When Cancer Returns

My Chemo Treatment Celebrations

After battling all of 2018 with illness, stage 3C colon cancer diagnosis, major colon resection surgery, month after month and round after round of FOLFOX chemotherapy to finally have no sign of cancer within me, I’ve been looking forward to 2018 coming to a close.

The support from my family and friends was amazing.   

I led the Director Dan team at Relay For Life and raised money for continued cancer research. 

In October 2018 I was finally well enough to visit my mom in Florida ... I miss being physically closer, especially with her failing health, it was a bright spot in the recovery.

I was so looking forward to 2019, until about 2 weeks ago.  After cancer, the follow up test and observations are so critical ... just as critical as early screening and testing in the first place.  On December 13th, a blood test identified an increase in my tumor markers, up from the normal range, increasing 300% within about 5 weeks, to a point indicating much concern.  Sadly, my cancer is back and has spread.  A CT Scan was quite  revealing.  Yesterday I received official word from my oncologist, my cancer has been declared stage 4 and I now have a growth on my liver.  Not good at all.

We are fast tracking to do all that is necessary to identify my cancers protein and look at future treatments that could include radiation, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, or whatever else my team determines.  I’ll still be under the care of my local oncologist, however, I’ll now be seeing colorectal specialist and researchers in Boston who will take the lead on my future treatments.  God willing, we are going to kick butt (pun intended) yet again.

Although I'm personally devastated again with this news, the hardest part has been telling each of my kids, that was not easy for me, or them, and I hated it. Carol, my caregiver from day 1 of this ordeal, was with me and took it just as hard, Thoughts and thanks for all she has done for me this past year.  This story is not done, there will be more to come.  

Throughout this past year, my social media following and support of family, friends, my Scentsy family, former coworkers and more has been incredible.  I so much appreciate it and each one of you.  I ask for your continued support, encouragement, not only for me, but for my entire family, they are hurting too.  Lastly, I’m going to ask you now to also support my 2019 Relay For Life team’s fund raising efforts.  I need that research support now more than ever.  

You can make a tax deductible donation in support of me and my team by clicking here:  My Relay For Life Donation page

You’ll receive a receipt directly from the American Cancer Society for your tax deductible donation.  A huge thank you from me personally for helping.  Please feel free to select “Other Amount” and write in what works best for you, ANY amount helps.  Please share this post on your social media page and let’s get the word out.  If you live near an Applebee’s or other location that does fundraising, let’s chat how you could help in a much bigger way, without a lot of time on your part. 

The fight continues.

#HaveFaith  #HaveBelief