Where is Jennifer now? 'Take My Tumor' patient dumps boyfriend after cancerous tumor ruined sex life
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jennifer's mass had swelled to about 6 lbs by the time she went to the 'Take My Tumor' doctor, leaving her unable to work on the farm and too self-conscious to have sex with her boyfriend Bill. However, when she eventually had the growth removed, her confidence skyrocketed.
"I feel really good," she remarked. Jennifer ended her relationship with Bill just a few weeks after her operation, but they remain friends. She stated, "Before when I had the tumor, being intimate wasn't really on my radar too much. I didn't give it a lot of thought. And now that I don't have the tumor, it's very freeing."
One week after her surgery, Dr Kimberly Moore Dalal contacted Jennifer with the pathology findings: her tumor was malignant.
The lump was diagnosed as a single fibrous tumor, an uncommon soft tissue development. While these growths can appear anywhere in the body, they are most frequently found in the lining around the lungs. Jennifer's tumor was identified as a soft tissue sarcoma, a malignancy that impacts muscles, tendons, fat, lymph nodes, and blood vessels.
Despite the finding, Dr Dalal believes Jennifer is on the path to healing because the entire tumor was removed. However, she ordered further body scans to detect whether the disease had spread.
Three months later, Jennifer was relieved to learn that fresh tests had revealed she was cancer-free. She stated, "There has been a dramatic improvement in the quality of my life since the tumor was removed. I feel so different now. I feel lighter. My confidence level is through the roof."
Jennifer resumed hiking and spending time with her friends after the tumor was removed. She stated, "It feels amazing to be able to get out into nature. I have so much energy. It feels incredible… I feel like I was given a gift of renewed life."
Who is Jennifer on 'Take My Tumor'?
Jennifer, who had a watermelon-sized tumor that prevented her from being amorous with her lover, was "given the gift of renewed life" after the lump was removed. The 56-year-old from Coarsegold, California, noticed a patch developing on the right side of her abdomen in 2014, and it "exploded in size" in 2019.
Jennifer stated on the most recent episode of TLC's 'Take My Tumor' that she had never received a correct diagnosis of her tumor. When she saw a doctor in 2019, the doctor was startled and didn't know who to refer Jennifer to. Jennifer went on to say, "[In 2019] that's about when it got kind of scary for me."
Determined to reclaim her life, the ranch owner found surgical oncologist Dr Dalal, who was able to remove the tumor. Jennifer went on to say, "Things like this affect you in a different way than you would ever imagine psychologically."
The 5.74-pound tumor significantly disrupted her life. She could no longer enjoy her beloved hiking trails with her dog and partner, work around the farm they owned, bend down, or lift heavy objects. It also made walking for long periods difficult.
Jennifer also stated that the tumor had a "greatly" negative impact on their relationship since it devastated her confidence and made her feel very self-conscious around her husband. The tumor made her feel unattractive, and the couple's distance increased as the lump expanded. She believed that eliminating the bulk would help her self-esteem.
What happened to Jennifer on 'Take My Tumor?
Jennifer drove to San Francisco for her operation, where she met with Dr Dalal, the medical director of surgical oncology at Sutter Health Mills Peninsula Hospital. After examining Jennifer, Dr Dalal became concerned about the veins flowing through the growth and informed her that the tumor may be a rare kind of cancer.
She stated that it should be removed as soon as possible and sent for testing. Jennifer stated, "Once it stares you in the face, the possibilities of it being cancerous, it's just emotional. Her examining me and it being addressed and finally getting it done, you know, it's kind of overwhelming, I guess."
On the day of surgery, Dr. Dalal informed Jennifer that her objective was to remove the whole mass, including some healthy tissue surrounding the tumor, to ensure complete removal and prevent the tumor from recurring, given concerns that it was a rare malignancy. However, cutting further into Jennifer's muscles resulted in a more painful recovery.
While the treatment was rather straightforward, the huge veins and blood vessels throughout the tumor bled more than the surgeon anticipated. Dr Dalal said that because the tumor was so enormous, it formed its blood supply.When the surgical team hit a vein, blood squirted out onto the operating room floor. Dr. Dalal mentioned that there was more bleeding than expected, but she was able to remove the entire tumor.
Who is Dr Kimberly Moore Dalal in 'Take My Tumor'?
Dr. Dalal is a fellowship-trained surgical oncologist at Sutter's Palo Alto Medical Foundation in Burlingame, California, with over 20 years of experience. She previously served as a surgeon in the military services.
She earned a BA in Biology from Harvard University before receiving her PhD from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In 2019, she delivered a TED Talk about women in surgery.
'Take My Tumor' airs on Wednesdays on TLC at 10 pm ET.
