Update on Jen Pagani: Scans are good!

We’ve all followed our Smarty Warrior, Jen Pagani’s story every Saturday for the month of October. We at Charlotte Smarty Pants couldn’t be more honored that Jen agreed to share her life with us this month, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Jen’s last post had us hoping and praying for her next part of her journey. Here’s Jen to share her fabulous news:

After much anticipation, we saw Gary yesterday. My scans are good!!! No spread into my vital organs (brain, liver, lungs or bones). The disease is present and evident in the other usual spots, but there is nothing immediately life threatening, which is good to say the least.

Gary seems convinced that I will be eligible for the study (we still have 4 sets of reviews to pass) and even scheduled me to begin treatment this coming Tuesday, November 1st, bright and early in the a.m.. Wow!

And despite the great scan news and Gary’s optimism (both about the drug’s efficacy and my ability to get in the study), I am in that place where I often find myself after such a stressful stretch, even one where we receive good news (cuz nothing is ever black and white in the world of survivorship) – I am a bit outta sorts, suffering from residual stress, worried about whether or not everything will fall into place like we need it to in order to start on Tuesday and about whether the study drug will actually work (earlier this year I flunked outta the TDM1 trial in Charleston, SC faster than I did my first college math course at Georgia Tech, hence the degree from UGA- Go Dawgs!). And, on top of that, I’m feeling the pressure of trying to pack in alot of fun and check alot of to-do’s off my list before my schedule, and our lives, switch back into that strange chemo-driven, purgatory-esque existence that is life with advanced cancer.

Whew, needed to bitch a bit to get back on track…Bottom line – good news, hope re-kindled, time gained and prayers answered! We are ready to have lots of holiday fun, watch the Dawgs beat the Gators, savor the fall weather and stuff ourselves full of some sweets. ~Jen

Thanks, Jen for sharing your story. Prayers answered for the next round and we’ll keep ’em comin’! And know that only because you’re Y-O-U would I EVER agree to put that nonsense about the Gators and the Dawgs in my blog:-) It’s a building year for us in the Swamp!

Go Jen Go, even if you’re a DAWG!!!!