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.
This last two weeks have been a whirlwind ... from finding a lump in my groin on Monday June 18, I saw my doctor, had a CAT scan, and saw an oncologist in a span of three days. Dr Chi referred me for a PET scan, a mammogram, and a biopsy. She called me in yesterday to tell me the results. It seems that I have a mass near my rectum and several related lymph nodes. It wasn't at all what I was expecting, in fact during all the hospital visits I kept waiting for one of the doctors or technicians to say "Groin lumps? Nah. everyone has those, no problem!" However, it appears that it is a problem and I have been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma.
Next week I am going for an MRI to check out a suspicious spot on my liver and to see the the radiation oncologist and a colo-rectal surgeon. The doctors will then decide the treatment I will undergo. If I am lucky, I will follow a combined radiation/chemo regimen that will allow me several more good years. If I am unlucky, I will have palliative chemotherapy that will not give me as long.
I am feeling weepy but quite calm at the moment, I feel like I am in good hands and I feel uplifted by all the love I have received from all my friends and family, near and far. I have never liked to ask for help (I am way too bossy for that!) but I know that this burden is too heavy for me to carry alone especially as I know it will affect the people I love best in the whole world. Please continue to pray for Paul, Jess, Kate, Andrew, Ozzie, Max, Hattie, Chris, Mimi, Freddie, Lola, and Izzy and keep them in your hearts. You are my village and you know how fiercely this momma loves her family. I ask you to look out for them when I cannot, to love them if I get too sick to love them enough, and to encircle them and uphold them.
I don't know what will happen, I believe in miracles and in the power of the Father who put me here for His purpose. I thank you for your support and I know that everything will work out fine, whatever happens.
Edit- This is Pam, friend of Janice and Paul's. I, along with a couple of other people, will be updating this Caring Bridge page along the way. We will try to get information out as soon as we know it and Janice and Paul feel comfortable telling it. We are also adding the link to Meal Train Plus here. This will give you a place to help - food, child care, errands, doctors visits, etc. Please check back often to get information. We have not set anything up on the Meal Train yet. We are going to wait until after the appointment on July 13th. This will also be where we post any specific prayer needs that they have. We love the McClean's so very much and know you all do too.
https://mealtrain.com/34d030 
