“My doctors, nurses, and radiation technicians became the steady hands and soft voices that got me through. They didn’t just treat my body, they tended to my spirit.”
For Jennifer Caputo of Kinnelon, life as a teacher, wife, and mother was full and busy. She loved her work in the classroom and treasured time with her husband and two children. But in August 2007, her world shifted dramatically when she learned she had cervical cancer.
At that time, Jennifer had been experiencing periodic hemorrhaging for nearly 18 months. Tests were inconclusive, and her symptoms had been brushed off as perimenopause. But Jennifer trusted her instincts. “I knew my body, and I kept saying something wasn’t right,” she says.
After seeking more answers and undergoing multiple different tests, she was finally referred to Thad Denehy, MD, Section Chief of Gynecological Oncology at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center. Dr. Denehy conducted more tests, including two biopsies and imaging scans, and confirmed her diagnosis as cancer.
“I wasn’t afraid,” said Jennifer. “It was more like, ‘We’ll deal with it.’”
“Jennifer was highly aware of her own health,” Dr. Denehy recalls. “Her persistence in seeking answers made all the difference. By the time we confirmed the diagnosis, her cancer was still confined to the cervix, and that gave us options for her treatment plan.”
“Dr. Denehy was my rock star,” Jennifer said. “He’s the coolest, loveliest, most professional, kind, and compassionate doctor. He’s at the top of the list in our family. He’s the reason I’m here today.”
Jennifer’s treatment plan included chemotherapy, in addition to external and internal radiation to shrink the tumor before having a total hysterectomy. She spent two separate weeks in the hospital receiving 24/7 chemotherapy infusions, while also being transported across the hospital daily for radiation treatments.
“It wasn’t pretty,” Jennifer admits. “I was bedridden. I wore Depends. I had little control over my body. I was often too weak to walk. It was messy, exhausting, and deeply personal.”
Through it all, Jennifer’s family stood firmly by her side. Her husband, Steve, a retired police detective, was with her at every appointment and treatment. “He never showed his worry in front of me, but I know he carried it.” Their daughter Brady, now a nurse, and son Drew, a former Navy canine officer, were young at the time. “I thought of them constantly. I wanted to see them grow up. That was my motivation,” Jennifer added.
Jennifer remembers one moment in particular. “At one appointment, my husband asked Dr. Denehy if I would survive this. And he said, ‘She’s going to see her kids walk down the aisle, don’t you worry.’ Two years ago, I did. Our daughter got married, and I thought back to that moment and how much it meant to us.”
“When people ask how I stayed so positive, I tell them the truth. I didn’t always feel physically strong, but I chose to believe I would be okay,” Jennifer shared. “I thought about others who had it worse. I made faces at myself in the mirror just to get a smile. I whispered prayers for myself and my husband, kids, and parents. I reminded my body and my spirit every single day: You’re going to be okay.”
Despite the physical toll and Jennifer trying to stay positive for herself and her family, she also credits the CBMC care team for helping sustain her through the darkest days. “The experience was intense. It was humbling, and it cracked me wide open. Through it all, I was held by the most unconditional, compassionate care.”
“My doctors, nurses, and radiation technicians became the steady hands and soft voices that got me through. They didn’t just treat my body, they tended to my spirit. And it wasn’t just them. The people who cleaned my room, the transporters who gently wheeled me to treatment each day, each one added light to a very dark time. Their kindness was constant, and their presence was healing. I’ll never forget it,” Jennifer shared. “That kindness mattered more than they’ll ever know. It made me feel human, even in the hardest moments.”
Two members of her care team, radiation technicians, Kelly and John, left such an impression on her that Jennifer even considered changing careers. “They were so good at their jobs, that I actually thought about becoming a radiation tech myself, just so I could do for others what they did for me.”
Her radiation oncologist, Raquel Wagman, MD, also left a lasting impression. “She was my angel,” Jennifer said. “She had such a sweet demeanor. Everything about her was calming and peaceful.”
“Our goal was to not only treat Jennifer’s cancer, but to support her as a whole person,” shared Dr. Wagman. “Her strength and resilience inspired our entire team every single day.”
Since her hysterectomy, Jennifer has been cancer-free and feeling great. Other than her routine annual checkup, no other treatment is necessary.
Now retired after 25 years of teaching, Jennifer is an educational wellness coach.
“What could have been the worst time of my life became one of the most tremendous,” Jennifer said. “I don’t like the word ‘survivor’ because I journeyed through cancer. And that journey gave me tools to help others find calm and strength in their own lives.”
To learn more about cancer care at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, go to rwjbh.org/cbmccancer.
For an appointment call 844-CANCERNJ.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with the Gynecologic Cancer & Pelvic Surgery team at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, call 844.226.2376.
Coming Soon: Melchiorre Cancer Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
The Melchiorre Cancer Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center is an outpatient facility on CBMC’s campus that will serve as the northern hub for the integrated oncology services offered by RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Learn more at rwjbh.org/cbmccancercenter.