Well, it is true. Cancer really sucks.

I have been going into my oncologist office every 4 weeks for labs since radiation ended to see how my targeted treatment is working. My numbers continued to look good in February but on my March 29th appointment, my cancer marker was the highest it has ever been. That along with me having some right sided rib pain (I believed on my 7th or 8th rib) for the past three weeks made my oncologist push my PET scan sooner to April 3rd. On April 5th my oncologist’s office called me in for an appointment to go over my scan. My original bone met in my left hip was reported that it had “essentially resolved”, thank you radiation for doing your job, yay! However, I now have 23 new areas of metabolic activity which essentially means 23 new tumors in my bones. More than half of them are in my spine, a handful in my ribs including my right 7th and 8th rib (at least I am a good PT and know my anatomy), my right hip and right femur. It is still just spreading to my bones, no organs yet which is a big praise.

Obviously, this is not the news we wanted. How did it spread to so many places within a handful of weeks? My oncologist believes I may have the ESR1 mutation which after doing some research occurs in 30% of people with my type of cancer and treatment plan, ugh cancer sucks. Of course, the test to find out if I have this mutation takes up to 2 weeks to get the results back so we are currently in the waiting period but should know soon. If it is the mutation, there is a targeted treatment for it called Orserdu which came out within the past 2 years. If it not the mutation, my oncologist will put me on a chemo pill to try to shrink these tumors. The waiting is the hardest on us.

I was planning on updating everyone once we had the results in for the mutation but my big bro, Bryan Hodges, posted the sweetest prayer request recently which may have caused some of yall to start wondering if something had changed with my health. As he said in his post, I care so much about all my friends and family and I want to protect yall from the pain that this disease causes. He made me realize I need to be more willing to let everyone in and pray over me. Galatians 6:2 says to “carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” This is one of the reason I started this blog, with the help of my sister, Stephanie Riordan, because I am terrible with technology but I never posted it back in February as intended. God has blessed me tremendously with amazing parents, siblings, husband, beautiful children, in-laws, coworkers and friends that care so deeply for me so walk with me through this journey as we pray for healing over my body.

Finding 1 tumor that metastasized is scary but I know our medicine is good and being in the medical field I have seen much worse. But now knowing I have 23 tumors that spread so quickly is terrifying.  My verse I would repeat during chemotherapy back in 2021 was James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” I count everyday as a blessing and am so thankful my pain is minimal. God has showed up in so many ways throughout this journey and I know that no matter what, in the end his plan is greater than mine and he is a good God.

Due to my first line of treatment, Kisqali, not working and having a dramatic progression, I have set up an appointment with MD Anderson on May 15th for a second opinion to be on their radar if any clinical trials were to come up that would benefit me. I am also starting to work with a functional medicine/holistic team to be able to attack this thing from all directions and get to the root cause. The holistic route is not covered by insurance and some of the treatments or therapies they recommend can be expensive. That is why my community group at church has been brainstorming ideas to help us out. Below are a few different ways to help support us if you feel led. I am overwhelmed by all the text, donations and support over these past few days and just feel so blessed to have such a great community surrounding me. Let this also be a reminder to be kind to one another, you never know what battle someone is walking through even if they look completely normal on the outside. Love yall!

You can go to Jennifer’s website to book a time slot if you’d like to reserve a mini session!

https://jenniferlkirkphotography.com/mini-sessions

Need some kitchen gear? Ordering through this link will give 27-34% (depending on total sales) to Britt!

https://www.pamperedchef.com/party/brittbeatscancer

As well as a place to donate, that my coworker set up in January while I was going through radiation. http://spot.fund/w4njqsc

God’s hand in my Journey

• We leave to go on our Manda Strong Foundation family trip to Disney World at the end of the month

• Manda Strong Foundation has connected me with some amazing moms with cancer in the area, even one that lives 5’ away from us with MBC. Her story is amazing follow it here https://robinhansoncancerjournal.wordpress.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1usYDisl0RkvXGHr6wGXySrI2784DmK_m3tE1XicH0vMl6LZBzMamxeac_aem_AS0DirO53exrZCywdAUwQTvdqDtntRRNjQwHaP4MfKt9tJ2uVrVCrS0uvVqBGualVNFa8fFv_GmWb0DS7tYL1KMO

• Tom and I were able to go to a conference by Young Survival Coalition in March to learn and meet other women who were diagnosed with breast cancer under 40. I met several women who have been living with metastatic breast cancer for years and gave us so much hope as well as new friendships.

• My tumor on my hip is pretty much gone with radiation- it was a more metabolically active tumor than all my current ones, so glad to have that one gone.

• Pain is minimal to my right ribs still and my low back with too much heavy lifting.

• A photographer in our neighborhood chose our family to gift pictures to for a mommy and me session after hearing about our story, see the preview pics we received by Ocean Grand Photography

Prayer Requests

• Pray that we get answers about this possible mutation by the end of the week to determine next steps

• We haven’t ever told the kids about me having cancer. However, now that I am having some pain we are starting to talk to them that “mommy has boo-boos on her bones” so that they will be more gentle with me and not rough house or expect me to pick them up too much. This is really hard. I know they can sense something is off and their emotions have been showing it lately. Pray for them.

• We have been debating what is best for me to do with my job. I am currently working 24 hoursish a week and I love what I do. However, it can be pretty physical. Pray for wise decision making about my work and childcare situation.

• Pray for continued minimal pain

• Pray for continued strength for Tom and I as we walk through the roller coaster of emotions this diagnosis causes for us as we try to be the best parents to our precious triplet blessing.