It’s been a wild three weeks to say the least.
Here is the recap:
Found out I have cancer, went on an awesome fishing trip, a week of chaos of appointments and trying to get some direct, demoing most of our little house, surgery to remove a monster of a tumor and buying our first recliner.
The wildest part of all this unexpected adventure, has been the outpouring of support, love, and kindness from people coast to coast. It’s been an amazing opportunity to catch up with friends, talk to people I haven’t connected with since college that have been impacted by colon cancer and so much more.
All of this being said, I know how fortunate I am, and it has brought so many happy tears.
There have been a lot of questions so here is what we know as of today.
I had colon surgery on Friday, February 24th. They removed a good chuck of ascending colon, the tumor measured in at 13.5 x 8.2 x 2.5 CM. The big guy somehow kept to himself and didn’t impact any of the 43 lymph nodes that were taken from around or near the tumor. This is surprising.
The surgery was done by robot, which gave me seven total incisions. I am SORE, as to be expected. And I have a whole new appreciation for C section mommas. Overall, my recovery is going well. I have more energy than I have had, I am warmer than I have been in years and the random numbness in my hands is gone. Turns out, blood is really critical.
When I say blood is important, I really mean this. Symptoms I had have gone away simply because I have more blood circulating and not being leached out of my body. I also had to have a transfusion. Thank you to ALL of you who are blood donors.
Oncology follow up is the week of the 6th where we will learn the next steps. Based on what the surgeon said, he didn’t think I would need chemo. Again, SO FORTUANTE.
Lacey and I will start genetic testing with Huntsman Cancer Insitute in Utah the end of March. There has been a lot of discussion about Lynch syndrome. I am excited and nervous to go through this process. Seeing it plays into what I do for a living, but also the unknown is scary.
Lynch syndrome is hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer. And increases the risks of several other types of cancers. I have two of the main traits, colon cancer before 50 and family history of cancer before 50.
Thank you all who supported Dani’s Kitchen Shop colon cancer awareness cookies. In less than 24 nearly 120 dozen cookies have sold and about $3,000 will be donated to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. An amazing way to kick off colon cancer awareness month!
