Jessica Walker

💕 The Latest Update 💕

My scans are in, and we have some amazing news! The lymph nodes that previously showed signs of cancer are now appearing normal. My oncology team said that if it weren’t for the biopsy marker, they wouldn’t even know there had been cancer there.

My MRI results showed a “significant reduction in size” of all of my tumors. One of them has decreased by more than half. 🥹💗

This is happy news. Amazing news!

And as I celebrate, I can’t help but think back to what I was originally told by Dartmouth oncology,

“Your kind of cancer won’t be affected by chemotherapy. If it does shrink the tumors, it won’t be by much

I try not to dwell on what ifs, but I can’t help wondering where I would be today if I had simply taken that first opinion at face value.

When I was scared and had no idea what I was doing, I trusted my gut. I went looking for answers and ultimately found my way to Dana-Farber.

The oncology team at Dana-Farber has been beyond amazing. Every time I needed answers, reassurance, or even just guidance in the right direction, they made me feel safe and heard.

From the moment I met them, I knew it was safe to give them my body while I focused on taking care of my soul.

And now, I’ll be putting my trust in them again on November 3rd, when I have my double mastectomy with flap reconstruction.

With my family and friends praying for me, standing beside me, and continuing to fight alongside me, I know I’m ready to conquer this next part of my journey.

But today, I’m not thinking about the next step.

Today, I’m celebrating. 🎉

Today I have nothing but amazing news to share.

Thank you all so much for continuing to fight with me and for me. Your love, prayers, messages, and support have carried me through more than you’ll ever know. 🌸.

I am officially DONE with IV chemotherapy! 💜

Treatment number 8 was a success, and I honestly can’t believe I can finally say that. One BIG step down. 🙌🏼

Tomorrow is another big day, I’ll meet with my breast surgeon and have a new ultrasound and MRI. Keeping our fingers crossed for some really good news.🤞🏼

The next step will be surgery in early November, followed by 5 weeks of radiation. One step at a time, but I’m so ready to keep moving forward.

I’ll share updates as I get my results and official surgery dates.

Thank you all so much for continuing to support me, check in on me, pray for me, encourage me, and walk alongside me through this journey. It truly means more than I could ever put into words.

One big step down. On to the next. 🌸

Treatment #5 — My First Taxol

Treatment #5 is officially in the books, and this one marked the beginning of the Taxol portion of my chemotherapy.

I was especially nervous going into this treatment because Taxol is known to cause some pretty severe allergic reactions. Thankfully, I made it through the infusion without having one, which was a huge relief.

Unfortunately, the following morning, I developed a delayed reaction. The skin on my face and neck became bright red, almost like a severe sunburn. It was incredibly itchy and had a burning sensation that was hard to ignore.

Thankfully, we already had an appointment at the hospital that day, so I was able to be seen by my oncology team right away. They gave me additional Benadryl and other medications to help calm the reaction. Even with treatment, it still took another five days for the redness, itching, and burning to finally subside.

The good news is that, overall, Taxol has brought fewer side effects so far. I haven’t had much pain or nausea, but my energy has been extremely low. I think some of that may simply be the accumulation of five treatments over the past couple of months. The naps are frequent, and my energy is definitely limited.

It’s been a strange balance — feeling physically better in some ways while also feeling more exhausted overall. I’m learning that recovery doesn’t always look like getting stronger every day. Sometimes it means giving my body the rest it needs and trusting that I’ll have more energy again when I’m ready.

One Taxol treatment down, three more to go.

For now, I’m reminding myself to keep moving forward, even when moving forward looks a little slower than I’d like. One treatment, one day, and one step at a time. 🌸

Treatment #4 🌸

My last dose of AC, aka the Red Devil, is officially done.

This one was a tough one. I felt like a sponge that was already completely saturated, and this treatment just pushed me past my limit. I could feel it in my gut, my head, my muscles everywhere. By the last hour in the chemo chair, I was so overwhelmed that all I could do was cry. I was already feeling tired and weak before I even left the chair.

But there is some really good news mixed in with all of that my tumors are continuing to shrink. 🩷 And that is something I’m holding onto tightly.

We also talked with my oncologist about what comes next: Taxol. I’ll be starting the last four rounds of chemo, with my final treatment planned for September 23rd.

I’m feeling nervous about this next part. There are a lot of possible side effects, including neuropathy, loss of my fingernails and toenails, and the possibility of an allergic reaction during treatment. But I think more than anything, it’s the unknown that makes me so nervous.

As hard as the Red Devil has been, I had finally gotten somewhat used to it. I knew what to expect and had learned how my body responded to it. Starting something new feels a little scary.

But I’m reminding myself I just have to take it one treatment at a time.

After chemo ends, I’ll have about four weeks before surgery.

For now, I’m just grateful to be halfway through chemo, grateful that the tumors are shrinking, and grateful that I get to keep moving forward. 💕

Chemo isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s just… heavy.

The last two days have been hard.

My body feels like it’s made of lead. Every muscle aches. Even my skin hurts to the touch. I have sores inside my nose and mouth. My ribs and lungs ache enough that something as simple as walking across the room or taking a deep breath feels like work.

This round has been especially hard physically because we decided to reduce my steroids. They were causing significant anxiety and making it nearly impossible to sleep, so we chose to prioritize my mental health this cycle. The tradeoff has been more fatigue, more aches, and a body that feels unbelievably heavy.

But I would choose it again.

Because while these physical symptoms are incredibly difficult, protecting my mental health matters too. Cancer doesn’t just affect the body—it affects the mind, and finding the right balance is part of this journey.

This is the side of cancer that people don’t always see. There aren’t always inspirational moments or milestones to celebrate. Sometimes the biggest accomplishment of the day is simply getting through it.

So today, I’m resting. I’m healing. And I’m trusting that every difficult day is one day closer to the end of this chapter.

Thank you for continuing to pray, send messages, check in, and carry me when I don’t have much strength of my own. It means more than I can ever put into words. 🌸

Treatment #3 Update 💕

Treatment #3 went smoothly, and the best news is that my tumors are continuing to shrink. ❤️ My white blood cell count is still looking great, and after talking with my oncology team, we decided to lower my steroid dose. It will likely mean a little more pain and fatigue, but hopefully much less anxiety and many more nights of real sleep. For me, that feels like the right trade-off.

This week I also met with my social worker and palliative care team. They listened, helped put more support in place, and reminded me that asking for help is part of healing too.

Today is day 3 after treatment, and for the first time in a while, I actually slept well.

I’m also doing something that feels incredibly brave.

I’m sharing pictures of myself without hair.

If you know me, you know I’ve never been comfortable in front of a camera. But somewhere in all of this, something unexpected has happened.

Instead of only seeing what cancer has taken away, I’m starting to see what is still here. I’ve noticed my eyes are such a beautiful shade of blue. I spent all three days in Boston without a hat or head covering, and for the first time in a very long time, I wasn’t trying to hide.

Strangely… I’ve felt beautiful.

Not because of my hair, but because I’m finding peace with the person looking back at me. Maybe even acceptance.

This journey is teaching me that progress isn’t just measured by shrinking tumors. Sometimes it’s measured by finding your way back to yourself.

One treatment at a time. 🌸

Treatment #3 update 💕

This week was full, but full of good conversations and small steps forward.

Day 1 was meeting with my new social worker. She was incredibly kind and made sure I have all the resources I need throughout treatment. I shared that my mental health has really been taking a hit, and we think the steroids have been playing a big role. She helped get me connected with both a psychiatrist and a therapist so I have more support moving forward.

Day 2 was chemo. It was a long day, but everything went smoothly. The best news is that my tumors are continuing to get smaller, and my white blood cell count is still looking good. ❤️

After talking with my oncology team, we decided to reduce the amount of steroids I receive with treatment. That likely means a little more pain, nausea, and fatigue, but hopefully much less anxiety and fewer sleepless nights. For me, that felt like the right trade-off.

Thursday was my palliative care appointment. Palliative care is about helping make treatment more manageable and improving quality of life while you’re going through it. We talked about increasing one of my anxiety medications when I need it, having a stronger pain medication available for the really rough days, and trying something to help me sleep. My provider really listened when I explained that medications make me nervous and that I only want to take what I truly need. He really made me feel heard.

Today is day 3 after treatment, and for the first time in a while, I actually slept well.

I’m definitely feeling more weakness and more pain without as many steroids, but I would rather know what my body is truly capable of than have steroids give me false energy, racing thoughts, and anxiety.

I’m also doing something that feels incredibly brave for me.

I’m sharing pictures of myself without hair.

If you know me, you know this is a really big deal. I’ve never been comfortable having my picture taken, let alone posting photos of myself. The thought of sharing one without hair would have once felt impossible.

But something unexpected has happened.

Somewhere in all of this, I’ve started to see myself differently. Instead of only seeing what cancer has taken away, I’m noticing what is still here. I’ve realized my eyes are such a beautiful shade of blue. I’ve spent all three days in Boston without a hat or head covering, and for the first time in a very long time, I wasn’t trying to hide.

Strangely, I’ve felt beautiful.

Not because of my hair or what I look like, but because I’m finding peace with the person looking back at me. Maybe even acceptance.

This journey continues to teach me that sometimes progress isn’t just shrinking tumors—it’s finding the balance that lets me feel more like myself.

One treatment at a time. 🌸

Yesterday was a good day. 🌸

I was able to get outside and just be. I even put a chair right in the pond and watched the girls swim. The breeze was beautiful, the sun was shining just right, and for a little while, life felt normal.

Even through week two’s mouth sores, bone pain, and the exhaustion that comes with treatment, I found joy. I found a little piece of myself in that moment.

I’ve also had some sweet friends stop by just to say hi. Those little visits mean more than people realize. For a little while, I get to forget about cancer. I get to laugh, talk, and feel like I’m just me again.

These moments may seem small, but right now they are everything. I’m learning to hold onto the good days, the little joys, and the reminders that there is still so much beauty in the middle of this fight. 💜