The Start of Jennifer's Journey Dealing With NeuroEndocrine Carcinoma

The intent of this blog is to provide all of our loving family and friends updates on Jennifer's status as she fights NeuroEndocrine Carcinoma Cancer.

Jennifer and I are blessed to have so many loving people in our lives. We wanted to try and find an efficient way to keep those that want to know informed of Jennifer's status as she starts this journey. So, we decided to create this blog.

Background - Jennifer began experiencing what we thought was gallbladder issues in late June 2023. We were visiting our families and friends in Montana when she started having these symptoms (stabbing pains in upper right quadrant, loss of appetite, etc). She had a CT Scan conducted in Butte on July 7. A day or so before the scan we made the decision to travel back to Mesquite so that if she had to have surgery (which we thought was likely) she could recover at home vs in our travel trailer or at Joe's parents' house.

On June 10 Jennifer had an appointment with her Primary Care Physician (PCP) who reviewed the results of the CT scan. The scan results showed that her gallbladder had sludge and small stones, but it also showed numerous lesions and possible cirrhosis on her liver. So, she was referred to a gastrointestinal specialist. Fortunately, her PCP's husband is a gastrointestinal specialist, and thanks to that relationship Jennfer was able to quickly get in to be seen. He ordered a liver biopsy to be performed. On July 19 she had the biopsy done in St. George. On July 25 we got the results of the Biopsy. It indicated Jennifer had NeuroEndocrine Carcinoma. This a rarer type of cancer and most people (including us) have never heard of it.

On August 3 we finally got an appointment with an Oncologist to fully explain the biopsy results with us (We won't bore you with the details and frustration to finally get this appointment). While the Oncologist was explaining the information to us, he was conferring digitally with a Neuroendocrine Cancer Oncologist and researcher in Salt Lake City who is recognized as one of the nation's leading experts in this type of cancer.

This is when we got the news that no one ever wants to hear that Jennifer's particular case is inoperable and terminal. Also due to the type of cancer, she cannot be a candidate for a liver transplant.

The only good thing that happened that day is that the Oncologist prescribed pain medicine that has provided some relief to the severe pain she was having. Jennifer is one tough cookie, and she was fighting the pain valiantly up to this point, but she needed something to ease some of the pain. Also, we are lucky to live in a state where cannabis is legal, and we have a very large dispensary about a mile from our home. We able to also get her some Marijuana gummies which will hopefully help with the nausea and appetite loss. She was also given an IV to get some fluids into her. Unfortunately, she has little appetite and when she does eat anything she usually only gets a few bites in and feels full and/or nauseas or both.

We have tried multiple types of Nutrional drinks to try and get some nutrients into her, Ensure is the only one she has been able to somewhat tolerate.

On August 7 we will have an educational meeting with a Nurse Navigator for her upcoming Cheomtherapy. Her first round of Chemotherapy is scheduled for August 9.

This is where we are to this point. We ask for your continued prayers and good thoughts that she will be the one to beat the odds. As you can imagine this has been a very emotional time. However, she is and will continue to fight this and I intend to be by her side doing what I can.