Jill and Chuck Living Well With Metastatic Breast Cancer

 Chuck and I both feel like we've been in a whirling tunnel of diagnostic tests, the actual diagnosis, treatment plans, research and questions....so many questions pop up.  For those of you that really know me, you know I want to know all the information I can - I am a shoot-it-straight kind of person when it comes to receiving medical info. I like to know the plan, and then I can deal with it better - it's the "knowing" that is best for me and my mental state.  Then comes the "why is this the plan?" questions.  We keep a book called Chill the Fuck Out Cancer (sorry, not sorry for cussing), and I write the questions that come up for me from my own research, testimony's from other MBC patients, studying symptoms and signs - they are different.  SYMPTOMS are things I feel, and SIGNS are things they find (like liver/kidney tests, something on a scan, etc.)  I am in a MBC Facebook group with 12,000 (mostly) women that are going through the many twists and ...

 Hi all! On 4/23, our wedding anniversary, we had a great time going in for our consultation with the Radiology Oncology team, to talk about when and what type of radiation I will receive. We were with the Radiologist, Dr. Lim for about an hour.  First, let me take you back 15 years...Treatment was - I had surgery to remove the 2 tumors and my lymph nodes, did 4 rounds of chemo and then did 6 weeks of radiation, 5 days per week, so 30 rounds to the general area of the right breast (where my primary cancer was) and my clavicle above there. Then, did 5 years of Tamoxifen. I sailed through it mostly ok at 45 years of age...got a little tired, and used some really good tissue repair cream called M'lis that kept my skin in good shape.  I have a nice tan line there now though. In metastatic breast cancer (MBC), it's a different ball game for all the treatment vs. the primary breast cancer.  As far as radation plan goes...The radiology team is still doing their studies on e...

 I did it!  I did the Brain MRI yesterday and didn't freak out, mostly because the machine is new and is about 4-5" further away from my face than the older version. That...along with the IV Valium, got me through it. This is the only scan I kinda hate, but no more!  I can do it so much better now!  Plus, Laurie Moore was the BEST driver, partner in crime that was my person there in so many ways. Thank you, Laurie!  And... I HAVE A CLEAR BRAIN - no mets in my brain, and no real reason for my forgetfulness and I cannot really use that as an excuse anymore...haha!!  I think this is it for awhile for scans...whew! There is a such thing we call Scanxiety - it's real, folks. All in all, we are winning in the scan department right now!  Next up, beginning tonight - I will start my hormone therapy to rid me, once again, of estrogen, promptly put me back into menopause and hot flashes!  Yep...for real.  I know the tricks now - always have a menu in f...

 We've been holding this announcement about our big move until our home went FOR SALE officially, since I'm a licensed real estate agent, I cannot market any listing before it is actively for sale. So, today is the day our home is for sale!  It is a BEAUTIFUL SHOW STOPPER. We moved in only 9 months ago and we've made some improvements in that short time including, a full tech wi-fi/hi-fi package, hardscape, heavy landscape, gutter guards, and more. Take a look at the LISTING HERE    And...don't miss this VIDEO , it's a stunner.  Chuck and I have been making plans for a life that allows to focus on life, living, and experiences and this move to downsize will help us do just that. And guess what?.... We're moving back to Traditions Wake Forest!!   We'll be back in our former neighborhood, where we feel comfortable and the love and support of many friends and neighbors. Here's a photo of our new pad - closing June 17th.  And our dog Henry is a superstar t...

Hello everyone….This is Chuck writing and this is my first entry to the blog.   First off,  I want to say that we have an awesome and loving God.  On Easter Sunday we give thanks that Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins and was then resurrected in victory over death giving us a path to salvation and eternal life in Heaven.  Through Jesus we can face anything.  If we trust him, he will lead us through all challenges.  Secondly…I want to say that my wife is the strongest, most loving, caring, determined and intentional person I know.  Her passion for life inspires me.  Did I also mention that she has beautiful green eyes? Thirdly, I can’t adequately articulate how much the outpouring of love, encouragement and support has been from our family and friends.  It has fueled and sustained us.  Thank you so much.  Please continue to lift us up in prayer. 3 weeks ago, our lives were turned upside down with a diagnosis of Metastat...

 Friends, Family and Prayer Warriors, We got our pet scan today finally at UNC Chapel Hill at 11am and then raced back to Raleigh for our appointment with our oncologist scheduled at 1:30, and we were only 10 minutes late.  It was a whirlwind after being told that my original Pet scan was cancelled for the 2nd time because the machine was broken at UNC/Rex Hospital in Raleigh. Here's the BEST PART..... My Dr. feels SURE that the cancer is only in my right hip/pelvis area and THAT IS IT!!!!!!  OMG!! I wish you could have seen our faces. Chuck and I looked at each other, grabbed each other and it was such great news!  Of course, our fear was that it has spread further, but it did not!   The doctor said "it's the best of the worst news...yes, you have metastatic breast cancer, but it is isolated". We don't have the radiology report to finalize this yet, but truly...whatever Dr. Kritz says has always turned out to be correct. I will be on two different types of...

The PET scan team worked their magic… So many thanks to so many people… We are headed to get the PET scan at UNC Chapel Hill! We still have our answers today.  Yay! 

 I'm melting down. They were supposed to call me today to confirm the pet scan machine is operable, but I didn't get a call. Of course, I didn't realize it until 4pm, and I started frantically calling, calling calling.  No answer in the pet scan department 7 times.  I called the main UNC / Rex number and the nicest lady, Tammy, helps me to try to track down anyone in any radiology appointment and finally got one person who says the machine is still NOT OPERABLE. Unbelievable.  Is that really true? So, now we think there is a slight chance it is fixed and since I would be the first patient of the day at 5:45 am, I have no choice but to go ahead and go and take my chances.   Tammy suggested I let the Patient Care department know about this when I told them how ridiculous it was they have one pet scanner and how their lack of patient care can make patients in my situation very friggin nervous and upset.  When we know anything concrete, we'll let you know....

Venting.... Here we are in the Triangle area, well-known for top-notch medical care with UNC, Duke and Wake Med as our main hospital systems and we have hospitals and cancer centers everywhere, yet.... There are ONLY 2 PLACES to get a pet scan in the Triangle - Rex/UNC via Wake Radiology (that's me) is 3 weeks behind and Wake Med Cary via Raleigh Radiology (not me) is only a couple of days to wait. So, my pet scan that was scheduled for tomorrow (4/16), that we have been super anxious about because it will tell us where/if this cancer has spread outside of the one area in my hip bone has been tentatively moved to Thursday 4/17 at 5:45am because the camera broke and they "think" they will have it repaired by tomorrow (Wednesday) at 12noon.   Once they confirm it is fixed, I'll confirm back so they can get me in before my 1pm appt. with my Oncologist, Dr. Kritz....they will order it STAT so that he will have the scan before my appointment.  Ok....I'm breathing and w...

 Hi friends and family!   Since our last post, we have been on a rollercoaster of emotions and trying to digest this news and all the still unknowns. and prepare our world as much as possible for anything that can happen.  We have a big week coming up....a WEEK OF ANSWERS:  4/16: Pet Scan at 5:45am - we'll learn where the cancer is and let's pray that is just isolated to my hip.  4/17: Review Pet Scan and Treatment Plan with Dr. Kritz (oncologist) at 1:00pm 4/21: (well that's the following week) Brain MRI at 2pm (that is the only scan I feel claustrophobic...that machine is literally inches away from your face and your head is strapped down - so valium IV for me and thank you Laurie in advance for taking me since driving on valium is not allowed haha!)   Here's what I wonder in my dream world..can I just go ahead and get a hip replacement? Wouldn't that remove the cancer and give me a hip where cancer won't attach to?  It sounds like ...

Okay, so here’s the deal—we all know someone affected by breast cancer. It's everywhere. But not all breast cancer is the same, and honestly, I think we really need to talk more about Stage IV. Because it's different. Like, completely different. I learned that myself when I was going through Stage IIB breast cancer 15 years ago and let me tell you...it was a jolt of reality and eye opening for me.  In our breast cancer support groups, Stages I-3 were in one group, and Stage IV (Metavivors) were in another group. The conversations, the advice, the meds, the med plans are all very different.  Many of you remember my friend, Tiffany...we were in the same chemo class together in May 2010. She started out with Stage IV Metastatic breast cancer right off the bat. But, we became breast friends and she taught me so much about being a Metavivor.  She looooooved jewelry and she would buy some jewel and then I would buy her old stuff to try to even out the money and hide the spendi...

As many of you know, I’m facing a new chapter in my personal health journey. While I take time to prioritize treatment and healing, I want to assure you— NC Pro Realty remains fully operational and as committed as ever to serving our clients with excellence, care, and integrity. This business is incredibly important to me. It’s not just a career—it’s my calling, my community, and my way of helping others step into the next chapter of their lives with confidence and clarity. Established in 2018, we live by this: It's Not Just a Home, It's Your Life. And we mean it.  I'm incredibly proud to share that NC Pro Realty is supported by a team of rockstar local brokers who not only bring deep market knowledge and experience, but also share the same core values that have built this brand: honesty, professionalism, collaboration, and heart. These amazing colleagues are stepping in where needed to ensure every buyer, seller, and investor continues to receive the high-level service...

You cannot believe the total outpouring of kindness, flowers, cards, food, calls, texts, just showing up at our house, prayers literally on the phone with us, prayer circles at church and other places, invitations to get out and do things, door dashes....everything that friendship and family means is what is happening from those closest to us.  All of that goodness has happened in just a few days.  It truly means the world to us, you have no idea how grateful we are.  Chuck and I are both pretty social people and we are fortunate that we have a so many amazing people in our life and we get our energy and strength from deep conversations with those we love. Don't hide your feelings from us....we know that our news seems devastating and it is worrisome. We feel the same and it's better for us if we talk about it and talk it through. We have learned so much and it helps to have real talk, not superficial talk.  Fierce in the Forest is my women's social group here in the...

We were hoping for results today, but thought it might be Tuesday. I knew the results of the bone marrow biopsy would be in MyChart.  I am definitely one of those people that wants to know everything ASAP, so I was looking at MyChart and constantly refreshing the app.  I was brushing my teeth and the alert popped up "New Test Result in MyChart".  With a mouthful of toothpaste, I spit it out. The shower was running as I was just about to get in it. Chuck and I had a deal, he wasn't going to look (he has access to MyChart), and I would call him when it came in and we would know it together. He was at work at my insistence.  Well...it didn't happen exactly that way, but close. I looked. It was clear and said this:  Diagnosis Bone lesion, right ilium, core biopsy: -Metastatic carcinoma consistent with the patient's known breast primary. -Cellularity is adequate for molecular testing.   Estrogen receptor: Positive (3+, 95%) Progesterone receptor: Positive (3+, 7...

We arrived at UNC Rex Hospital at 11am....and Jill had no coffee, which is a tragedy within itself!  haha!   After checking in at the Imaging Center at Rex, they called us back pretty quickly. A radiologist performs this biopsy, not my oncologist, because it is a CT guided bone marrow biopsy, so they can really pinpoint the exact location.  The staff there could not have been nicer.  They gave me the gown to change into and I let them know about my situation of being a really hard IV stick. I changed, got into the bed of freshly warm blankets and then Try #1, here come the nurse to try to get a vein in my "good" arm - no luck. Then, they did an order for an ultrasound machine to wheel in so they can find my vein that way. That took forever.  So, I said, "look...I'm willing for you to keep trying without the ultrasound, I have a high tolerance for pain". So, another nurse came by and with the right movement and laying my arm 'just so', she got the IV need...

After 4 days of trying to get a Pet Scan scheduled through my primary care doctor and finding out that BCBS would not authorize the pet scan without a biopsy, off to my oncologist I went. Alan Kritz, M.D. at UNC Cancer Center across the street from Rex Hospital  has been my oncologist for 10 years, and he and his team are the absolute best and brightest. I'm very comfortable there and I trust them completely.   Chuck and I had an appointment with him and he examined me and then reviewed the CT Scan with us and he had no doubt this was cancer.  He was very sure.  Dr. Kritz said these words "this is likely to be metastatic breast cancer, but that it could be other types of cancer, but...it appears to be cancer. Chuck took it very, very hard quickly as this was the most unbelievable news and we were not expecting this conversation right now.   "Wait, What???", I said.  "I am 13 days away of being 15 years cancer-free. I was cured".  I'm holding ...

Welp. For over two weeks I had some stomach pain and was constantly using the bathroom...you know what I mean without saying the actual word "diarrhea". I finally went to my primary care doctor, who I LOVE, Capital Family Medicine at Wakefield and Jennifer Gamache, PA. She did an exam of my tummy and whoa...that was some kind of painful, but I just figured I was swollen and sore from using the bathroom so much, so the pain was not unexpected. So, she ordered a CT with Contrast for my abdominal area. WITH CONTRAST! Ugh... I knew from experience that meant an IV and so I was gearing up by drinking a lot water and keeping my one arm warm. I can't have IV or a blood pressure cup or blood draws on my right arm because my breast cancer 14 years and 345 days ago was in my sentinel lymph node and they removed all 11 of my lymph nodes on my right arm. On the "good arm", the left arm....I had my 4 rounds of chemo in my arm way back then in 2010 and my veins are a litt...