June/July Scans Update

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I haven’t been able to muster up the energy to write a detailed update, so this will be pretty brief.

I had my scans and appointments with Mayo over the last couple weeks. Biggest takeaway right now is that I do Not currently need treatment. However, we have to continue to monitor things closely. There is a 2.7cm currently indeterminate lymph node versus metastasis in my left axilla (armpit), and 1 of the lung nodules grew 4mm since mid-April. Thanks be to God, the remainder of the lung nodules have remained stable, and 2 of them actually decreased slightly 🙌

I am still Majorly struggling with debilitating fatigue, shortness of breath, and intolerable to activity. I’m down 20 lbs now and doing everything in my power to get calories in and keep them in. Will be seeing cardiologist again and PCP this next week.

Feeling immense relief and gratitude that I don’t need immediate treatment, and hoping and praying I will get better soon so that I can actually enjoy the summer and do more things that will aid me on my healing journey.

I appreciate your prayers and well wishes. It has continued to be a scary, lonely, and difficult time since radiation. I’m doing my best to focus on the wins here, rather than the unknowns, but it continues to prove challenging each and every day. Stage IV cancer sucks beyond belief, and I’m eternally grateful for my support system 💜

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Published by Lauren

Welcome! Thank you for being here! My name is Lauren Doyle. My husband and I have been married since 2013, and together since 2011. We have 2 wonderful kids and live in the Twin Cities suburbs. I have both a Master’s and a Doctorate and am a board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. I also have the student loans to prove it. In 2019 our lives were turned upside down. Our daughter was born with a serious heart defect that required open heart surgery when she was just 5 days old. A couple weeks after her birth (while she was still in the hospital), I found a mass in my abdomen which required major emergency surgery to remove. At first, we were told it was just a fibroid; we learned about a week later that the mass was a rare and aggressive type of cancer – leiomyosarcoma. Through multiple surgeries and chemo, I have come out the other side, changed in many ways. I am now considered Stage IV, with a chemo-induced heart condition, and struggle with several other severe side effects from treatments. I continue to work and live and love as best as I can. I will not claim to have all the answers about anything, but I can tell you I have learned a LOT in my 35+ years of life thus far. My passion has always been helping and educating people in whatever ways possible. I am hoping this blog will allow me to do that for a broader population beyond the patients I see at work, share my unique journey, and help keep friends and family in the loop along the way. Thank you again for being here.

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4 thoughts on “June/July Scans Update”

  1. Think of you so often and pray for you daily. You are so brave (even though you may not think so), and you handle all your trials with such grace. I hope and pray your energy level increases soon so you can enjoy some activities with your beautiful family. Hang in there!

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  2. Lauren,

    Prayers for you and your beautiful family. I love the picture of you all.

    I agree that your cancer sucks and it’s time for a turnaround. In my heart I know you can beat it.

    Keep up the fight.

    Prayers and a Big Hug.

    Love from Monica Indykiewicz

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