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My Stomach Cancer Story

My stomach cancer was found on accident. But it started with pain.

In the winter of 2009, I seemed to just...deteriorate.
I could barely walk. I could barely function.

Tests would come back showing very low B12, and I had to go on a regimen of injections for a few months.

While I was with my doctor, despite just feeling blah, I discussed pain I had been feeling for YEARS but dismissed as period pain or bursitis. So while I was getting injections, I was introduced to a GI doc.  The pain ended up being an NF tumor found years later, but in 2009 it was still a mystery.  I was also experiencing severe GERD which was first thought to be a heart issue (had holter monitor and everything).

I had a barium swallow test about April 2009. Tests showed something strange near my GI junction so I had an endoscopy/colonoscopy in May 2009 (endoscopy to address weird finding and GERD; colonoscopy due to colon cancer history in family and lower abdominal pain).

Findings: Hiatal hernia and polyp. I had an endoscopic ultrasound in mid July 2009 to better visualize the tumor.

On July 27, 2009, I got the phone call that changed my life forever. The hospital called around 7:30 in the morning. I was in the middle of a conversation so by the time I got my phone out of my bag, I missed it. The voice message told me I should call the doctor’s office right away. I scoffed. I had endured months of testing with no answers. I figured they were calling just as a formality to give me yet again, no answers! I was a teacher at the time. We had a faculty development meeting that took a few hours. Calls came during the meeting. I ignored them. I was too busy to be bothered by a “Nothing came up, sorry! But definitely make a follow up appointment!” sort of call. Finally, after lunch, I was in the teacher’s lounge, and I answered the call. It turns out I really didn’t want to answer this call!”

The call went something like this:

“Hi So Jennifer, we’ve been trying to reach you all day. So sorry for the delay in this. But I have to tell you that we got the results of your Endoscopic Ultrasound ((meanwhile I was rolling my eyes and making inpatient hand gestures expecting the ‘we got nothing words to come out of his mouth)), and well, what we found was that it is cancer….”

I don’t remember much because it was so unexpected, I gasped. Two of my friends were in the room and they knew by the look on my face that it was not good, so when I was asking questions (I don’t remember my questions), my friends were finding ways to cover my classes for the rest of the day. 

They were the first people who knew.

I then told my boss so I could be excused from teaching, and she was just so supportive. I then then made the 20 or so minute walk from the school to Boston College, where John was a PhD student. I had called him on the way making sure he would be in his cubicle because I had something important to tell him. I think he had a feeling by the sound of my voice what I was going to say.

I don’t remember how I told him. I just remember being in a cloud. He took me to McDonald's so I could have an ice cream cone with fries. I don’t know why I wanted to eat that! And then I had to go and make the call to members of my family.

I watched Anchorman that evening because I knew it would be the only thing that make me laugh.
A few days later I made this video.  The video after the surgical consult is here. The rest is history- most of you have been in touch with me and know the story. If not, read my blogs


August 2009 I had a partial gastrectomy.

I have been cancer free ever since (I get yearly endoscopies, and colonoscopies every 5 years).

Recovery was not so fun. Had issues with my esophagus not moving food down. I lost 20 pounds. Swallowing still an issue from time to time as years go on. Acid reflux terrible. Weight fluctuates, but never so low like in recovery period!

Due to worsening acid reflux issues, I had a Total Gastrectomy in February 2019, almost 10 years later.  I explain why I needed the TG in this blog here. My recovery from THAT surgery was documented here. 

Neurofibromatosis pain saved my life :) Stomach Cancer complicated it and still complicates life despite being eradicated!

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