A Personal Journey with Cancer: Strength, Family, and Hope

Last October, I became part of a club I never wanted to join. As a 40-year-old wife, mother of a toddler, and a journalist with Fox News for 15 years, I found myself facing a cancer diagnosis. It was just after my birthday that I learned I had metastatic appendiceal cancer.

The news left me stunned. As my oncologist explained the treatment plan and possible side effects, I felt a mix of fear, despair, anger, even betrayal. How could my body betray me like this?

Looking back, dull pains in my abdomen started as early as June. I dismissed them, thinking it was diet-related, until the pain worsened. My doctor, suspecting a dietary issue, ordered a CT scan just in case. Fortunately, she did.

That evening, she called with surprising urgency, advising me to see a gynecological oncologist. It was potentially ovarian cancer. Alone with my daughter, the possibility of cancer filled me with dread and uncertainty.

I reached out to Dr. Nicole Saphier, a trusted radiologist. She confirmed the likelihood of cancer, but the specifics were unclear. Within days, I visited an oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering, and after a month of tests, a rare diagnosis was confirmed.

Previously, during my pregnancy, I experienced a rare lung disease requiring emergency surgery. My daughter, whom I call my “angel baby,” inspires me with her presence.

I couldn’t fathom having another rare disease, but it wasn’t linked to my previous lung condition.

Facing treatment, I chose not to harvest eggs before chemotherapy. Blessed with a healthy daughter, my priority was immediate treatment. I am now undergoing chemotherapy, seven rounds completed with five remaining. Likely, further surgery will follow.

Despite the brutal nature of chemotherapy, I bounce back quickly between treatments. I manage to enjoy about ten days of normalcy after each infusion. Those days are crucial for my mental and physical health. My family and I savor life, organizing small celebrations to keep spirits high.

I believe in the mind’s power over the body. Each morning, I thank God for feeling well enough to live my life and care for my energetic toddler. Faith over fear is my mantra, though it’s a constant challenge.

Gaining strength from my daughter and cousin Kelsey, I realize how miraculous life can be. Kelsey’s triumph over childhood cancer and later breast cancer inspires me.

A cancer diagnosis, while life-altering, does not define me. I’ve spent 40 years without it. I’m a mother, wife, journalist, and lover of the outdoors. Despite being a cancer patient now, I hold onto the hope of becoming a cancer conqueror one day.