New mom fights cancer

COLUMBUS — Her ear kept popping. Annoying, but she was pregnant and had more things to think about than that popping.

It was during Jenna’s pregnancy the annoying popping in her ear started. It had been popping all day, every day for three months before she relented and went to the doctor, which led to the discovery of papillary thyroid cancer.

It was back on Sept. 1 when Jenna Clark had that ear popping checked out. After being told her ear looked fine, a thorough exam discovered the nodule in her neck. Dr. Nila Novotny performed a fine needle aspiration biopsy and a week later shared the bad news — it was cancer. All this while carrying Gavin, the second of her and her husband Patrick’s children. Grady is the couple’s active 3 year old.

A week later, Sept. 15, she had surgery to remove the lump, which resulted in a total thyroidectomy and more bad news, it had spread to the lymph nodes.

“If not for that exam they might not have found it as soon,” Jenna said. “I don’t know if I would have gone to the doctor if I wasn’t pregnant. It was a miracle. That’s what the doctor said the day he was born.”

The baby, who had yet to be formally introduced to his mother and father, had already saved her.

Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009

What? Did she just say cancer? Now? While I’m pregnant? What about my baby boy? Seriously ... cancer? I’m 25.

Jenna’s Journal

“That was probably the worse week of all this. It was all a whirlwind,” Jenna said. “

But the timing was perfect.

“It was right on the cusp. He (Gavin) was in the second trimester. If he had been in the third trimester it (the surgery) might have been too risky,” Patrick said.

Because Jenna was carrying Gavin, cancer treatment was put on hold. Following the total thyroidectomy, she was put on synthroid, a medication designed to replace the thyroid hormone her body was no longer able to make on its own. She was on medication, but the combination of being pregnant and fighting cancer left her drained.

“It was hard not being able to do the things I normally do, not being able to help,” Jenna said.

But then something happened that the young Gothenburg couple did not expect — an outpouring of community support. It came through prayer, words of encouragement, food, baby-sitters, letters and kind words.

“There have been so many people in the community, our church family and schools,” Jenna said.

Patrick, 28, teaches and coaches at Columbus High School, where administrators and colleagues have stepped up to help cover his classes when he needed to be with Jenna at a doctor appointment.

Burger bash proceeds have gone to help defray escalating medical costs and football players sported ribbons with “Jenna” printed on them at their final home game of the season. Jenna’s work place, the Center for Survivors, has been a great support. Scotus Central Catholic, where Jenna leads Building Healthy Relationship groups, also has reached out to help and offer support.

“So many people have been behind us and helped us with anything we needed. We really feel like we are home now,” Jenna said.

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009

The good thing about thyroid cancer is that even if the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it typically remains thyroid cancer and doesn’t transform to another type, or at least so I understand. This is important b/c, in cases like mine, we know the cancer has spread, however, we are unsure to what degree. Thyroid cancer can travel to other areas of your body such as lungs or bones without causing any symptoms that would alert you of this. Surgery was obviously our first step to treat the cancer, but it is not enough to get rid of it completely. So, once Baby Clark arrives, we will begin moving forward. I will be taken off of my current medication and over the course of 6 weeks the goal is to deplete my body of all thyroid stimulating hormones so the radio-iodine can do its job.

Jenna’s Journal

From September until Gavin’s birth Dec. 2, the Clark’s life was doctors’ appointments here and in Norfolk, where she will receive treatment for the cancer, and trying to arrange schedules so Jenna could rest and Patrick could work and take care of Grady. Family and friends created a revolving door of support.

But with Gavin’s arrival, Jenna could get started on her cancer treatment, which started with her going off the medication in order to rid her body of the thyroid-stimulating hormones (TSH). That process is needed in order for the radio-iodine treatments to work most effectively.

The kicker is that without the medication, Jenna is zapped. She requires a lot of sleep, which adds to her anxiety about not being able to be the mom she want to be.

On top of everything the Clarks have gone through, Gavin has had his share of stomach troubles, which makes him fussy, but he will grow out of it.

“Patrick has the night duty. I want to be able to help,” Jenna said, “but I have had to accept help from other people.”

Jenna and Patrick admit they had always been self-reliant, so being able to admit they need help and accept it has been a good life lesson for them.

“I’m a prideful person and like to do things myself,” Patrick said.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Five days ago marked the beginning of two huge events in our lives; the birth of our sweet baby Gavin and the beginning of going forward with the treatment process.

As soon as they placed Gavin on my chest I cried. I cried tears of absolute joy and relief that Gavin was here, in my arms. I cried tears of sorrow knowing that it would only be a matter of weeks before I would have to remove myself from him. I cried tears of praise knowing that God had helped us get this far. I cried tears of thanks to God for Gavin — if it wasn’t for him, I may not have gone to the doctor in the first place. So many emotions that I almost didn’t notice the pain I was still in. :) Almost.

Jenna’s Journal

Prior to Christmas the process to start the cancer treatment began. Jenna’s TSH levels began to rise and recently reached a level that indicated her body was ready to receive treatment.

She will have a a full body scan to see if the cancer has spread — it has reached her lymph nodes — and than travel to Norfolk to receive radio-iodine treatments, which, she said, consists of a pill designed to destroy any thyroid tissue left in the body or to treat cancer cells found throughout the her body. She will be released that day, but will spend a week in the home of friends.

“I will stay in a Columbus home (while the owners are away) because I will be radioactive, and I can’t expose my family to that,” Jenna said.

Patrick will be able to visit in a couple days following the treatment, but the boys will not see Mom for a week. She will then get back on her thyroid medication.

Six months later the process will be repeated, although, hopefully, without having to be given another round of radio-iodine.

After a doctor’s appointment Monday Jenna was ready to start treatment, only to get a phone call later that it would likely be next week before it gets under way. She will receive a small dose of radio-iodine and a full body scan Friday prior to the trip to Norfolk for the full treatment. Another delay, but the Clarks are old pros at this by now.

Her prognosis is excellent.

“Because of my age with papillary cancer, the five-year survival rate is very good,” Jenna said. “The process to get there is tough. I’m doing better than I was initially. It was a shock and tough to take in, with so much going on at once.”

Jenna has kept a journal of the experience through CaringBridge.org, which is a free, personalized Web site for family and friends during a serious health event.

“It started out as a way to give medical updates without having to e-mail or text everyone,” she said. But it’s been therapeutic for me.”

It also has been a source of support for Jenna and for others, who have relayed their stories to her.

“I get letters in the mail that make my day. They give you an extra boost in your step, and they always arrive on days I need them most,” Jenna said.

Monday, Jan. 18, 2010

... like I said before, this time I am going to do this right. I know I need to rest, so I am taking others up on their offers to help. This time, I will let others walk beside me as we finish this race because it is a doozy. Thankfully though, I know my heavenly Father is already carrying me along as much as possible and He is letting the rest of you help Him, as He helps me. Thank you.

Jenna’s Journal