My younger sister, Beth Lingenfelter Ebert, started her Colon cancer journey in 2024. She is now in her second round of chemo as it was revealed at her 6 month post chemo checked up that more cancer was found.

As you know this journey takes its toll not only on you emotionally and physically, but financially as well. Beth is not working and her husband, Todd, is a retired disabled Veteran.

From my sister …..

Cancer a second time….

To be honest, I said a few times during my first go around with cancer to my husband, Todd; in a practical manner … I’ll die from this because we all know it’s never one and done with cancer. I’m a realist… I want to know information in a real way, prepare myself in a real way and deal with real possibilities. Did I believe what I said to him? Yes, sure did. Did I think my cancer would come back so quickly, nope sure didn’t. Was I in shock yes and no. was I devastated, depressed and numb… absolutely. I shed a lot of tears and I know it was okay to work through those emotions. Do I believe the Lord continually has me in His hands… yes, absolutely. Was my humanity getting the best of me. Yes.

I say I was not totally surprised because my blood markers kept going up. Clue number one that cancer is still present. At almost 6 months you have a follow up CT scan with contrast and mine came back with an enlarged lymph node in my retroperitoneal area, basically between my organs and back. Based on those results, we met with my oncologist and scheduled my first PET scan. The PET scan is designed to light up any areas with cancer by reacting to the radioactive tracer they give by injection. Mine showed my cancer had indeed metastasized to my liver and that lymph node. Well, waiting for the PET scan results my doctor also requested that my first cancer sample be tested to find out exactly what treatment would be best for me. Radiation, immunotherapy, chemotherapy. After those things were complete about two weeks later we found out chemotherapy would be the best to treat me for a second time. And at that point, my blood markers for cancer also took a big leap. As my doctor described it, I had a very aggressive return. In fact, it probably was never cured the first time, but it was to minute to be detected . Until the time it was found again after it had grown.

As with many of the new health systems, you can see your result of testing online before you even go back to the doctors office or before they call you. Sometimes that can be a blessing in a curse, knowing awful news, but also being able to think about what could be coming your way. I’m the type of person who likes to know what’s going on, even though I may not understand every detail and think through possibilities. I like to be able to ask questions and prepare. At this point, my oncologist knows me really well and he knows I don’t want anything sugar coated about our situation. I say our situation because Todd is my constant leading man in every way possible to support me and deal with this beast.

Let me interject a reality check about my human nature and how I deal with it. During the testing time and the blood work, I honestly was very very depressed. I didn’t feel like taking care of myself, I certainly didn’t want to do chemotherapy again I felt guilty. Was there something I could’ve done to help myself more than I did? I felt angry because I had a certain expectation about how things would go after the first go around and it didn’t happen. I also had a lot of anxiety due to the financial stress that having cancer puts not on only the patient, but also the patient’s family. I personally think, besides the thought that you may die from this disease that the stress of financial pressure is equally devastating to anyone who has cancer for the second time(anytime).The first time you went through it you beat it or you thought you beat it and you’ve used your resources sometimes as in my case, all of our resources. I was ready to go back to work and I gave notice to my work that I was available. Unfortunately, they never assigned me any working hours and that’s another story. And I looked and applied so many places for other jobs with the intention of all right I’m feeling good. I’m ready to go back to work, but during that time, I literally only had one interview. However, at the point where I found out that I had the second cancer, my original job contacted me and said oh yeah we can really use you now and I had to tell them I’m sorry that’s too little too late because again I have to fight for my life. In hindsight, I see, I believe that the Lord was putting me in a holding pattern. I do believe that, the Lord took care of us through the whole first go round with chemotherapy, treatment and recovery. However at this point, doing this again we’ve really used up any resources and we’re not eligible for other help because we’re just too “rich” and poor at the same time.

Todd and I decided this time around to be direct everyone and put it out on social media. I had revealed my truth about colon cancer in March 2025 during CRC Awareness Month. This time around I realized we first we needed the power of prayer to get through this time and also because I think it’s important to be realistic about what you’re doing dealing with. In my mind, if I can help one person understand what it’s like to have cancer and to go through chemotherapy or honestly any extremely difficult situation then I think it is worth me sharing my story. The drugs they used to cure cancer not only kill your bad cells, but they kill your good cells too. During chemo you just feel weak, fatigued, and you just feel so unwell. As I write this I just finished my third cycle and it certainly has been better than the first or second one but it’s really taken a toll on me physically. I can honestly say that I physically, emotionally and spiritually; am not the same person. Every day I am some good some bad and I’d say it varies with each minute that passes.

Yes, I can fight this and do it again. Do I wanna fight this and do it again? Not so much but sometimes you have to pull up your big girl pants and deal. Or as I told a friend about the “beast” I’m gonna straighten my crown and move forward with the whole armor of God. I(we) sure could use some help though. Prayers, encouraging messages and yes financial help.

I will have an update in the next few weeks about my progress in the fight and thank you to everyone who supports me(us) in any way, shape or form. Please feel free to follow me on facebook for treatment updates as well.