Fearless Blog

Cycle for Survival has already raised over $2.2MM with a few weeks to go! If you haven’t donated already, please donate to my team at http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/fearless

Chemo cycle #5 has been OK. The first week is always the hardest when I am taking the oral pills right after the IV drip. However, beyond constant stomach issues and feeling a bit like I am coming down with the flu, I am hanging in there.

I have managed to go to the gym every single day for my 20 minute workout and slowly but surely I feel like I am getting stronger,

Dave and I were so thrilled to be able to attend our dear friend Sharon's birthday this past weekend. I have known Sharon since business school and she has been with me (and Dave) through thick and thin. Her compassion and loyalty are unparalleled and we are truly blessed to have her in our lives.

So, what better way to celebrate than to roast her with a dirty song!?! Check …

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Cycle for Survival has already raised over $2MM with a few weeks to go! If you haven’t donated already, please donate to my team at http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/fearless
This will be a short but sweet blog post since I am running out the door to begin chemotherapy cycle #5. Let me set the context for how special our weekend at Duke was…
I have been feeling really great since I left the hospital last week. I think that I am hitting a turning point in my treatment.  The tumors are continuing to shrink and I am slowly but surely getting some energy and strength back.
We visited my oncologist the morning we were scheduled to leave. My doctor looked at my files and said, “I see you have a big birthday coming up in March, what are you going to do for it?”  I looked at him and said, “You know Dr. Maki, I am just thrilled to be here.  Back in October/November, I really didn’t think I was going to make it to …

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Hi everyone! I made a little trip to urgent care on Sunday because I was vomiting and had bad stomach cramps. We were concerned that I had a bowel obstruction which apparently my surgeon claims is “The crappy consolation prize for having 6 abdominal surgeries.”
The good news is that the issue worked itself out on its own and it never became too serious. I just had to spend 3 days in the hospital unexpectedly without food or water and became very cranky! But I did milk the hospital for all of their “extra services” and got a foot massage and a private guided meditation session!
While I was in the hospital, it was wonderful to catch up with so many nurses, doctors, technicians and social workers who are all participating in Cycle for Survival. It warms my heart that the hospital has truly gotten behind this event. In fact, one of the teams of nurses brought me a flyer that they had made advertising a happy hour that they are hosting …

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I am getting a blood transfusion right now in the day hospital at MSKCC. I am feeling really good these past few days (knock on wood) but my energy levels (hemoglobin) were a bit low so I decided to get a transfusion so I can feel extra strong.
I have a big week coming up…in addition to getting a CT Scan and heart tests to confirm that the chemo continues to be effective, Dave and I are hoping to take my nephew Ben to Duke this coming weekend for the Duke/UVA game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. So, I must rest up!
Thanks to everyone who enjoyed my dance video! My nephew Shaun who doesn’t mince words said, “I liked the video Jen but I don’t think you would make it on Dancing with the Stars!” I’ll show him!
Apparently I have been dancing too much and not eating enough (hard to believe as I ate pizza and brownies last night). I am officially the 98 lb weakling. I couldn’t believe it when I …

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There’s a quote from Ivy Baker Priest, a former U.S. Treasurer that I love: “The word is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning.”
If you read my article in this coming month’s Whole Living Magazine, you know that I prescribe to the theory that day-by-day we find our way. We begin again. And it’s never too late to start. I believe that your perspective on a situation can greatly change how you “move through” the situation at hand.
Case in point: most people hate rain. They believe it’s dreary, depressing and inconvenient. However, my great-grandmother believed that rain signaled good fortune and great luck. I never met her – she passed away the week I was born. However, her philosophy was passed down to my brother and me. Whenever it rained outside, rather than get glum, we would be optimistic that something good was going to happen because “great grandmother always said rain was good luck!”
Over the years there were so many …

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Hi everyone,

I had NO IDEA my readership is so fashion savvy!   I must say that I received SO MANY emails about how you all loved the fantastic red heels that I wore during my Buddy Media speech. Well, thank you, and what makes them even cooler is that they are HOT PINK (I took a close-up picture so you could enjoy them in all their glory). 
And what's great is that I ALSO have bright red heels – they are fabulous as well. 

This week has been OK. Ironically, I have been handling the chemo pretty well but I got this nasty bacterial/fungal infection which really set me back. I am on some seriously strong drugs right now and am starting to feel a bit better. The good news is that my blood work came back strong one week post chemo cycle 3 which means I don't need a blood transfusion this time around. I do love them because they give me energy but I am thrilled that my body is getting a bit stronger and able …

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apologize for not writing in a week or so. I find that either I am really tired and sick on days or I have some energy and am anxious to try and get out and do something. So, the good news is that the days leading up to chemo cycle #3 were more “good” than “bad”.
I took advantage and had lots of visitors. My friends Sue and Serina from college came by for a visit and my friend Pete from Boston, accompanied by our friend Tina, came by as well.
The highlight of the week was meeting Kyan, the newest member of my Harvard Business School study group. Kyan was born last month to Vishal and Kelly and since Vishal was in my study group, we are already assuming that Kyan will be following in his dad’s footsteps. What was so great about that day was that very spontaneously we were able to get a few other study group members over (Greg, Brett) and we had a mini-reunion. Kyan was very …

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The past week has been tough with some good days mixed in. What was truly a blessing is that we got our first bit of what seems to be good news from my Doctors yesterday.

I had an echo test that basically measures the strength of your heart. This test is important for me to get every 6 weeks or so since the chemo I am now on is potentially damaging to your heart. A big concern I have is that we will hear that the chemo is working but I can’t take any more if t because my heart is weakening. Well, the reassuring news is that my heart is exhibiting the same strength it did in September before I started the chemo. This is a big relief. I am the last person to welcome this chemo as it has been kicking my butt, however, if it’s working, I am not going to stop taking it!

I have a CT scan next week which will officially tell us how the numerous …

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In the spirit of "all press is good press", we were thrilled to find a great article on Cyle for Survival (http://cycleforsurvival.org) in the 11/29 issue of the National Enquirer. Lodged between stories such as "Who's the Real Mommy?Travolta Wife Egg Donor Shocker!" and "Madonna has Head Lice!" was a really nice, truthful story about the heart and history of Cycle for Survival.

Apparently one of the writers found the website and was very touched by the story. He decided to write the article and publish it over Thanksgiving weekend. We found it by chance (my nail salon found it :). Although the National Enquirer wouldn't naturally be our top place to be, apparently 10MM people read it and pass it along to others so we will take it! Great timing to get more excitement , exposure, involvement and funding!

Dave and I had a very quiet Thanksgiving weekend.  We celebrated the fact that my blood counts were a bit stronger this week and I didn't have to be admitted into the …

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