Connie Medina

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting. Nothing was written or will be written without Connie's PRIOR APPROVAL. 


Hello Family and Loved Ones. This website is being created to keep everyone updated on Connie's journey with being diagnosed with having breast cancer. She went on a routine mammogram the week of March 13th 2017 and quickly was advised to get an ultrasound and then a biopsy which was completed by Friday March 17th, 2017. She was then given a scheduled doctor appointment for review of her results on Monday March 20th, 2017. At this time she met with a doctor who told her that they found three suspicious masses in her breast and that they have scheduled her to meet with a surgeon on Wednesday March 22nd. On this particular Wednesday, her surgeon told her that she had 2 options for surgery, either a lumpectomy or a mastectomy both followed by radiation.  Connie was not informed at this time that the masses were confirmed cancerous. She informed the surgeon of this and she was then told that she indeed had cancer. She was given another doctor appointment at that time to see an oncologist on Friday March 24th. On Wednesday March 22nd, she informed her mother and sons. This was harder for her than finding out she had cancer. Most of the family knew by the end of the week.  On Friday March 24th she met with her oncologist that she named Dr. Doom,  who informed her that her cancer is a very aggressive type of cancer called triple negative and that they needed to act fast. She would be having chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. No discussion. In order to determine the stage she was in, they needed to know if it had traveled anywhere in her body. She was told that she had two lesions in her breast with cancer and one lymph node with cancer. Since it was in a traveling agent (a lymph node) they needed an MRI of her brain to see if it traveled there, a PET Scan of her heart and then a CT of her organs and bones. She was advised to get a PIC line or a port so they can have easy access to her veins. She needed to see a nutritionist, a cardiologist, radiologist, social worker, nurses, pharmacist all within a week. Dr. Doom then stated if it's stage 4, she was terminal. Connie looked at me dead in the face and said, no matter what the doctor's say, I'm fighting! She knows that God is bigger than cancer and only He knows the plans He has for her! The week that followed was a whirlwind for her; getting work needs in order, getting to all her appointments and waiting for results. She refused to share the possibility of being terminal with anyone until she knew positively. Planning for the worst but expecting the best. Repeating that God is bigger than cancer. On Friday March 24th after she spoke to Dr. Doom, she spoke to a social worker, then had her echo-cardiogram of her heart. Monday March 27th she had her MRI of her brain, then the doctor told her on March 28th that it did NOT travel to her brain! Praise God! Thursday March 29th, she went to get her PET scan and on Monday April 3rd she had her PIC line put in. On Tuesday April 4th she finally met with Dr. Doom again who told her that they do NOT suspect the cancer spread and she is between a stage 2-3! Praise be to God! She then, on this same day, had her first chemotherapy treatment. It took 3 hours. The following week she was on a very strict pill regiment: 5am 4 pills, 1pm 3 pills, 6pm an injection and 9pm 3 more pills. This went on for 5 days. She is exhausted for 4-5 days after her chemo. Then she gets a burst of energy and then after that, it depends on the day. She did not get "sick" this first two weeks. Just tired. Thank God! Some days are good and some days are bad. She loves company but if you visit her, the rules are: if you are sick, please do not enter her home and quick short visits are best unless you see her running around like usual. This means it's a good day and you can stay a bit longer. She will never tell you that she is too tired for company so please, look for the signs. On Mondays she gets her PIC line redressed at 3pm after work (yes, she's still working) and gets her lab work done too. Her Chemotherapy days are Tuesdays. We have claimed Tuesdays as PINK TUESDAYS for Connie. Wear your pink for support for her on Tuesdays! She had her second chemotherapy on April 18th. Her friend Debbie took her. This go around has drained her. She is now more tired and she is beginning to lose more of her hair.  So please keep her lifted in prayer. The doctor told her that her white blood cell count is low so she will need 7 days of shots this time and her usual 5 days of nausea pills.  I will keep this website updated as often as possible. Her chemotherapy is every other week for 4 sessions then starting on May 30th, it will be every week after that for 12 weeks. August 15th will be her anticipated last chemo date! Love you all in Christ! :)