Round 8

Jenna had a blast at the Preston Rodeo spending time with family and watching all those cowboys and cowgirls!

Jenna went in for her treatment last Thursday, August 4th.  There were a few differences in the routine this time around. For starters, they drew Jenna's blood to measure her tumor marker. They said it looked good. They are going to continue everything but the oxiplatin, which is specifically for colon cancer and has a 3 hour infusion. Jenna was happy not having the oxiplatin because it meant she could drink cold drinks, she had an appetite, she didn't have the numbness in her fingers, and she got to leave around 1pm that day!!  If they have her off the oxiplatin, they can use it again sometime if they need to. They will continue doing it this way for a while.They also scheduled CT for her sometime in September. That will allow them to see how things are progressing without the oxiplatin. 

Jenna is still taking home the fluorouracil (going though her for 48 hours). She was having an at-home care nurse come take out the IV, but she is now doing it herself. 

Jenna won't be going back for another 3 weeks. This short break is so she can watch her son Koby play at his soccer tournament.

Round 7

Today marks the day that Jenna would normally go in for treatment. She isn't because she is taking a break to go to the Preston, ID rodeo.  I will post a little something on her blog now since I have been so slow on posting round 7. Sorry about that!
This time around, my Mom got to come and see how it all works for Jenna. Kenzie got to come too! We found out that Jenna's type of cancer has genetic risk factors. While I was there, Jenna gave me a pamphlet and told me to call the genetic testing lady. The genetic risk factors Jenna has are linked to cancer in females, so the girls in the family are highly encouraged to get tested once they hit 20. My sister and I will be getting tested in about a month or two. If we have that gene, we will talk about any additional precautions we need to take in the future.
During the treatment, Jenna took a little nap, which she never done while I have been there. Jenna was really antsy to leave that day. I don't think she was feeling very well. She hasn't ever acted like that with her previous treatments. I think it is because the chemo seems to be hitting her faster and her car rides home seem extra long. On a good note: her doctor is very happy with how things are going! He told her she looks too good to be there. Jenna is SO so happy to have an extra week off from her treatments!!

On a later note: Jenna went to lunch with some of her friends from high school. I think she really enjoyed being able to catch up with them!

Round 6

Today Jenna went in for her regular treatment. She visited with all of her favorite nurses. Today, she found out that one of her nurses is a roller derby player. I think she and Darren were a little surprised by that.
 

There isn't really an news other than she will be doing one more treatment on July 14th and then she will be taking a 3 week break. During her break, she's going to attend the Famous Preston Rodeo! Then she will have her last treatment with the regular 4 drugs that she gets. After that, they are going to change it up a bit. She will be getting off the oxaliplatin for sure because it makes her fingers numb and that can become permanent if she continues to take it. So they will do without that--and maybe the 5FU--and take some kind of pill in place of that one. This is all just what the tentative plan is right now, but we will see when the time comes.

We discussed about upcoming plans, and our cousin Lance came and brought lunch for Darren and Jenna and chatted until Jenna finished.

Round 5: Great News!

Treatment #5-  Wednesday night before Jenna's treatment, she went down to Huntsman for a CT scan to see if the treatments had been working.  Before her treatment on Thursday, she met with her doctor to talk about the results of the CT scan. After comparing the CT scan they took before she started treatments to this CT scan,  they saw the spots on the ovary and liver were half of their original size.  Her white blood cell count which started in the 100's was now down to 10, Yay!  Things are going in the right direction which is really good and the doctor was really happy with the results.  They will now continue with the same treatments for at least another 2 treatments and then, depending on how Jenna is feeling, they may change things a little.   We are so blessed to have great doctors and nurses at the Huntsman helping Jenna though this. We are also very grateful for the thoughts and prayers of all of our friends and family.  Keep the faith the Lord is blessing us!

Round 4

Sorry, I am a bit late posting on Jenna's 4th chemo treatment. Since Christmas, we have had a girls' weekend trip planned to go to St. George and see Tarzan at Taucahn. Jenna was supposed to come, but she knew she won't be feeling very well, so she stayed home. (We missed you Jenna!)

June 2, 2016 - When Jenna shows up for her treatments, she doesn't start the treatment right away. First, she goes and talks to her doctor about how the treatments are working for her and what the next steps will be in whole process. Then the nurses get her port all ready to access for the treatment. The nurses always welcome her with a hug, and this time Darren got a hug. He says it is because they are just warming up to him. 

During her treatment, we talked about kids, the upcoming wedding, and her upcoming CT scan.

On Wednesday evening--before her next treatment--Jenna will go and get a CT scan to see how the treatments are working for her. They'll be checking the fluid outside of her abdominal cavity, the spots on her liver, the tumor in her colon, etc. This time they will especially be looking at her ovaries. If the tumor there is getting larger they will remove them, but if it has stayed the same or gotten smaller they will just leave them for now.

A little video of The Huntsman for those interested. 

Round 3

I really like to go be with my sister while she gets her chemo treatments for two reasons: I get to be with her for a while even though I don't live very close to her, and I get to know what is going on with her. It gives me comfort to know what is going on and know that she is reacting to the treatments pretty well. Anyone can come visit if you would like.

Thursday was her 3rd treatment. When she arrives at the hospital she meets with her doctor to see how things are going and if they need to change anything. They have told her that she is reacting well to her treatments. Then she goes and gets her port ready for her infusions. Then they head over to the infusion center. When I arrived around 1pm they had already started her on her fluids that she takes first thing. She had been resting when I got there. The fluids take about 30 minutes.
She woke up shortly after I arrived, and the genetic testing lady came to talk to Jenna about whether or not her colon cancer might be hereditary. She tested negative, but they are still going to do some more testing. Jenna's friend Kelly came to visit, and while they were visiting the genetic lady asked me all about my ancestors' health history to get more information.

Jenna is almost always awake and likes to chat during her treatments. She is always thinking about her kids and wanting to make sure they are okay. Since Kelly is helping with Kenzie's wedding, Jenna spent some time talking with her about flower arrangements and decorations for the wedding reception.

Darren, on the other hand, is always looking on his phone for motorcycles. He wants to get one so he can ride with his boys.

While Jenna was getting her treatment, Skyline high school boys choir came and sang a few songs. They were pretty good! They also handed out little gift bags to each patient that was receiving a chemo treatment. Jenna was really excited about the things that came in it: lotion, chapstick, crossword puzzle book were some of them. I also learned that Jenna really enjoys crossword puzzles.

While I was there this time, Darren and I looked up the drugs Jenna was taking, what they do, and their side effects because we were curious. They give her the first chemo drug, which is called bevacizumab, for about an hour. Then she gets oxaliplatin, which is specifically for colon cancer. This infusion is about 3 hours. Even though this one takes quite a while, I think time goes by pretty fast when Jenna has people to chat with. She said that they keep getting done earlier and earlier.
Her last one is 5FU (Fluorouracil). She takes this one home with her in a sweet fanny pack. It looks a lot like a little ball. The 5FU is going though her for 48 hours, and she has someone come to her home and take it out. This is Jenna's very least favorite one of all--she says she hates this one. I stayed until the very end this time because I had heard so much about the ball that she has to take home in a fanny pack. I was curious how it worked.

You can tell how excited Jenna is about taking this home ;)

She usually gets pretty wiped out from the chemo starting Friday evening until about Monday. She has some good and bad days, and when she starts to feel good, it is time to go back for another treatment. Jenna is a fighter and things seem to be going as well as could be. We love you, Jenna, and are cheering for you and praying for you every day!

Round 2

Round 2 of chemo. This time started out better. No fluid to drain this round. Hopefully the chemo will keep the fluid from coming back. The doctor could tell right away how much better I was feeling by the way I looked. So the only thing that changed on my chemo treatment this round was a dose of 5FU. This is because they really are watching my white blood count. So I will get my blood drawn before the next treatment to make sure I can continue with my 3rd round of treatment. So it begins again one day at a time. I am hopeful that this works. I am trusting and believing. I know that heaven is cheering me on! I can do this!!
-Jenna