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 ALCFās 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 Iām 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.
Dear Jennifer,
May your family’s spirits be uplifted as you await diagnosis and treatment news.
Praying for God’s healing presence,
Diney on Camano Island
Thank you!
Sending healing thoughts your way – hope your husband recovers well and stay safe at home!
Keeping both of you in my prayers
I am keeping you, your husband and your family in my prayers.
We lost both my mother in law and father in law to lung cancer!! Both might have smoked in their 20ās but hadnāt smoked since. My mother in law also had the trigger finger bu never had surgery.
Praying for your family!
Jennifer, Thank you for reaching out and sharing. I’ll be praying for your husband’s diagnosis, and for you. I always look forward to your posts, whether they’re about fashion or life in general. You give so many inspiration!
Thoughts and prayers for you and your husband.
Thoughts and prayers for your husband! My husband had Dupytrons and recovered nicely! I love your blog!
My heart is with you & your family.
Sending big virtual hugs & healing.
XO,Kim
Thank you Kim xx
Aaaaahhh – the old pickle dilemma! My kids would count the days until they could finally open the jaRs of newly canned pickles I had made!! Tip: put the freshly picked pickle cukes in the washing machine with a couple of old towels & run it on cold rinse. All the little pointy prickery things will rub off the cukes. Prayers here for you & family!!!!
Jennifer, I am a bit newer to your blog and even so, feel like you are a friend. I love your posts and advice, truly helpful. Your writing style is so great and genuine. I can’t imagine how hard this diagnosis and surgery has been. I love your positive attitude, we all need to cling to those right now. Please know you and your husband and family are in my thoughts and prayers. Sending love and hugs your way!
Prayers for and your family š
Your courage and attitude are inspiring. Everyone here is sending good vibes to you and your husband.
You never know what life is going to bring you… Prayers to you and your husband!!!!
Blessings to you and your family. Itās a difficult time for us all but adding serious health issues adds more stress. Please take care of yourself and ask for help when needed.
I’m so glad you have each other as well as a good support group. You have such a positive attitude that it will help carry you through all of this. I believe that when a family member has cancer, we have it with them, if you know what I mean. Hugs
Keeping you and your husband in my thoughts, Jennifer. It sounds like you are armed with knowledge and can make informed decisions regarding the best treatment options. Hope your hand heals up quickly!
Jennifer, My prayers are with you and your beautiful family. You will get through this.
Jennifer, I can not imagine the stress both you and your husband must have felt during the past months of the pandemic waiting for a biopsy, surgery and results. Sending Prayers and Healing thoughts your way.
Jennifer, when I read the words ā lung cancerā, my heart did a little jump because Iāve been where you are way back in 1995. I am a non-smoker, small boned, small bodied woman who never could stand the smell of smoke of any kind. My spot of cancer was discovered by a routine x-ray before having a hysterectomy. After recovering from the hysterectomy, I had the biopsy and my lower left lobe was also removed. The difficult part was, and still is the surgical scar because I was cut half in two so ribs werenāt cut. The exercising, 30 minutes 3 times a day, was initially difficult because of the breathing struggle, but eventually the upper lobe expands into the space and the thoracic cavity appears full. Now 25 years later, I am still cancer-free, and my reduced lung capacity is minimal. I certainly will pray for his quick recovery, and hope he does not encounter any complications. I did have a collapsed lung about two weeks out but quick trip to doctor and medicine relieved that.
Goodness, Celia, you have had a rough time of it. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Praying for your family. So happy you two have a support team in place. I know the waiting and worrying is nerve wracking. Stay positive and know so many care.
So sorry to hear this news. Will be thinking of your husband and you in the coming months. Hope everything goes as planned. Prayers sent.
What courage you have, Jennifer, in sharing the challenges you and your family are facing! Thank you for commitment to your readers as you endure the āwaiting gameā. Am sending my prayers and thoughts of peace and light to you and your family
Jennifer you are an amazing woman, who reached out to tell my story in the midst of your own battle. We are a tight community, us cancer folk, so we are all here for you and your family, you reach out anytime. Praying for your husband and for you as the caretaker, so important to us patients. Bless you friendšš»
Thank you so much, Donna. You are an amazing inspiration. Thanks for letting me share your story.
Prayers and love to you and your family.
Will keep your family in prayer.
Thinking of you and your family and praying for the best.
Lately the song if it weren’t for bad luck, real bad luck I wouldn’t have any luck at all has been running through my head. Yikes, aren’t riots and pandemics enough? Add a personal challenge and it can get overwhelming. I pray your husbands doc was able to remove the cancer and all will be well with you and your lovely family. Hopefully this is the darkness before the dawn. I am sorry for your troubles. patval
Prayers for you and your husband. Blessed that you have kids you can count on ā¤ļø
We are very blessed to have their help
Praying helps but we all know what will eventually happen has l have recently lost my wife of 34yrs to stage 4 bone cancer you just don’t know how hard it’s been with out her and with the virus you couldn’t get in the hospital to be with her thur her final days may god be with y’all as this journey will be hard to allot you love and prayers Heather Wynne
I am so, so sorry. This nasty virus has made life so hard for everyone, but worse I think for those who can’t comfort their loved ones. Sending hugs your way.
I was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer in 2010 and told the only treatment would be chemo and radiation as it was deemed inoperable with 9-12 months to live. After much prayer and further testing, it was discovered that it was operable. My whole left lung was removed and I have a new normal. There are some surprising things that happen when you have only a right lung. I am thankful for the last extra ten years of my life and pray I have many more to come.
It is true that once you have had cancer, you are more aware and cautious of things in your life. It is something you live with every day, but God is good and He takes care of us all. Praying for you and your husband!
Diane that is wonderful to read! Iām a stage IIB survivor, 3 years now. I love reading how well youāve done! Congratulations.