The Franks Family

The Franks Family

Monday, January 20, 2014

Chemo Round 2 and BRCA2

Ashley Jansen showed up at my door Monday morning with a huge box of medicines, iTunes gift cards, socks, hats, magazine subscriptions, bottled waters, 3 cosmetic bags filled for my car, home, and bedside, and so much more. She had coordinated with my close friends here and they all gathered these goodies for me. Absolutely unbelievable! I am so humbled by my friends' generosity! Not only did she show up with this package, she was willing to sit with me until 2pm at the infusion center. She made getting chemo a somewhat good experience. She prayed with me, held my hand through the terrible parts, and was just amazing. I am forever grateful for our friendship!

I did pretty good Monday night and was even able to make it to bible study on Tuesday morning. Matt's parents flew in town Tuesday evening to help out. They are amazing. I pretty much slept most of Wednesday and Thursday. I kept thinking that I was getting enough water, but I got severely dehydrated. Water tastes like dirt.  The nausea was terrible! It was so much worse this time. The doctor prescribed me different medicine, but nothing cut it completely. By Friday morning, I started spiraling downhill fast. We had an appointment with the genetic counselor that morning. I threw up beforehand, and by the time we met with the counselor, Matt was desperately on the phone with my doctor's office. Luckily they were across the street and told him to bring me immediately for an IV of fluids and nausea medicine. I feel like the whole week was a daze and so foggy. The IV helped so much, but I'm still not 100%.  Chemo sucks! 
Cancer sucks too!! I found out at the genetic counselor that I have the BRCA2 gene mutation. Which means, I had a 40-80% of getting breast cancer and now my children have a 50% chance of getting it one day too. Also, I have a large chance of it coming back as ovarian cancer one day. Therefore, I am told to get a full hysterectomy by the age of 35. Wow! Lots of terrible information to take in! I know God is still in control, but it's totally okay to scream Cancer sucks!!!

1 comment:

The Moshells said...

Oh Ash! I'm just a bawling mess as I read this. You amaze me at your faith, even in the midst of this news. You are on my heart daily and I'm lifting you and this stinky BRCA2 gene up to the Lord. Praying for your healing and for your heart as this is so much to digest. Lifting up Matt too that you both would have the same wisdom from the Lord in exactly what to do. Sending you a BIG Texas hug!