Jessica Dagley
Proud mom and loving wife
Case Manager for the Medicaid Waiver through Unity of Indiana
Greenwood, Indiana
Survivor of Salivary Duct Carcinoma
Jessica Dagley, a survivor of salivary duct carcinoma, is a loving wife and proud mom of three children and two sweet dogs.
In the summer of 2019, Jessica was feeling “off” so had bloodwork done. It came back normal, except her white blood cell count was in the lower range. Later she discovered a very hard lymph node in her neck. She made an appointment with her my family physician. During the examination, he felt the lymph node, and Jessica knew it was bad from the look on his face.
She had then had ultrasound done with an initial diagnosis of thyroid cancer since thyroid nodule was suspicious. A biopsy was then conducted, determining that it was not thyroid cancer, but some sort of salivary cancer.
On September of 2019, Jessica’s life changed when she was diagnosed with Stage 3b Salivary Duct Carcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. It usually affects older men. Jessica was 39 with kids ages: 11, 9 and 5.
Surgery was quickly scheduled to remove the tumor and the affected 15 lymph nodes. Since the cancer is rare, there was no clear-cut treatment plan.
Jessica consulted with several doctors and a treatment plan was developed, based on Dana Farber protocols of eight patients.
“My friend, Dr. Megan Marine, became my advocate and was trying tirelessly to find a clinical trial that I could participate in. Ultimately, she ended up finding this research at Dana Farber and spoke with the physician who conducted the research,” explained Jessica. “I had to just let go and trust that this was the plan for me, and it was going to work. But I thought quite often about my children growing up without their mother.”
Jessica’s treatment plan was radiation five days a week for 32 treatments and chemotherapy once a week for 18 weeks. Afterwards she was prescribed Herceptin, a drug generally used for breast cancer patients, for a year.
Radiation and chemotherapy quickly took their toll, especially in her mouth and throat.
“I had mucositis almost from the start, which is extremely painful sores and blisters in the mouth and throat. I had a very difficult time keeping my pain under control and eating became impossible,” said Jessica. “I lost around 30 lbs. and had to have a feeding tube, which I hated so much. One positive is that although the doctor said I would most likely lose my hair, but I did not. I even cut it very short to deal with losing it and never did.”
During Jessica’s treatment, the COVID-19 pandemic began, and she had to be extra cautious with her low white blood cell counts.
Her mom came to live with the Dagley’s, and they isolated together. Jessica was able to do her doctor’s appointments by telehealth but went to the hospital for treatments. “I went to my treatments alone, and I was ok with that because I did not want to put my mom or family at risk, but it was lonely. At the end of my treatment, I had a scan showing no cancer!” shared Jessica.
Approximately a year later, Jessica underwent another a scan, her doctor, Michael Moore, MD, IU Health noticed something on her lower jawbone. After a needle and open biopsy, it was determined that it was not cancer, but osteoradionecrosis. This is damaged, dying bone that can result from radiation. This was good news to Jessica as no further radiation or chemotherapy treatment was needed.
“Over the next few months, I had six crowns break and fall off. This would have been a huge financial burden, but my dentist, Dr. Timothy Adams, replaced all six at no cost,” added Jessica. “He is amazing, and we love him. In February 2023, I found out I had an infected lower right molar that needed extraction. After visits to my dentist, oral surgeon and Dr. Moore, there was a plan in place. I would need hyperbaric oxygen treatments before I could have the tooth extracted or the bone may not heal.”
For eight weeks, Jessica drove 30 minutes to the hospital and went to wound care, where the hyperbaric chambers are located. Each time, she spent 90 minutes in the chamber. Normally these medical visits to the hospital would take four hours.
“While in the chamber, I had the opportunity to catch up on Netflix, Ted Lasso and naps. I had only one day that I could not “dive” as they call it due to pressure in my ears,’ explained Jessica. “My nurses that monitored me were fantastic! After 30 sessions, I had the tooth extracted and then had 10 more sessions. So, 40 total treatments to try to heal the osteoradionecrosis. The area is still healing months later, but it is healing.”
Jessica is grateful to the people who made my experience as good as it could be: “I loved my doctors, nurses, family, friends, neighbors, and church for all they did and how they supported and loved my family. I am thankful for the opportunity to be an advocate for Head and Neck Cancer Awareness and share my story with others who may be experiencing something similar.”
After her cancer and dental challenges, Jessica is thrilled to share that she is doing well and cancer free!
