come back even better than before.Thank you all for your continued prayers and support! Thank you to my boyfriend, parents, family, and friends who have continued to be by my side helping me through this especially mom and Drew. I don't know what I would do without them! 1 MORE CHEMO!!! Love to all!

It's been a little bit since I posted an update. Yesterday was chemo #8! 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻 Four more to go! The weeks are flying with some days feeling very long. I can feel the chemo effects much sooner and they last longer but this is expected. I think I'm doing a good job staying positive but it's not the easiest to be as up beat when not feeling well. I just keep counting down the weeks and the words "this day will pass" are on repeat in my head. Fridays have become my hardest where I don't leave bed. Thankfully it's only Fridays where I feel completely done. I started experiencing what they call "chemopause". Oh the joys of hot flashes! To the ladies who went or are going through the "pause" I feel you!

I'm extremely thankful for my alternative medicine treatments. My WBC dropped the last two weeks but the blood work showed great improvement this week. I feel so lucky to be able to give my body good stuff while going through this. I don't know how I'd handle chemo without it.

I am keeping my eye on November 27th and praying everyday for no delays. This next year I have a lot to look forward to and it makes me excited for the future. I can't wait to start building my immune system back up and working on becoming the healthiest I've ever been. Thank you all for your love, support, and prayers! I have been blown away by my boyfriend, parents, amily, friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. ❤️❤️❤️ Love to all!

4 weeks down! I can't believe today I'll go for my 5th treatment. The weeks are flying by and I'm so thankful. Weeks 3 & 4 were very similar to weeks 1 & 2 as far as which days I'm not feeling well. My side effects were all the same just a little more intense. Thursday on week 4 was my worst day so far but I listened to my body, left work, and slept a lot. My spirits have been high and I feel very calm. I'm not sure how (LOL) but I'll take it!

I believe my mental and emotional health are just as important to healing as the drugs I'm taking and the holistic treatments I'm doing. There are definitely moments when I'll just start to cry but it's only because I'm tired. Tired of wondering how I'll feel, having everything revolve around that, or even just not being able to do the things that make me feel normal. I actually enjoy cooking, doing laundry, and cleaning on my good days because it makes me feel like it's just another day. I go a lot slower but it gets done! The good part is I don't stay in these moments too long. I let myself have them and keep it moving. Going through this is much easier with a smile on my face and finding the light in each day. I love when I'm told by people who are with me that it makes them feel better to be around me because of my positive spirit. I can't do much for the people I love right now but if I can do that then I'm happy.

I have two more major decisions I need to make and they aren't easy. I'm praying that God will help me see what I should do but so I far I'm not sure. Once chemo is complete, I'm supposed to start radiation and a hormone blocking pill (tamoxifen). I'm 75% sure I won't do radiation however this pill is killing me! It's recommended I take it for 10 years (not happening) so my oncologist said 5 years. The issue is this pill comes with many side effects and can potentially cause uterine cancer. The decision is not easy because my cancer is 80% fueled my estrogen. Being so high many doctors have told me I need to be on it in order to decrease my chances of a reoccurrence. I'd be a 31 years old going into menopause praying this pill doesn't give me a secondary cancer! I just can't wrap my head around that. I had an integrative oncologist, a doctor who studies both alternative and traditional medicine, tell me that I 100% need to take this. It just isn't an easy decision and like everything else it's completely up to me to decide what I will do. Thankful for the two months I have to research even more and pray on this. I'm hopeful that I'll come to a decision that I'll feel comfortable and confident with.

Thank you all again for your continued love, support, and prayers! Love to all!

xoxo,

Jenn

Ps- Chemo brain is REAL so sorry if my grammar and spelling are off. I read this multiple times but it doesn't always help!

1. Hello!

I'd like to start off by thanking you all one more time for your love, support, and generosity. I feel so blessed to have so many amazing people behind me during this time. I love you all!

I'm two weeks down and have my third chemo treatment tomorrow. The first two weeks have been difficult for multiple reasons but I got through them and feel positive about my decision. The first week I was shocked by how quickly the chemo had changed my energy and the body aches! On Thursday and Friday I felt like I had the flu really bad. I have many other symptoms but all that are tolerable. I really don't have a choice but to handle them so I decide to take everything lightly and deal with what I'm feeling hour by hour. It's so crazy! I can be dead tired and all of a sudden I'm like the energizer bunny! I love when that happens!! :) My hair started falling out this Saturday so it looks like I'll be rocking a shaved head sooner than later.

Lots of changes these las two weeks but what hasn't changed is my spirit and strength. I got this and so does God!

Xoxo,

Jenn