Sara Lynn’s Story

Site created on August 3, 2020


While chasing down the cause of my slightly lowered hemoglobin, the GI doc found a small bleeding polyp in my small intestines, so small it did not show up on the CT scan.  But, the CT scan did show a mass in my pelvis.  I had a subsequent MRI, and after 2 biopsies, it has been determined to be urothelial carcinoma.  It is on my left ureter. This was most likely caused by the same genetic mutation that caused my other two cancers.

The treatment plan is four cycles of chemotherapy, two weeks apart.  Recover from that.  Then, surgery to remove the tumor, the polyp, and anything else they think needs to go :-)


The goal of doing chemotherapy first is to shrink the tumor and knock out any potential micro tumors before they stop being micro. 


Since my past cancers and the location of the tumor make the surgery not so straight forward, and since they are almost in my backyard, I will doing treatment and surgery at the Mayo Clinic.


At this point in time the most helpful things you can do, are your good thoughts, wishes and prayers.  My Hebrew name is Sarah Leyah bat Ahuva.  If visualization is your thing, feel free to imagine the chemotherapy shrinking and shriveling the tumor.


We have named this mission - Operation Shrink, Shrivel, and Die or OSSD for short.  
If you need a visual, several friends have thought about the image of the wicked witch of the east when the house fell on her and her feet shriveled up when the ruby slippers went on to Dorothy's feet. Here's a link if you'd like to see the scene  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Leb83bRkXDg

Newest Update

Journal entry by Sara Lynn Newberger

Wow!  I didn't realize that it has been 5 months since I have written.  That's because I have basically had no health updates to share.  Which is amazing.  But lots has been going on and the really good news is that I have been feeling well and feeling able to do more.  Getting my knee replaced back in Nov. was a game changer.  Once I finished the rehab, I was able to start walking.  At that point I realized my general state of de-conditioning from having a bad knee and being in treatment for cancer.  Being able to walk and to stand really helped me to heal my body, which has been amazing and makes lots of things possible - going to the store, going to the park, making dinner - basically everything.

I am beyond grateful. Three years ago, and certainly two years ago, I had no idea that I would get to this point and feel as good as I do.  Two weeks ago, around June 18, marked 3 years since I was diagnosed with cancer.  I get a bit shaky when I think about that - how scary the diagnosis was, how massive the treatment, how much some of the earlier treatments did more harm than good, how amazed I am by how well the immunotherapy and proton bean therapies worked.  It is so much to take and to sit with.

I am beyond grateful for you, our extend group of family and friends who provided us with so much support and so much love along the way.  That, too, was the hand of God in this experience.

I have another scan toward the end of next month.  I am feeling hopeful about it.

In the meantime, I want to sit in the gratitude and the pleasure of this time.  And I'd like to ask your help as I go forward into what I hope are more years of good health.

If you would, please take a moment in comments below, to send me a wish for this next phase, whatever it brings.  I would really appreciate that as a way to mark this really momentous moment. Thank you.

Sending love,

Sara Lynn
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