Jessica’s Story

Site created on November 11, 2023

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In August I found a lump in my breast.   At first the doctors thought it was a cyst, but additional testing showed breast cancer.  Breast Cancer. It's still hard to say the words out loud. The doctors say it's the "good kind of cancer to have", but it doesn't feel good.  It feels scary and overwhelming.  I know I'll make it through, I'm just not looking forward to the journey.  I am grateful that it was caught early and that it is a treatable type of cancer.  My diagnosis is Invasive Mammary Carcinoma with Ductal and Lobular features, Hormone Receptive, HER2 Negative, Stage 1b, Grade 2.
My treatment plan is 4 rounds of chemo, every 3 weeks using Docetaxel + Cyclophosphamide (TC) on 11/14, 12/5, 12/28, and 1/18, followed by a double mastectomy, which requires 2 surgeries, with the first one in mid-February and the second 3-4 months later.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Emily Allwardt

Update from Jessica:

In so many ways, life is back to normal.  I am mostly recovered from my surgery, I am back at work, and I am getting outside.  Yet, I feel like I'm stuck in the middle - my hair is growing, but still so short.  I'm mostly recovered from my first surgery, but not quite to my next surgery.   I'm  "recovered" but still so tired.  My body still doesn't feel like my own, with the expanders taking up space and still feeling foreign in my body.

My hair is short, but it is growing!  I have my first hair cut since I shaved my head scheduled.  I have never wanted short hair, but am learning to embrace this season.

I still get tired very easily, but I walked my first 5K since my diagnosis!  We'll gloss over how slow I walked or that I was one of the last finishers.

I was able to visit my sister in Bend recently and enjoy a weekend with some of my family. 

Spring has truly sprung and I am loving the sunshine and getting outside when I can.

T-minus 25ish days and counting to my next (and hopefully final) surgery!

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