Brief History

My mom went in for a routine mammogram in November and after some questionable films, went back for a tissue biopsy. “Abnormal cells were discovered.” From this diagnosis and much consultation, surgery was the next and best option for quick and further healing. A mastectomy was the only option for Jennifer. It was scheduled on Dec. 23rd.
Jennifer chose to do a procedure called a tramsrectis abdominis miocutaneous; “a Trams flap.” This was to take the muscle tissue from the lower abdomen and move that muscle tissue up to the breast. The surgery takes about 8-10 hours and was done at the same time as the mastectomy. The recovery is long.
During the surgery the general surgeon found that the tumor was much larger than was found in all the prior tests and that the cancer cells had traveled to many of the lymph nodes. But all was removed at that time.
Jennifer had a CAT scan and a bone scan several weeks after surgery to see if any cancer had found its way to other spots in her body and all the tests were clear. This was very good news to the doctors and a huge relief for our whole family.
The next steps are to have chemo therapy, then radiation, and then hormone replacement therapy to keep any microscopic organisms from forming. The chemotherapy will begin in Feb. as soon as moms incision on her abdomen has closed up and healed thoroughly. We do not have the exact date to when that will happen. My mom cannot drive yet, or pick up anything larger than 5 lbs. The oncologist is targeting the 19th or 20th of February.

The Cancer center recommends dinners and help the day of and 5 days after the chemo therapy because of the fatigue levels that will affect my mom due to the medication. She will be doing a lot of napping.

My mom wants people to know that this is all very weird for her and she understands if you feel uncomfortable around her or don’t know what to say. She feels uncomfortable herself and often doesn’t know what to say either! She loves to hear from people by e-mails or by letters, and by phone to talk about their lives, since this has taken over a huge part of her own life and she gets sick of telling others about it. She does have another life that does not involve the “C” word!

Thank you to everyone who has sent their prayers, love and support to all of the family at this time.