Support Kelly Alexander's Fight Against Cervical Cancer

Update for week #5

Another surgery this morning. I am just about to the end of my regular radiation treatments, but still have localized internal radiation treatments for 2 weeks. In order for that to happen, today I have to have a smit sleeve placed internally on my cervix.

A smit sleeve is a disposable, silicone-based tube that's sewn into the cervical canal for brachytherapy treatments. Almost like a straw where the radiation rod can be inserted to be sure the radiation is going to the exact spot needed.

This is probably TMI for some, but I have been very transparent during my treatment, so figured this is no different. The more you know....

If you've got an extra prayer for me this morning, I would appreciate it!

#cervicalcancerjourney #themoreyouknow #chemo #radiation

My name is Kerri and I am Kelly Alexander's sister.

Many of you know Kelly as the Cheer Mom, Scentsy Lady, or the crafty and talented mom to Baylee, Kassidy, and Macy, and a loving wife to Shane of 24 years. But, I know Kelly as a stong, brave and beautiful loving person to everyone she meets.

My sister was recently diagnosed with Cervical Cancer the day before her 50th birthday on September 14th. She did not tell our family until she had time to process it all...finally sharing the news with our parents and my family three weeks later. She was bearing the weight and pain with her kids and Shane by her side on her birthday weekend. It was supposed to be a fun celebration, but instead she was keeping this bottled up and did want to even celebrate except for a family dinner.

Kelly has recently been given the medical plan of 6 weeks of chemo and radiation simultaneously, followed up with more 2-3 more weeks of localized radiation to the affected area. They will wait 8-12 weeks afterwards to do more scans to check to see if the cancer has shrunk or not, and re-plan at that time.

We all know how tiring and stressful this is for anyone, and I expect it to be for her as well, because she strives on her Scentsy business to serve her customers and with how involved she is with Macy's HS Cheer and the Booster Club. My oldest niece, Baylee, is in Nursing School Kassidy is also in college at Tarleton State University, and Macy is in her senior year and will also be attending Tarleton State after graduation.

She never wants anyone to feel sorry for her, or think she is trying to get attention, nor does she like to ask for help EVER...but the financial burden of medical expenses are flying in. As you can imagine, the cost is just going to go up with 8 weeks of chemo and radiation up next. It's just a LOT with two kids in college.

Please do not feel obligated to donate, your prayers are more than enough and are very much appreciated as well!

Here is Kelly’s story she shared on Facebook on November 11th:

"I have some unfortunate, and quite honestly, shocking news to share. I'll just get right to it, and if you'd like to read the story, I'll include it below. ❤️

Back in September, the day before my 50th birthday, I was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer. I hadn't shared until now, because I had to go through lots of scans, mri, petscan, procedure in the OR to finally get a plan for me. Now that a plan is set, and people are starting to find out, I just want to let everyone know that I will be starting chemo & radiation on Monday the 18th. Any prayers you can spare for me while on this long journey ahead is much appreciated. It's been a whirlwind of emotions for myself, Shane, our girls and my immediate family. ❤️

Backstory (long):

End of August, I went for a checkup with the PA that I see. While she was doing my gyn exam, she found a one inch size lesion on my cervix and when she swabbed me, it started bleeding. This caused some concern, obviously, and she sent me to a new gynecologist, as my previous one moved 2 years ago. Went to the appt with the new dr and she fully believed that it was nothing of concern, that we just caught my body during a time it was healing and inflamed, as that is what our bodies do. She did a biopsy "just in case" but she felt it would be nothing.

My Dr knew I was going on a birthday cruise trip, and she was going to call me with results after we got back, but the results were loaded to my patient portal and an email came through while we were in port in Cozumel. Anxious, but thinking it would be clear, I opened the email and I read the word "carcinoma" and felt panic set in. We got home a couple days later, and the day before my birthday, my Dr called to tell me that she was SHOCKED at the results, and she really thought it was nothing to be concerned about. She apologized probably 8 times and you could hear the concern in her voice. Happy Dang Birthday to me!

I was sent to an oncologist, who sent me for an mri and a petscan to be sure the cancer had not spread to any other parts of my body, thankfully it is NOT metastatic! The results from the scans weren't enough to make a confident plan for me yet, so we had to do what is called a cold knife conization in the OR two weeks ago. That biopsy came back and showed the cervical cancer laterally on my cervix, but also inside the vaginal wall (sorry, tmi), which the scans did not show very well. It was originally suggested I would probably have a hysterectomy and/or chemo & radiation, but because the cancer is also in a second area, that would mean removing all my girl parts and lowering my bladder is the way I understand it. After that, I would STILL need chemo & radiation. So, for the best curative care with the same outcome, and to not put my body through all that trauma surgery, it is best to just go straight to chemo & radiation.

I will be starting this coming Monday. Chemo once a week for 5 or 6 weeks and radiation every day M-F at the same time. Then a couple more weeks of localized internal radiation.

That's it, you're all caught up to the appts I had today to go over the radiation treatment and learn about how chemo works and possible side effects. Next thing is going to get my port put in, waiting on the Dr office to call to schedule that.

I'm nervous, anxious, sad, mad. All the feelings that Ive been keeping in for 2 months. I can finally share what has been going on, and ask for any and all prayers you can send my way.

Thanks for reading, if you got this far! Love you all!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️"