It seems I need to make the final update on this blog.
Jan passed away in the early hours of August 25, 2015. She had been watched over diligently by her son Chase, who made sure she stayed on top of her pain medication. Even with the shocking amount of pain killers she was on, it only kept her pain to a barely manageable amount.
In the end, she slipped away quickly and we're glad her final moments went fast as she was surrounded by family and her bishop.
Mom was laid to rest September 1, 2016 in the Midvale City Cemetery next to our Dad.
Knowing our Mom is out of so much pain and that she is reunited with our Dad gives us comfort. We're also comforted by our knowledge of the atonement and that we'll see them again. Our hearts hurt that we don't get to have Jan around to call and visit, but we know she'll be close, watching over us.
Thank you to all the help we've received, to everyone who came to help clean out her house. To the loving words and the shared grief. We know our Mom was loved, but it's been wonderful to see it.
God be with you til we meet again.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
8/17/16
Please forgive the lack of updates recently, we have had a lot to try and process.
We have returned home from a trip to Pineview Reservoir in Huntsville, UT and enjoyed some time together as a family. Before the trip, Jan had another CT to see where they were at. Since Mom was in a lot of pain after the last session of R-ICE chemo, her oncologist said another session would probably do more harm than good and decided not to schedule any more chemo.
Today we received the results of the CT and after spending time with Jan, and seeing the pain she was in, the results confirmed that the cancer did continue to grow while on the R-ICE chemo. In some places it doubled, some places stayed the same, there are new tumors in new places and some of the tumors were reduced in size.
On top of all of that information this morning, Jan was in a substantial amount of pain and was taken to the emergency room where it was suspected she could have a blood clot in her lung. They determined it was the tumors in her lungs and suggested she should begin home hospice care once she was discharged. They were able to get her pain under control and she is now resting at home.
With all the information we've received we know that her body can't withstand much more and that her time is short. Our hearts hurt but we believe that this life is not the end and we will see her again and that she will be reunited with our Dad which gives us peace.
While we all appreciate the amazing love and support we continue to receive, please know that Jan can no longer take calls or really text at this point. She is working on pain management and until it is under control please limit your calls to her at this time. If you have questions please contact Jessa or Kaitlyn. Thank you.
Love,
The Norton Family
We have returned home from a trip to Pineview Reservoir in Huntsville, UT and enjoyed some time together as a family. Before the trip, Jan had another CT to see where they were at. Since Mom was in a lot of pain after the last session of R-ICE chemo, her oncologist said another session would probably do more harm than good and decided not to schedule any more chemo.
Today we received the results of the CT and after spending time with Jan, and seeing the pain she was in, the results confirmed that the cancer did continue to grow while on the R-ICE chemo. In some places it doubled, some places stayed the same, there are new tumors in new places and some of the tumors were reduced in size.
On top of all of that information this morning, Jan was in a substantial amount of pain and was taken to the emergency room where it was suspected she could have a blood clot in her lung. They determined it was the tumors in her lungs and suggested she should begin home hospice care once she was discharged. They were able to get her pain under control and she is now resting at home.
With all the information we've received we know that her body can't withstand much more and that her time is short. Our hearts hurt but we believe that this life is not the end and we will see her again and that she will be reunited with our Dad which gives us peace.
While we all appreciate the amazing love and support we continue to receive, please know that Jan can no longer take calls or really text at this point. She is working on pain management and until it is under control please limit your calls to her at this time. If you have questions please contact Jessa or Kaitlyn. Thank you.
Love,
The Norton Family
Saturday, August 6, 2016
8/6/16
From Jan:
I'm sorry we haven't posted anything for a while. My family and I needed time to process the news we've been receiving.
Long story short, I'm not a candidate for a bone marrow transplant. There is just a 10% or less chance that it might slow down he growth of my very aggressive cancer. The transplant team told me that I have just weeks, maybe months to live. I'm still going through chemo to try to slow down the growth. I am currently recovering from my 2nd session of R-ICE chemo. It is very powerful and dangerous chemo. It's hard on my kidneys and my blood, so I have had a few blood transfusions lately. The most sessions I can have is 4, IF I can tolerate the side effects and IF the cancer doesn't continue to grow. My understanding is that a 5th session of R-ICE would kill me.
So, our family is planning on spending as much time together as possible while we can. We'll take lots of pictures and try to make as many memories as we can.
Yesterday through Monday are my roughest days this round. I'm nauseated and very tired. However, I still feel well enough to fix something simple to eat and clean up after myself so don't worry too much about me. I'm currently not in pain, so thats good. Thanks for all your kind thoughts and prayers.
I'm sorry we haven't posted anything for a while. My family and I needed time to process the news we've been receiving.
Long story short, I'm not a candidate for a bone marrow transplant. There is just a 10% or less chance that it might slow down he growth of my very aggressive cancer. The transplant team told me that I have just weeks, maybe months to live. I'm still going through chemo to try to slow down the growth. I am currently recovering from my 2nd session of R-ICE chemo. It is very powerful and dangerous chemo. It's hard on my kidneys and my blood, so I have had a few blood transfusions lately. The most sessions I can have is 4, IF I can tolerate the side effects and IF the cancer doesn't continue to grow. My understanding is that a 5th session of R-ICE would kill me.
So, our family is planning on spending as much time together as possible while we can. We'll take lots of pictures and try to make as many memories as we can.
Yesterday through Monday are my roughest days this round. I'm nauseated and very tired. However, I still feel well enough to fix something simple to eat and clean up after myself so don't worry too much about me. I'm currently not in pain, so thats good. Thanks for all your kind thoughts and prayers.
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
7/6/15 -Staying Positive
Hi, quick update on Jan:
While they are unsure why she lost 10 pounds, they gave her something for appetite and with fluids she's up over 20 pounds which they think is almost all water weight. She is swollen and a little uncomfortable. They're taking care of it though. And with her food allergies she's down to maybe 5 options for meals and she's over them already.
Since Jan doesn't have her appointment with the transplant team until the 14th, she's left without a lot of answers until then, and without answers it's easy for the mind to wander and worry. While we are all overwhelmed at the kind and wonderful people who are constantly willing to help and we understand good intentions, we are trying to keep positive until we have a better understanding of her situation.
A lot of people ask what they can do, if you want to visit Jan, you can always send a text to see if you can bring her another snack or meal option other than the hospital food? You can always send her something funny, laughter is always better than crying.
Since there is still a lot we don't know, we know it's best to stay positive and keep our heads up through this. We don't know the answer to a lot of hard questions right now, but we do know Jan is still here, still a Mom, Grandma, sister, and friend. and she needs a good laugh right about now.
Thanks again for the continued prayers and thoughts on our family's behalf.
While they are unsure why she lost 10 pounds, they gave her something for appetite and with fluids she's up over 20 pounds which they think is almost all water weight. She is swollen and a little uncomfortable. They're taking care of it though. And with her food allergies she's down to maybe 5 options for meals and she's over them already.
Since Jan doesn't have her appointment with the transplant team until the 14th, she's left without a lot of answers until then, and without answers it's easy for the mind to wander and worry. While we are all overwhelmed at the kind and wonderful people who are constantly willing to help and we understand good intentions, we are trying to keep positive until we have a better understanding of her situation.
A lot of people ask what they can do, if you want to visit Jan, you can always send a text to see if you can bring her another snack or meal option other than the hospital food? You can always send her something funny, laughter is always better than crying.
Since there is still a lot we don't know, we know it's best to stay positive and keep our heads up through this. We don't know the answer to a lot of hard questions right now, but we do know Jan is still here, still a Mom, Grandma, sister, and friend. and she needs a good laugh right about now.
Thanks again for the continued prayers and thoughts on our family's behalf.
Monday, July 4, 2016
7/4/16 - New Chemo
I'm in the hospital today through Friday to receive the new R-ICE chemo. It has more severe side effects than the last chemo. Confusion and kidney damage are a couple of the things they'll be watching for. They are having me drink 3 quarts of water all day and giving me medicines designed to protect my kidneys, but there is nothing they can do about the confusion but luckily there's a less than 5% chance of it. So if you come to visit me, it might be more entertaining than you bargained for. They're also concerned about my weight loss over the last week (10 pounds) and are giving me something to increase my hunger.
I need a couple favors once I'm released. If I get as sick and fatigued as they tell me I will, then I'll need someone to take me to my oncologist appointments on July 11 and July 18th at 2 pm.. Both appointments are just to check my blood so they should take less than an hour. Thank you.
I meet with the transplant team sometime on July 14th. For some reason I'm really scared for this appointment. Terrified. I'm probably going to be on Valium that day. My sister Jill is going with me so I won't be alone. I understand that they'll test my five siblings in hopes of finding a bone marrow match. I'm lucky I have a large family. I'm hoping they aren't looking at doing the transplant in the near future so I have some time to process everything they'll tell me. I understand I'd be in the hospital 5 weeks for it.
Thank you for your kind texts, emails and posts. Also thanks to all the people who've driven me to my chemo appointments and those who brought me dinner. It's wonderful to have such a great support system!
I need a couple favors once I'm released. If I get as sick and fatigued as they tell me I will, then I'll need someone to take me to my oncologist appointments on July 11 and July 18th at 2 pm.. Both appointments are just to check my blood so they should take less than an hour. Thank you.
I meet with the transplant team sometime on July 14th. For some reason I'm really scared for this appointment. Terrified. I'm probably going to be on Valium that day. My sister Jill is going with me so I won't be alone. I understand that they'll test my five siblings in hopes of finding a bone marrow match. I'm lucky I have a large family. I'm hoping they aren't looking at doing the transplant in the near future so I have some time to process everything they'll tell me. I understand I'd be in the hospital 5 weeks for it.
Thank you for your kind texts, emails and posts. Also thanks to all the people who've driven me to my chemo appointments and those who brought me dinner. It's wonderful to have such a great support system!
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
6/28/16 - Bad News
From Jan:
I'm not sure how to even start the blog post or what to say. There isn't a way to write it with a positive spin. It's just bad news.
So the CT scan showed that some of the tumors have shrunk, but others have grown. This means that the chemo isn't working. Furthermore, there are masses that are an advanced type called Metastatic disease that puts me in a more advanced stage of cancer.
When you get news like this, you are in shock and can't think of the questions you should ask. The oncologist was visibly upset about having to deliver such bad news. She said we are no longer hoping for a cure. Our only recourse is to put me on a more aggressive chemo that will make me very sick and to schedule me for a bone marrow transplant. She wanted me to go home and give it some thought because either way it's a death sentence.
My mother died after her bone marrow transplant and it was a horrible process that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. But my doctor said I had a 90% chance of surviving it. However there wouldn't be a chance that it would cure me. Just a 50% chance that it would put me in a temporary partial remission. Most people only go through a bone marrow transplant in hopes for a cure, so I am asking myself if it really is worth going through something so drastic with the only hope of a partial remission that won't last, and a 50% chance it won't work.
Right now we are waiting for the transplant team at LDS hospital to meet and discuss which chemo they want to switch me to. One kind would require me to be admitted to the hospital. The other would have me going for outpatient chemo 5 days every other week. Both will make me very sick. But the doctor has hopes that it would shrink the new stronger tumors.
I can't make a decision about not having the bone marrow transplant without more info, so I'll have to meet with their team. Just thinking about it upsets me. I also want to know how long I have if I don't opt to do the bone marrow transplant and what I could expect as far as pain, etc with that decision.
My son Chase is staying with me now until Thursday when my daughter Jessa will come. So I'm not alone. The new tumors are already causing me pain, so I need to figure out what course of action I'm going to take. Right now I'm leaning towards just chemo and no transplant. We'll see what I decide later after I meet with the bone marrow transplant team.
Your prayers would be appreciated. Thank you.
I'm not sure how to even start the blog post or what to say. There isn't a way to write it with a positive spin. It's just bad news.
So the CT scan showed that some of the tumors have shrunk, but others have grown. This means that the chemo isn't working. Furthermore, there are masses that are an advanced type called Metastatic disease that puts me in a more advanced stage of cancer.
When you get news like this, you are in shock and can't think of the questions you should ask. The oncologist was visibly upset about having to deliver such bad news. She said we are no longer hoping for a cure. Our only recourse is to put me on a more aggressive chemo that will make me very sick and to schedule me for a bone marrow transplant. She wanted me to go home and give it some thought because either way it's a death sentence.
My mother died after her bone marrow transplant and it was a horrible process that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. But my doctor said I had a 90% chance of surviving it. However there wouldn't be a chance that it would cure me. Just a 50% chance that it would put me in a temporary partial remission. Most people only go through a bone marrow transplant in hopes for a cure, so I am asking myself if it really is worth going through something so drastic with the only hope of a partial remission that won't last, and a 50% chance it won't work.
Right now we are waiting for the transplant team at LDS hospital to meet and discuss which chemo they want to switch me to. One kind would require me to be admitted to the hospital. The other would have me going for outpatient chemo 5 days every other week. Both will make me very sick. But the doctor has hopes that it would shrink the new stronger tumors.
I can't make a decision about not having the bone marrow transplant without more info, so I'll have to meet with their team. Just thinking about it upsets me. I also want to know how long I have if I don't opt to do the bone marrow transplant and what I could expect as far as pain, etc with that decision.
My son Chase is staying with me now until Thursday when my daughter Jessa will come. So I'm not alone. The new tumors are already causing me pain, so I need to figure out what course of action I'm going to take. Right now I'm leaning towards just chemo and no transplant. We'll see what I decide later after I meet with the bone marrow transplant team.
Your prayers would be appreciated. Thank you.
Monday, June 20, 2016
6/20/16
From Jan:
So Chemo round three is over and I didn't get sick. Not only did I not get sick, I didn't have the extreme fatigue days at all. I had a day or two when I took a couple short naps, but that was the worst of it.
The worst part of my symptoms is shaking. I hate it. My hands shake so much that typing is next to impossible, and my handwriting is illegible. Putting on mascara is difficult, so I only venture to put it on my top lashes. Eyeliner is difficult too. I look forward to the day that my hands and fingers will no longer shake and bounce all over the place. We think that it is a side effect from the nausea drugs - but it is just a guess. I haven't talked to anyone else who has the same symptoms.
So- Chemo Round Four starts Monday. My son, Chase is thinking about coming up for my first days of chemo. I hope he can make it, because I need rides to chemo and he could take me every day. My daughter Jessa and granddaughter Emery will be coming that Friday through the 4th of July, so that is something to look forward to.
Thank you to everyone who brought me meals. I can't thank you enough. I'm in better shape now to prepare or go get my own dinners now, but that was wonderful to receive meals each night.
So Chemo round three is over and I didn't get sick. Not only did I not get sick, I didn't have the extreme fatigue days at all. I had a day or two when I took a couple short naps, but that was the worst of it.
The worst part of my symptoms is shaking. I hate it. My hands shake so much that typing is next to impossible, and my handwriting is illegible. Putting on mascara is difficult, so I only venture to put it on my top lashes. Eyeliner is difficult too. I look forward to the day that my hands and fingers will no longer shake and bounce all over the place. We think that it is a side effect from the nausea drugs - but it is just a guess. I haven't talked to anyone else who has the same symptoms.
So- Chemo Round Four starts Monday. My son, Chase is thinking about coming up for my first days of chemo. I hope he can make it, because I need rides to chemo and he could take me every day. My daughter Jessa and granddaughter Emery will be coming that Friday through the 4th of July, so that is something to look forward to.
Thank you to everyone who brought me meals. I can't thank you enough. I'm in better shape now to prepare or go get my own dinners now, but that was wonderful to receive meals each night.
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