Hi everyone! 

It's been about 3 months since the last post and I wanted to let you know how I'm doing. 

I know the last post caught a lot of people off guard [rightfully so] but I'm here to share an update and let you know life is good.!

Since Sept, I switched medication to a new injection (two shots to the rear every month of very think stuff called Faslodex). Not ideal to have to do this every month, but the nurses administering it have been great and I have been tolerating it very well. If it keeps the cancer at bay, then just a little inconvenience is so worth it! I'll continue to take this drug is in addition to 2 other meds for as long as it is proving to work. Hopefully this will be for many many years! 

Speaking of the efficacy, I can see the positive changes to my skin since starting the new regimen. It's amazing how quickly I noticed these changes (within days). This is also one of the big reasons I will not be having surgery to remove the skin.  It's a visible indicator of whether my treatment is working which is even better than scans in my case. 

After receiving my reoccurrence need in September and hearing what my new treatment plan would entail, Matt and I decided that my fall travel plans would go forward as planned. There was no reason to cancel them - I had even more reason to go! Within the last 2 months I was fortunate enough to go on a luxury Seabourn Mediterranean cruise with Matt (opportunity of a lifetime!), take a friend to Cancun, and sail on Holland America for a training seminar. Each of these were so good for my soul! 

Today I had surgery to remove my ovaries and fallopian tubes. Now that I will never be allowed to have hormones again (estrogen feeds my cancer), I would have been on a monthly shots (Zoladex) for another decade or so. Because I'm so young, my ovaries may still try to function, so I opted to do an oophorectomy. It eliminates one of the three monthly shots I am on and ensures I'll be in menopause like I'm supposed to be. Surgery went very well today. I've got family here to keep me from doing too much and I should be feeling back to normal in about 2 days is all. 

As Thanksgiving is tomorrow, I've reflected a lot about how thankful I am each and every day. I'm grateful for all of the help and support my family and friends have provided. Whether it was a meal or restaurant gift card, or picking up sick kids from school, or flying down to TX and staying while we go to Houston. I'm also incredibly thankful for new medication that allows me to feel like a normal person! I don't look or feel sick! This allows me to not impact our kid's life and activities - allowing them to just be kids, live life to its fullest, and also not dwell on my situation. 

I'm also incredibly thankful for so much HOPE! There's lots of new research and drugs that are so promising. I fully intend to be one of the people to live for DECADES!! I'll continue to be monitored closely. I see my oncologist every month and also have been seeing my dermatologist monthly as well. She documents any skin changes with pictures and her trained eye keeps me in check. I'll return to Houston right before Christmas for a couple of days for a set of scans. I fully anticipate no change from the last time. 

I hope each of you have so many things to be thankful for each and every day. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Much love,

Jennifer 

P.S. As the year comes to a close soon, this nonprofit I've been a part of for 5 years through my cancer battle is fundraising to continue to help cancer patients have a space to workout and maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

Strength for Life Abilene offers personal training free of charge FOR LIFE for cancer patients. One of the best things I can do to keep my cancer at bay is to stay lean, so I go 3 times a week. 

It's been a blessing to have this organization in my community as I continue to fight breast cancer for the third time. 

My personal goal is to raise $750. I'm currently at $450. Thank you to those that have donated already!

Can I count on you for a donation? $5, $10, $15 or more. Maybe $33, the age I was diagnosed with cancer. 

Please support our 2022 Thankful for SFL Fundraiser today! Click on the link below to donate now. 

Donate Today in honor of Jennifer

100% of the proceeds go to this organization and are tax deductible. Thank you for your support! 

#fightson