Colorado native Jenn Sebesta is a force to be reckoned with. Jenn is an upbeat wife and mother of three who grabs life by the horns. In December 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic and four days after her 29th birthday, Jenn was diagnosed with endocervical adenocarcinoma cancer. After a recommendation from her OB/GYN, Jenn became a patient of Dr. Robin Lacour, a Gynecological Oncologist, at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at North Colorado Medical Center.
What started as a group of cells eventually grew into a tumor approximately 5 cm in size by January 2021. “Anytime you hear the word cancer, it’s very scary. But Lacour told me she would have a huge team looking at my tumor case. That helped relieve everything.” For Jenn, this support system helped her get through her treatment process both emotionally and mentally. Jenn points out that this special patient-doctor relationship began as soon as she started treatment when issues with her insurance company arose. During this time, she knew Banner MD Anderson was the best cancer center for her and her needs.
As a patient of Dr. Lacour’s, Jenn was able to take advantage of the clinic’s care team, which includes multiple social workers, supportive care doctors who help treat symptoms, and an Onco-Psychologist who specializes in psychological issues cancer patients may have. Dr. Lacour became the foundation for the support shown to Jenn, “Lacour is always walking by you while you’re doing your treatment, checking on you, asking how you’re doing.” These encouraging conversations Dr. Lacour has with her patients help create positive relationships with other doctors accessible to patients. Jenn talks about how Dr. Singh, her Radiation Oncologist, never hesitated to be by her side, even when it came to staying in the operating room with her to ensure the hospital team adequately met her anesthesiology needs.
The support provided to Jenn and her family didn’t just stop with the care team. Jenn joyously recalls how even the office and nursing staff not only knew her by name and gave her encouraging words before treatment sessions but would also check on her outside of her scheduled appointments. She also remembers when the survivorship care provider, who patients typically see once treatment is complete, sat with her and her husband even though Jenn had not previously met this specific provider. “It’s like a close family once you get in there. They know you; they know your tumor case. Everybody is working together to make you feel more at home and comfortable.”
Providing this level of support is vital to Dr. Lacour simply due to the frequency of treatments a patient may receive. In Jenn’s case, her treatment process included weekly visits, sometimes daily, for five to six weeks. And while Jenn received support from Dr. Lacour and her team, she received just as much support from home. She notes that her husband Jeff supported, encouraged her, and cared for her every step of the way. “He was there for every treatment, every step of the way, from the first visit with Lacour.” He reminded Jenn to be open and honest about her feelings with Lacour and her team. Jenn could call Lacour’s team expressing concern about her pain, and the care team would work to get her in with her pain doctor. Jeff also quickly took the reins at home, managing household responsibilities and taking care of their three children. Despite all the hardships she would experience during treatment, Jenn knew she had to fight through it, “It was a matter of I needed to do this, I have three children, and they needed Mom. I needed to do it.”
For her post-chemo journey, Jenn is on a surveillance plan for five years; she will see Dr. Lacour every 3-6 months for five years. Jenn is happy to state that the supportive environment created by Lacour and her care team has not wavered since she’s in post-treatment, “It is still very much a close-knit family. If she didn’t have that support team, I don’t think it would have gone as smoothly as it did.” Many of the nurses still reach out to see how she’s doing. And for Jenn, this support means the world when she’s experiencing bad days. “A lot of people say oh, you look healthy, you look fine. Yes, but I still deal with the aftereffects."
Despite the ups and downs of her diagnosis, treatment process, and current post-chemo plans, Jenn remains optimistic. She has a new outlook on life and a desire to live each day to the fullest, even changing how she plans to achieve her goals. “I want to start traveling and going places, seeing life more. I started looking for the beauty in life and not taking things for granted.”
Jenn now seeks to be an example of survival and a voice of encouragement for others receiving treatment, “I beat it. I know every cancer is different, and it’s going to be rough, but you can do it. It’s not a death sentence; it’s a reset on your body that will make you stronger and better.” Jenn also hopes to inform others of the benefits of being a patient at Banner simply because of the team-oriented atmosphere and level of support they provide. “They’re not just doctors, nurses, and office people. They will go to bat for everyone for everything.”