Jenn & Buck Griffin- Living with Leiomyosarcoma

Many of you already know that my sister, Jenn Jordan Griffin, was diagnosed with cancer this spring. Thank God when Jenn thought something wasn't right, she called her doctor right away. Within 5 days she had blood work, an ultrasound, and a doctor's appointment. Four weeks later she had a biopsy of the fibroid that was discovered on the ultrasound. Several courses of treatment were discussed, with Jenn quickly deciding on a hysterectomy at the end of June (she always said that once you're done with it, it should be taken out as it just causes problems later on-and she was right!)

When the local pathologist was unable to differentiate the cells, the sample was sent out to Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston where one of the top pathologists in the country had the same difficulty. Her doctor referred her to a local oncologist, on the off chance that this was cancer. Jenn asked what kind of cancer was she looking at, and leiomyosarcoma was the answer. The doctor stated that she and Buck shouldn't be too concerned, that it is rare, 6 in 1 million, but that it is very aggressive and can double in size in just 4 weeks. Upon hearing that, Jenn talked it through with Buck and decided that if it was this rare and aggressive cancer, Memorial Sloan Kettering was really the only choice.

In April she and Buck met with her surgeon, the Chief of Gynecology at Sloan, and set up the surgery for 2 weeks later. The surgery went well, and within a few days they were back at home. Jenn spent her recovery with their new chocolate lab puppies, Bailey and Ella.

On May 5th, Jenn and Buck got the call from the surgeon that it was leiomyosarcoma. Fortunately, it hadn't spread and everything was removed. Recurrence rates are high, 50-70% usually within the first 2 years and with high cell division rates, like Jenn's, usually within 8-12 months in the lungs or liver. The 5 year mortality rates are 40-60%. So it's not good. There is no chemo or radiation as they don't prove effective in stopping a recurrence.

Jenn and Buck kept her diagnosis private while they were getting used to knowing that cancer is now part of their everyday lives. They’ve only recently shared their situation. Jenn was planning to return to work for the last 3 weeks of school, but just wasn't ready for that.

The money that is raised will be used to pay for the hotel bills, transportation, and anything else directly related to Buck and Jenn's travel to Sloan for the appointments and surgery, plus the future travels to NYC every 4 months for exams and to Westchester every 3 months for CT scans and blood work. Her scans last week were all clear, so everyone is breathing a little deeper for now.

I know that Jenn & Buck greatly appreciate those that reached out to them, via text and calls, and the restaurant gift cards that they've received. Your continued prayers and positive thoughts for Jenn's continued health are so important.

Thank you all so much.