Monday Musings- A Surprising Diagnosis
Happy Monday ladies. I hope you had a relaxing weekend. I spent mine chillin’ to avoid the 100+ degrees temps we’ve been having and wondering how to word this post. My sincere hope is that you find my blog informational, helpful, entertaining and that it inspires you to dress with confidence so you can live your best life. I never intended it to be a diary of my life but these musing posts seem to have turned into what’s up with me and a peek into my life. Most of the time it’s quirky things that cross my mind and often just new things I am loving.
Many of you have been reading and commenting for years, so you feel like friends I’d like to meet for coffee. We’ve created a community of smart, wise, and kind women here so I’ll just come out with it.
Lung Cancer
The doctors have been monitoring a small spot on my husband’s lung for the last two years. It looked weird (not their word:) so he’s been getting regular CT scans. Well, sure enough, the results in January showed it had grown and they thought it was lung cancer. Meanwhile, I had my health scares which blessedly turned out to be fine but they paled in comparison to his. This is his journey and he asked me not to share until we knew.
They would not risk bringing him in for the biopsy because they weren’t scheduling non-essential procedures during the height of COVID and he is in the highly vulnerable category.
So we waited and prayed. Last Thursday we got the go-ahead and he was admitted to U.C Davis.
He had a wedge biopsy that confirmed their suspicions and so they removed his lower left lobe along with 20 lymph nodes. A biopsy of the nodes will show if and how far cancer has spread and what followup he needs. We have peeked at the results online and think that it is a stage one cancer that has not spread! He was released 48 hours later and is home on the mend.
We’re cautiously optimistic but are waiting to talk to the oncologist next week. We do know that stage one and stage two lung cancer recurs with great frequency so this will never be over. Luckily, we are more than blessed to have a very dear friend Bonnie, who knows everything there is to know about Lung Cancer.
“The patient-founded, patient-first Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation was born in 2006 to advance innovative research, provide free education/support resources, and champion advocacy to erase stigma and advance early detection. One of ALCF’s first initiatives was an awareness program on buses and billboards across the country. Working globally and collaboratively, ALCF empowered patients, giving them a voice in conversations where leaders in medicine, industry and policy could make decisions that affect their lives.”
“In 2008 ALCF founded a second nonprofit organization, the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI), an international research consortium to advance innovative studies, including the first-ever study of lung cancer in adolescents/young adults under age 40.”
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women, making up almost 25% of all cancer deaths. More people die of lung cancer each year than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.
Now another statistic…Bonnie and her husband are part of our dinner group of 5 couples who have been meeting for over 30 years. In that group of 5 families, lung cancer has struck 4 of them. One is a 38-year-old daughter who is fighting for her life against lung cancer and she has never smoked!
Trigger Finger
I am typing this with two fingers, which takes forever because they’re both on my left hand. My daughter came down to be here for her Dad’s surgery and I’m putting her to serious work! Last week I had hand surgery to release a trigger finger and remove some Dupytrons lumps from the palm of my hand. Unfortunately, it’s on my right hand which makes doing most things almost impossible. 
My son and daughter have been a priceless blessing throughout this whole ordeal. At times like this, I feel more than blessed to have the love and support of family.
Pickling
I need some recipes ladies. Our veggie garden has gone crazy and besides being overrun with zucchini, we have a ton of mini cucumbers that I have no idea how to pickle. The label on the seed packet said pickles so I assume that’s what they are. Do you have a recipe to share? It’s likely that my daughter will be making these because we are all pickle hounds in our house. In fact, she introduced me to my first fried pickle on our family trip to Montana.
Be well, stay safe and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
I’m sending prayers from Connecticut for your husband’s medical team and peace for the two of you. Have a speedy recovery from the hand surgery and enjoy those pickles.
Love, hugs and prayers to your whole family and especially your husband in dealing with this news. Sounds like you have a great support system of family and friends which is great when life throws us these curveballs. Hoping your husband will have the best possible outcome!!
Praying for you and your family! I have been going thru 4 Ambulance runs and surgery In the last 2 weeks. The feeling of being out of control is very disconcerting ! Hope you get good results and a plan for recovery . I keep thinking I have a cruise in Paris next June. I find having something to focus on is very helpful for me!
Oh no, Deb. I’m so sorry, that is frightening. Praying things settle down for you very soon. Thanks for your prayers
Thank you for sharing, you will be in my prayers daily. We never know what life will hand us, but with faith we can get through it. You are a friend I look forward to hearing from each day.
Love and prayers to you and your family.
Thank you so much Violet
Oh Jennifer, so sorry to read this morning’s post, but glad you felt you could share. I don’t think it is presumptuous to say that all of us who read your posts are sending support your way. Your family is in our prayers.
Thank you so much Jo.
Prayers to your whole family during this time. My God heal and protect you.
Thank you for sharing. Stage one or two is the best you can hope for. It sounds as if you are in good hands with your doctors and close friends. What a special bonus blessing to have your daughter at home helping you plus your son nearby. Stay chilling and healing!
Jennifer, sending you and your husband hugs and thoughts of healing, wellness and positivity. I am glad that you have family to surround you both with love and support.
I am soooo glad the kids are here to help and support us.
Dear Jennifer,
As you and your family face these health issues, I pray for God to grant healing, peace, and
happy thoughts during the days ahead.
May you bask in His love and care always.
Love,
Pat♥️
Thank you Pat
Oh Jennifer. I’m so sorry you are dealing with all of this. Prayers are being sent you way for both your husband and for you. Please stay strong for one another. Keeping A positive attitude helps, but when hit with something line this, it’s not easy.
I’m so glad your kids are there helping out! Even with harvesting mini cucumbers. I’m no expert on pickling but thought I’ve seen some pickling packets with instructions. Don’t ask me where..(an online ad?). Maybe it was at William-Sonoma? Cannot recall. Sorry. Hopefully another FBI friend has some more home grown advice. Prayers and hugs….
Jennifer, I’m so glad your husband’s health is being closely monitored and that it looks like the lung cancer has been caught at a very early stage. I’m sure both of you are dealing with a lot of stress right now, and I’m really sorry that you are going through this. It’s good that you have had the surgery on your hand. My husband has the same problem on his palm. As for the pickles, garlicandzest.com has a recipe called Quick Pickled Cucumbers that you might want to try out. I haven’t tried it myself, but it looks quick and easy.
My hand surgery is much worse than I expected but I am very glad it’s behind me.
Prayers to your husband for timely and complete recovery. Look up lime pickle recipes (they use pickling lime, not the fruit – I didn’t know that years ago when I decided to make these!). The pickles are crisp, sweet, and delicious.
Awesome! I love the taste of limes. I will look them up.
Indeed sorry to read of you and your hubs’s health problems; troubles often seem to come in bunches! At times it seems to me that the whole world has gone crazy, (not to make light of your personal difficulties) but several families in our immediate circle are experiencing grave difficulties right now…
Stay strong, and know that you are in my prayers!
I find health problems cluster in cycles too! I’m ready for the black cloud over our family to move on. Thanks for your prayers
Prayers for your husband and family. Hopefully you will have good news to share.
Prayers and hugs for your whole family. Thankfully you now know what’s goi g on and can make a plan. I’m one of a few people that doesn’t like pickles, so I have no idea!
Prayers for your husband and you, and a lot of love too.
Sending prayers for your husband’s and your recovery from the surgeries. My Aunt had a similar surgery to your husband’s with the removal of a lower lobe of the lung at Stage 1. She did not need Chemo or radiation (this was many years ago at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD). Afterwards, she stayed cancer free for almost 20 years. She was a heavy smoker until this diagnosis and quit cold turkey. Best wishes for healing.
So glad that your husband’s surgery went well. Now let’s all hope for a clean bill of health from now on. I know the feeling of shock a diagnosis of cancer can be. My husband passed in 2008 with brain cancer. It shook me to my core. It sounds like everything is under control and I am happy for you. Life has its ways of throwing you a curve ball now and then. My thoughts are with you and your family.
I just found you yesterday so this post is my first to read of yours. You have one more person to pray for your husband, your children and you! I know cancer affects the whole family and puts you all on an emotional roller coaster. I will keep you in my daily thoughts!!!!
Welcome Ann, and that you so much for your prayers. You will see that this is not my usual type of post 🙂
Glad the surgery is behind you and praying for all things good from here on. Glad you r blessed with a wonderful support group and loving children. Will be praying for u both.🙏🙏🙏
My goodness! My prayers are with you and your husband for complete healing. I enjoy your posts so much. God bless your family.