Team Jocelyn's Warrior Campaign
Donation protected
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” C. Reeve
Jocelyn’s Cancer Journey
Anyone who crosses paths with Jocelyn and her infectious laugh, knows she is gifted with an amazing spirit. Most would have no idea that for the past 13 years she’s been battling an extremely rare and incurable cancer. She is very private about her journey even though it has taken her (and her loved ones) on an emotional, physical, and financial roller coaster.
In May of 2003, at the age of 24, the first tumor (the size of a small nerf football) was found and quickly removed from her liver, along with the left lobe of her liver, her gallbladder and her appendix. The pathology of the tumor revealed she had a cancer as unique as she is, called Amphicrine (or adenocarcinoid.) The cancer is a combination of Carcinoid (rare and slow growing tumors - similar to Steve Job’s cancer) and adenocarcinoma (more aggressive) in the same cell. The pathology also showed that this tumor did not originate in her liver and was a metastasis (they have yet to find the primary tumor.) Within a year after her liver surgery, the cancer then metastasized to her lungs. The rarity of her diagnosis proved challenging to treat, and from ’04 –’15 she had FIVE separate lung surgeries to remove tumors which resulted in the removal of her right middle lobe and several wedge resections in both lungs.
Cancer is a word nobody wants to hear. Incurable is a life sentence that takes an unbelievably strong person to keep trucking. But she has… EVERY SINGLE DAY. She has inspired us with her grace, resilience, incredible attitude, and she is the one who keeps everyone else positive. Jocelyn is also the one who will always tell you “it’s just another part of the journey.”
Jocelyn’s nephew, Seth, kissing her belly after her liver surgery.
To try to sum up everything she has been through the past 13 years is impossible. She tried numerous chemotherapies and suffered the unfair side effects: rashes, neuropathy, losing all of her hair right before her wedding, depression, exhaustion… but the most devastating side effect is the simple fact that not one of them ever worked. Most people don’t know that she has been on treatment every day for most of those years. She has given herself injections (three times per week of one medication and every other week of another medication) for the past eight years to try to stabilize the cancer. She has traveled to LA, Kentucky, and soon to be NY every 4 months with her husband for scans with her oncologist, specializing in her rare cancer, with the constant anxiety of when the next tumor may show its ugly face. These words from her oncologist are unbearable to swallow: It’s not a matter of “if” another tumor will appear, it’s a matter of “when” and “where”… and will we be able to operate?
Jocelyn’s Current Fight
And that brings us to her current situation and why we want to share her story to rally everyone to support Jocelyn. She started coughing and wheezing in November of last year, but was relieved when her pulmonologist said it was “only” bronchitis. But shortly after came the devastating news that we all hoped would never happen: there is a large mass on her left lung, and it is surrounding her pulmonary artery which means it is inoperable. The oncologists and lung surgeon explained that her entire left lung would most likely need to be removed because of the location of the tumor: 100% oxygen dependent… possible tracheotomy… very scary and very real risks and complications, especially considering her right lung is no longer at full capacity after all her surgeries. This tumor is much more aggressive than any of her other tumors and grew to the size of a ping pong ball in less than four months.
The unforgiving news continued to hit hard: she is not a candidate for a lung transplant because of her metastatic cancer. But even more heartbreaking was the look on Jocelyn’s face and the fear in her eyes as the reality sunk in for her. This is completely life-altering news that doesn’t seem real for a person who completed a half marathon, rallied us all for every cancer walk/hike/run/relay out there, and exercises 5-6 times per week.
Every time her cancer has reappeared it has been an awful gut-wrenching feeling. However, this time is different. It is a different that we all feel. We have cried together. We have had the snot-nosed, pissed-off, “it’s not fair” tears of anger. We have been scared together… really scared.
Support Warrior Jocelyn
And now we will take a stand together to support our hero, Jocelyn. It is difficult to put into words the awe we have watching Jocelyn take this news and turn it into an extraordinary empowering experience. She agreed to try a “hail-mary” chemo for eight weeks to see if it may shrink the tumor before her next lung scan (mid-March) in order to avoid surgery. But she also decided she’s taking her health and life into her own hands. We have witnessed her cancer-warrior attitude over the years, but this time she is in full beast-mode. And instead of asking “why” is this happening, she started asking “why not” fight this asshole head-on, on my terms.
She armed herself with non-stop research, consulted with alternative medical experts, eats a vegan/mostly raw diet, all organic green and carrot juices, numerous special supplements, IV Vitamin C and immune system treatments, infrared saunas, exercise… the list goes on and on. But so does her will to fight. And so does our admiration for her doing EVERY damn thing in her power to win this war on cancer. It is amazing how her positive attitude has lifted every person around her to not only want to cheer her on, but also join in and be part of this incredible testament of the power of the human spirit.
Obviously, the costs of surgeries, deductibles/co-pays, medications, travel to see her oncologist, and staying healthy has been a constant financial burden over the years. But now the cost of additional therapies and alternative medicines in conjunction with her chemo is upwards of $6,000/month. She’s doing all the work, and trust us… she’s putting in 100% of the blood, sweat, and tears to stay healthy.
In Jocelyn’s own words: “I want to do everything in my power to KICK MY CANCER’S ASS!!!!!”
Knowledge is power. And if you had one look at the books, documentaries, binders full of research and information she’s collected, refrigerator full of vegetables and juicing therapies, and pages of regimens and protocols she’s following – you would agree she’s earned her PhD in kicking ass!
Please help us fund her fight
There are so many friends and family who have asked how they can support Jocelyn. We know the helpless feeling of not knowing the right thing to say or do to make the situation better. She is so appreciative of all the positive thoughts, prayers, high-fives, love and encouragement. She would say that is MORE than enough. However, we say any amount you can spare to help support Jocelyn (even if it’s $5)… will help to ease the financial stress of this warrior-effort to succeed in proving the doctor’s wrong. We want all of her energy to be focused on getting healthy and beating cancer, not worrying about the cost to do it.
“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” C. Mills
It is difficult to set a specific goal as her journey is an ongoing process and we don’t know at this time what other alternative methods she may need in addition to her current treatments. Our warrior has researched clinics that specialize in alternative approaches to fighting cancer and while they have promising results, they are very costly.
Gratitude
She is certainly someone who will pay it forward. She does every day. Just talk to her for five minutes and she will inspire you. We just hope that she realizes that while she is fighting for her life… she has been changing ours. She is making all those around her better people because of the beautiful light she radiates.
We are so grateful for your support and we know this will truly make a positive impact on Jocelyn’s journey to beat cancer! Go Team Joc!
We are so thankful for Jocelyn’s amazing hubby, Kevin, who has been by her side since the very beginning (they had only been dating for six months when she was first diagnosed) and he has been fighting with her every step of the way. We want you to know how much we love and support you, too.
As you can imagine this has been extremely difficult for her parents to watch their child go through this, and her sister LeeAnn just wants her little sister to get better. Our love, support, and prayers are with Jocelyn's family and Kevin's family.
And of course, Boston, who has been her biggest fan and source of comfort for more than 12 years!
Jocelyn's friends love her to the moon and back and we will be fighting with her, too!
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”
Much love and gratitude,
Team Joc
Jocelyn’s Cancer Journey
Anyone who crosses paths with Jocelyn and her infectious laugh, knows she is gifted with an amazing spirit. Most would have no idea that for the past 13 years she’s been battling an extremely rare and incurable cancer. She is very private about her journey even though it has taken her (and her loved ones) on an emotional, physical, and financial roller coaster.
In May of 2003, at the age of 24, the first tumor (the size of a small nerf football) was found and quickly removed from her liver, along with the left lobe of her liver, her gallbladder and her appendix. The pathology of the tumor revealed she had a cancer as unique as she is, called Amphicrine (or adenocarcinoid.) The cancer is a combination of Carcinoid (rare and slow growing tumors - similar to Steve Job’s cancer) and adenocarcinoma (more aggressive) in the same cell. The pathology also showed that this tumor did not originate in her liver and was a metastasis (they have yet to find the primary tumor.) Within a year after her liver surgery, the cancer then metastasized to her lungs. The rarity of her diagnosis proved challenging to treat, and from ’04 –’15 she had FIVE separate lung surgeries to remove tumors which resulted in the removal of her right middle lobe and several wedge resections in both lungs.
Cancer is a word nobody wants to hear. Incurable is a life sentence that takes an unbelievably strong person to keep trucking. But she has… EVERY SINGLE DAY. She has inspired us with her grace, resilience, incredible attitude, and she is the one who keeps everyone else positive. Jocelyn is also the one who will always tell you “it’s just another part of the journey.”
Jocelyn’s nephew, Seth, kissing her belly after her liver surgery.To try to sum up everything she has been through the past 13 years is impossible. She tried numerous chemotherapies and suffered the unfair side effects: rashes, neuropathy, losing all of her hair right before her wedding, depression, exhaustion… but the most devastating side effect is the simple fact that not one of them ever worked. Most people don’t know that she has been on treatment every day for most of those years. She has given herself injections (three times per week of one medication and every other week of another medication) for the past eight years to try to stabilize the cancer. She has traveled to LA, Kentucky, and soon to be NY every 4 months with her husband for scans with her oncologist, specializing in her rare cancer, with the constant anxiety of when the next tumor may show its ugly face. These words from her oncologist are unbearable to swallow: It’s not a matter of “if” another tumor will appear, it’s a matter of “when” and “where”… and will we be able to operate?
Jocelyn’s Current Fight
And that brings us to her current situation and why we want to share her story to rally everyone to support Jocelyn. She started coughing and wheezing in November of last year, but was relieved when her pulmonologist said it was “only” bronchitis. But shortly after came the devastating news that we all hoped would never happen: there is a large mass on her left lung, and it is surrounding her pulmonary artery which means it is inoperable. The oncologists and lung surgeon explained that her entire left lung would most likely need to be removed because of the location of the tumor: 100% oxygen dependent… possible tracheotomy… very scary and very real risks and complications, especially considering her right lung is no longer at full capacity after all her surgeries. This tumor is much more aggressive than any of her other tumors and grew to the size of a ping pong ball in less than four months.
The unforgiving news continued to hit hard: she is not a candidate for a lung transplant because of her metastatic cancer. But even more heartbreaking was the look on Jocelyn’s face and the fear in her eyes as the reality sunk in for her. This is completely life-altering news that doesn’t seem real for a person who completed a half marathon, rallied us all for every cancer walk/hike/run/relay out there, and exercises 5-6 times per week.
Every time her cancer has reappeared it has been an awful gut-wrenching feeling. However, this time is different. It is a different that we all feel. We have cried together. We have had the snot-nosed, pissed-off, “it’s not fair” tears of anger. We have been scared together… really scared.
Support Warrior Jocelyn
And now we will take a stand together to support our hero, Jocelyn. It is difficult to put into words the awe we have watching Jocelyn take this news and turn it into an extraordinary empowering experience. She agreed to try a “hail-mary” chemo for eight weeks to see if it may shrink the tumor before her next lung scan (mid-March) in order to avoid surgery. But she also decided she’s taking her health and life into her own hands. We have witnessed her cancer-warrior attitude over the years, but this time she is in full beast-mode. And instead of asking “why” is this happening, she started asking “why not” fight this asshole head-on, on my terms.
She armed herself with non-stop research, consulted with alternative medical experts, eats a vegan/mostly raw diet, all organic green and carrot juices, numerous special supplements, IV Vitamin C and immune system treatments, infrared saunas, exercise… the list goes on and on. But so does her will to fight. And so does our admiration for her doing EVERY damn thing in her power to win this war on cancer. It is amazing how her positive attitude has lifted every person around her to not only want to cheer her on, but also join in and be part of this incredible testament of the power of the human spirit.
Obviously, the costs of surgeries, deductibles/co-pays, medications, travel to see her oncologist, and staying healthy has been a constant financial burden over the years. But now the cost of additional therapies and alternative medicines in conjunction with her chemo is upwards of $6,000/month. She’s doing all the work, and trust us… she’s putting in 100% of the blood, sweat, and tears to stay healthy.
In Jocelyn’s own words: “I want to do everything in my power to KICK MY CANCER’S ASS!!!!!”
Knowledge is power. And if you had one look at the books, documentaries, binders full of research and information she’s collected, refrigerator full of vegetables and juicing therapies, and pages of regimens and protocols she’s following – you would agree she’s earned her PhD in kicking ass!
Please help us fund her fight
There are so many friends and family who have asked how they can support Jocelyn. We know the helpless feeling of not knowing the right thing to say or do to make the situation better. She is so appreciative of all the positive thoughts, prayers, high-fives, love and encouragement. She would say that is MORE than enough. However, we say any amount you can spare to help support Jocelyn (even if it’s $5)… will help to ease the financial stress of this warrior-effort to succeed in proving the doctor’s wrong. We want all of her energy to be focused on getting healthy and beating cancer, not worrying about the cost to do it.
“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” C. Mills
It is difficult to set a specific goal as her journey is an ongoing process and we don’t know at this time what other alternative methods she may need in addition to her current treatments. Our warrior has researched clinics that specialize in alternative approaches to fighting cancer and while they have promising results, they are very costly.
Gratitude
She is certainly someone who will pay it forward. She does every day. Just talk to her for five minutes and she will inspire you. We just hope that she realizes that while she is fighting for her life… she has been changing ours. She is making all those around her better people because of the beautiful light she radiates.
We are so grateful for your support and we know this will truly make a positive impact on Jocelyn’s journey to beat cancer! Go Team Joc!
We are so thankful for Jocelyn’s amazing hubby, Kevin, who has been by her side since the very beginning (they had only been dating for six months when she was first diagnosed) and he has been fighting with her every step of the way. We want you to know how much we love and support you, too.As you can imagine this has been extremely difficult for her parents to watch their child go through this, and her sister LeeAnn just wants her little sister to get better. Our love, support, and prayers are with Jocelyn's family and Kevin's family.And of course, Boston, who has been her biggest fan and source of comfort for more than 12 years!Jocelyn's friends love her to the moon and back and we will be fighting with her, too!“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”
Much love and gratitude,
Team Joc
Organizer and beneficiary
Lindsay St. Clair
Organizer
Phoenix, AZ
Jocelyn McCarthy
Beneficiary
