Trina Mangano

Welcome to my CaringBridge website. I am using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. I appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


I started this journey on October 3, 2016 when I thought I had an ovarian cyst.  Fast forward to November 3, 2016 and follow up testing and the realization that the cyst had become something else.  I had surgery on November 14, 2016 and a diagnosis on November 21, 2016  of stage 1B-C high-grade serous carcinoma.  Oh crud!  I have ovarian cancer...now what?!?


Now what is that I am  fortunate to have wonderfully supportive family, friends, coworkers and caregivers.  I am at my sister, Lisa and brother-in-law, Greg's house in Park City, Utah to get ongoing care at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City.  Lisa and Greg have made me feel welcome, cared for, loved and have outfitted me for my first winter in 33 years.  As they have put it, I am in a safe cocoon where my only job is to get well and to take care of me.  Amazingly, in all of this, somehow I feel incredibly lucky.


The Huntsman Cancer Institute is a state of the art facility.  I have a team of doctors and caregivers that will make sure every one of my health needs is taken care of.  I have a brilliant gyn/oncologist, and a huge support team there.  They absolutely do not overlook anything in formulating the best course of treatment and how best to care for me.  Again, I feel lucky to have them. I've been told the snack cart ladies that come around are a welcome addition too!  


My treatment starts on Friday with my first round of chemotherapy.  I am scheduled for a total of six rounds, one every three weeks. The chemo days will be long ones with doctors appointments, testing and four hours of chemo infusion.  I will bring movies, books and anything else to keep me entertained.  I'm a great napper too!  Probably the scariest part is not knowing how I will react, how I will feel and what is to come.  I do know I only have about two to three weeks left to have my hair.  I am trying to embrace "bald is beautiful" as best as I can.  But why, oh why am I going with the bald look in the Utah mountains in the winter!  What am I thinking? I promise I will update my photo so you an all see my stunning  new look!  


My girls are all coming to spend Christmas  with me.  In fact, my parents, siblings and all my nieces and nephew will be here for the holidays. It will be a busy house with lots of love, support, craziness and Italian cooking.  


If all goes well, I will be back in my own home and back to my kiddos at Saint Edwards School to finish out the school year.  I miss all those little smiling faces and can't wait to get back to them and their great hugs.  


Please check here for my health updates.  I will do my best to post something every few days as I know you all are anxious to hear how I am doing.  I welcome your emails, texts and phone calls and I will certainly answer them when I am able, but please don't feel slighted if I don't get back to you.  I appreciate every one  of my friends and family and could not do this without each of you.  Thank you for caring for and about me!


Trina