Courtney Smith

First post: Jan 16, 2017 Latest post: Oct 18, 2019
Welcome to Courtney's CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated. We appreciate your prayers, support, words of hope and encouragement during this time when it matters most.
If you would like to receive a notification whenever we update the journal, you can click anywhere it says Notifications and choose if you want the email or text message.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to pray for healing, guidance, and time. We do not understand God's plan in our lives, but we do have faith, no matter the circumstances. I will find joy in this journey as I did before, even though this journey is a tougher one.
Here is the timeline :
November 18, 2003, I was diagnosed with Intraductal Carcinoma Breast Cancer, Stage 0. ( Age37) Estrogen positive, Herceptin negative. I had a bilateral mastectomy, 4 rounds of chemo, 6 weeks of radiation, hysterectomy and 5 years of Tamoxifen and Aromasin. I had been a survivor for 13 years.

Jump to November 18, 2016:
I had to have a CT scan to double check a spot on my lungs that an X-ray saw from a dry hacking cough. After 13 years, this was a rude awakening. I was told that it was restricted airway in the lungs, like Chronic Asthma. However, they wanted to double check it in 10 days.
 I had another CT scan.
December 8,2016: I was told that I needed a pet scan.     

Dec 13, 2016: Pet scan was done .

December 15, 2016, 11:45am: The doctor told me that they saw cancer and to report to one of the oncologist that he had picked. One was out of town and the other one wanted to see me at 3 that day. That afternoon, my new oncologist, told me that I had metastasized breast cancer. The pet scan showed that cancer was in my Hip, Spine (T8,7,9,12), 3rd right rib, left lung nodules. Also there were pet positive areas like buckshots in other bones in my body .                                

December 22, 2016: a biopsy was needed of the hip to check the genetics of my cancer. They needed to see if it was metastasized cancer or a  new cancer and if the markers stayed the same from previous cancer or if it had mutated into different genetics. I also had an MRI of the brain.      

December 28, 2016: We were told that the brain was clear but the skull had cancer on the left forehead area. We were told that we were still waiting on the markings of the gene. We will have follow-up scans on the brain in February.                              

December 30, 2016: we were told that my estrogen receptors were negative. It had mutated from the previous and that we needed to wait till all the biopsy results were in because now they were worried that I would be triple negative.                       

January 4, 2017: The triple negative result was in. I also set up my radiation consultation for the treatment of my left hip. Tattooing and all were to follow the next day.                           
January 9, 2016: Radiation started on the left Hip.
January 11,2017: after slight pain in hip before radiation , there was immense pain after the radiation that day. CT scan revealed a fractured sacrum . Left to heal on its own in time with pain meds .

January12,2017: We are now proceeding into another set of CT scans for the lung, in hopes to have a biopsy from that area. The softer tissue is an easier read in results and they would like to double check the triple negative and soft tissues lead to clinical trials . We are praying that the surgeon finds a way to reach that nodule from this next set of scans. And that the biopsy can be done soon.     

January12 ,afternoon: Ct scan revealed that node was in a dangerous spot and unable to get it without it putting me at risk. Thankful for doctors that are not arrogant .

The waiting has been long.

 Even though it seems short in calendar time.              
January 13 - Since lung is out of play for now, we will proceed forward as a Triple Negative treatment. I need to finish the radiation of my hip first. I have 5 treatments left on this . During this time, please pray for guidance and smooth, responsive treatments.
January 26,2017: I will start my chemo treatments . I will have one infusion a week for 3 weeks which will take about 2 hours each time . I will have a week off and start again in a 6 month pattern . Prayers for research for this type of cancer. Prayers for me as I continue to try to work, I need to keep this position for the insurance and in hopes that I feel good for working down the road . Prayers for guidance with all the financial stress of cancer .

Please pray I tolerate all the treatments and handle them with minimal side effects.Prayers for trials and hospitals that I can research to help heal my body and keep cancer at a stand still. Prayers that I can touch those around me in all the doctors, treatments, and testing areas , as well as my school. Prayers for all my family , near and far, for comfort and feeling of God's presence .       

God is my healer, my comfort, my peace, my mighty warrior, I can be broken and needy. He is my God !I can be only be me!

 Thank you for your faithful prayers everyday.

Love to you all, Courtney

CaringBridge is a nonprofit social network dedicated to helping family and friends communicate with and support loved ones during a health journey. Learn more about CaringBridge.

To interact with Courtney’s website, sign in or register today.

By registering with CaringBridge, you will join over 300,000 people a day who are supporting friends and family members.

Sign In Or Register
SVG_Icons_Back_To_Top
Top