my baby sister has cancer :-(

Just three years after I found my lump, my sister found her lump....in her breast. And so her battle with breast cancer begins. At first I was angry, how could this happen to our family? I wanted to just take all of her cancer and be the one to suffer. Why should she have to go through this? I already did, give it back to me. Why should any parent watch two children go through this. WHY? Why, why? That anger and frustration got me nowhere and I knew that I needed to help Lauren. So I started to be there for her as much as I could. And everyday I am crying, nonstop. I go to do things and just see something that reminds me of her or see her smile....and i cry. I never once cried when I was diagnosed...well I think it was bc I had no time to digest any of it. I went from being told that I had cancer, to not being able to breathe bc the tumor was so large, to chemo a week later. She, has had this cancer with her since January - felt the lump, but, did not get the biopsy until May. I did not know till of her diagnosis until May but still that's a long time (a month) for me to know that she has had cancer! And now knowing what she is faced with......double masectomy, then chemo. She will get through it. I got through chemo and will help her to get there, the final chemo day - it's rough, but, she will. I still remember her shoving water and fruit down my mouth bc I would not eat or drink bc I felt ill when I was going through it. She was there for me....now its her turn. And I never thought I would ever be saying this just three years ago. Unreal. This is just awful - she's 31 years old, breast cancer. What is going on? WHY? I was 31 years old with Hodgkins Lymphoma. Why? Is there a link? They are not sure. I am so confused. I am so tired of all this cancer!

3 years!

It's been 3 years since my diagnosis! I had a CT scan 2 weeks ago, all clear! He told me I can move on to Chest x-rays from now on - YIPEE! no more scans, poking, pricking - blood work - I AM DONE! Well, maybe I lied about the blood work. I will still see my Oncologist and he takes blood. Ok, ok....I can't get out of that one. But, no more drinking the Barium stuff and going through those noisy machines. I am done. I am free! Three years, that went so quick. I am happy about it but sad that every day I hear of more and more people getting diagnosed with cancer. We need to continue to find a cure.

All good!!

Well, the kidney dr took more blood - now this is all after me stopping the antibiotics. And guess what -- all of my potassium levels have gone back to normal! So the low levels were a result of the meds I was on and all I needed to do was STOP which I did. No more for me. I am healthy and done.

Yeah!!!

- Jen

latest...

Well...remember my potassium levels being so low back in June?  Not sure if I posted it or not, but, they never really changed and the lymes dr kept telling me to take potassium pills - I was up to 60k a day - that is a lot!  So last week he ordered a 24 urine test.  The test showed that I am basically pissing out all my potassium and that I my Renin is hyperactive in my kidneys --- great.  So they want me to see a kidney specialist ASAP.  Another doc to my list.  Lovely.  I got a little scared and decided my body has had enough of all this.  And, I don't think that continuing on all the meds like the lymes dr wants me to do is all that good for my kidneys being that it has a problem right now!  So I had my nurse pull the line out and I have decided my body is done with the lymes treatment and that is that!  Yay for that.  But now next week on to another issue - the kidneys.  Oy.  I will keep you posted.  Keep your fingers crossed that its nothing. 

exciting news!

One more month of lymes treatment!!!  September is here and the doc told me last time I saw him that he wants me on this until the end of September.  I see him on the 8th and we will see what he says at that point,  but, either way, I am taking this line out of my arm and calling it quits....6 months of treatments is enough.  

More exciting news....two engagements just happened!!!  Mike & Michelle and Maria and James!!!!  How cool is that!  So we are very excited that Michelle will be our sister in law and that Maria and James hit it off (we set them up, so that was pretty exciting!).  So this will be a very fun year ahead.

September here we come, I am looking forward to October already so I can be done with treatment.

- Jen

2 years!

It's been 2 years since chemo!!!!  Had my scan this week, still cancer free!!!  Now that's something to celebrate about!!!  

LLMD update

Saw my Lyme dr last week.  Not happy with him at all.  He wants me to keep on the IV through September.  This upsets me.  I thought he only wanted me on this through July, now its extended and I am not happy.  I have this horrible PICC line in my arm, giving myself IV antibiotics everyday, also taking oral meds and its just awful.  I am so tired of being sick.  Not that I feel sick but just tired of medical bills, doctors and having this awful medical life that I am dealing with constantly.  If its not cancer, its another scare or lymes!  I am so done!  

Aside from my potassium levels dropping really low, which they can't seem to figure out - i am feeling ok.  Would be better if i was off every drug though.

On another note, Monday, August 3rd I see my oncologist for my 6 month scan and check up.  This will be 2 years since my last chemo!!!  WOW... ok, yes that flew real quickly.  But, why has my hair not grown???  That seems to be taking forever. 

Ok enough complaining.  Back to taking meds -

Jen