Rosie's Cancer Journey

Just another adventure…

recent posts

  • Halfway there

    I think it is finally safe to say that I am halfway through chemo. I have 3 rounds down, 3 more to go. I still have chemo every three weeks. My next one is on January 5.

    This round hit me last Friday afternoon. By Saturday, I felt like I had the flu again. It lasted through this morning, and then I started to feel better and improved quickly. There are still a few lingering symptoms, a touch of nausea here and there. But if it goes like before, I should be good now until the next round!

    When it starts to hit, I tend to not respond to messages or calls. I really do not feel well and have found that in order to get through, I need to shut out everything else. There isn’t much that can be done except for to get through it. I feel kinda bad about the silence, but this is a lesson in self care that I’m practicing. One of many.

    I spent the sick days literally sitting there doing nothing at times because I couldn’t even focus on a TV show or an audiobook. When I could focus on something short, I scrolled Insta, watched rubbish (I’m a few seasons behind on “90 Day Fiance”), and saw some bad movies (“Oh. What. Fun.” is the one that comes to mind… Why don’t they have phones? Or know how to look up a credit card charge?) I made the mistake of watching “The Family Stone”. It’s a solid holiday rom-com, but maybe not the best choice for me right now given one of the characters’ stories, IYKYK.

    And now, the holidays and the main holiday that our family celebrates, Christmas, is upon us. Although we (my husband and I) haven’t been in the best of spirits, we are really trying. Every single day. That’s all we have. I know that I have to remind myself of this all day long, especially when I’m sick. It can be depressing and sad.

    I tend to interact with a lot of positive content on my Instagram feed, and this is one of the sayings that came up for me yesterday that I shared to my story. A lesson in gratefulness, even in the most difficult time. It’s really true! I’m so glad I haven’t forgotten this yet. If I ever do, send help!

    And when I do start to feel better, like now, I start to make plans again. I work outside. I work inside. I am slower and my stamina is definitely not where it was before, but I have a lot to do. I socialize and visit! I try to do all of the things to fill up my soul and get ready for the next time.

    Happy Christmas. ❤️

  • Chemo – Round 3

    I had my 3rd of 6 infusions on Monday. I am supposed to expect that the effects of this round will be more like round 2, which means I will start to feel lethargic this Thursday through Sunday, then I might have flu-like symptoms for a couple of days, and start to feel better after that, maybe in time for Christmas. I got hives again after my last post, but it was manageable. My white blood count has dropped, but I’m still in the expected range, although immunocompromised, so I need to avoid anyone that is sick. And the reason I’m up again so early today? Steroids. Ugh! I even took Benadryl which at least helped me sleep for 5 hours. The steroids won that battle! These are a some of the things I just have to work through to keep fighting cancer.

    The holidays this year are difficult due to sickness, grief deaths of close loved ones and loss, and also empty nesting with 3 of our 4 kids no longer living at home or nearby anymore. Traveling to visit family is not an option at this point. But we have plans after Christmas to attend and host a couple of celebrations, which is great because by then I should be feeling better. And thank goodness for technology so we can keep in touch with those we can’t be with physically, and we can still talk to loved ones in spirit. Some days, or even moments, will be hard, and some not so hard. All we can do is find ways to cope through it.

    Another side effect of chemo that I have managed to avoid so far is neuropathy. During my chemo infusion, I suck on ice chips to help with mouth sores, and put ice mitts on my hands and feet. It is freezing! But worth it as it seems to be helping. Here is a funny picture that Jeff took of me during that process on Monday.

  • Chemo Round 2: Another Update

    I got hit hard with flu-like symptoms yesterday. Body aches and sleepiness. I couldn’t stay awake. I was watching TV and would have to stop and nap frequently. I could barely even listen to my audiobook. Everything took so much effort. I have never experienced this kind of fatigue before! I slept in this morning and have been laying low all day today, but I was able to concentrate today and got some computer projects completed. I believe I am on the road to recovering from Round 2.

    Also, sometimes I look in the mirror and just can’t believe I have cancer. Not because of how I physically feel, but more of an identity thing. One day, I will be a breast cancer survivor. That seems so strange to me because this is something that happens to other people. But it is happening to me. And it is curious to me that I haven’t digested this yet.

  • Chemo Round 2: Update

    I’m lethargic and have low energy. I’m getting wiped out pretty quickly after doing much of anything. But that said, things are much better than the last round. My stomach is acting better today. I’m not having an allergic reaction. My throat doesn’t hurt. No hives. I’ll take it! I have an echocardiogram tomorrow because they want to keep tabs on my heart.

    Things that have helped:

    • Chewing on ice chips during the chemo infusion
    • Icing hands and feet during the chemo infusion
    • Taking Pepcid and Claritin
    • Taking Benadryl before chemo infusion.
    • Not eating late and eating small meals
    • Drinking electrolytes daily and drinking lots of water
    • Staying prepared with having everything on hand
    • Knowing my body
    • Having a good support system
    • Not overdoing it! (which can be tough)

  • Chemo Round 2

    I had round 2 of chemo on Monday. They gave me less of one of the meds in hopes I have a better response this time. I felt great yesterday. Today, I woke up with a sore throat similar to last time. I still plan to go to work because it’s not that bad yet. Sleep is currently rough due to the steroids but I have a feeling as soon as I start tapering those, I may crash again and get super sleepy and fatigued like last time, also. All in all, I’m still hopeful that this round will not be worse than the first round was.

    Thank you to my friend, Polly, who sat with me and picked me up so Jeff could handle work emergencies. And grateful that our daughter Ocean is in town and could get me the rest of the way home and spend time with me that night.

    My port infection has cleared up, too. They were able to use that for my chemo infusion on Monday. I am happy about that!

    My hair is really gone now. The shaved look has gone to patchy bald. I wear hats. I bought a pink wig off Amazon that I’m debating on wearing today for celebrity spirit day! But I’m not sure I’m ready for that attention! 😂 I tell the kids at school that the medicine I have to take mades my hair fall out and I avoid the “C” word.

    I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Even in hard times, there is still always so much to be grateful for. ❤️

    Love,

    Rose

  • Hair Loss & and Another Trip to Urgent Care

    A common side effect of the chemo I am taking is hair loss. On Wednesday morning in the shower, my hair started coming out in chunks, right about when I was told it would. Jeff got out his razor and shaved my head for me.

    One of the teachers at our school surprised me today when he shaved his head in solidarity. (I wasn’t wearing my glasses because I was bawling of course!) Thank you, Will.

    The area around my port started getting red so I had to make a trip to urgent care this afternoon. They did blood work, gave me an IV antibiotic, and sent me home with a prescription antibiotic. My mood? 😠 I’m over it with all of the fighting infections and viruses. But haha, no I’m not! Because I just got started.

    In summary, I’m bald. I have the best support system. And one day at a time, right? Here is hoping all is well for round 2 of chemo on Monday.

  • Feeling Better – Yay!

    I’m feeling much better today. I hope this means I’m in for a good week. If you don’t hear from me on here for now, I’m getting stuff done and doing fun things before my next chemo treatment on 11/24. ❤️

  • Benefits Should Be Ok For Now

    I got clarification. I should have no problem hitting the threshold to get my benefits because as it turns out, I need to work X amount of hours in a school year, which started for me in August, versus a calendar year. And that actually, makes a lot of sense.

    ❤️

  • IV Fluids, Love, and Prayers All Help

    After using a steroid inhaler, my voice came back just enough for me to work yesterday morning. It is still not 100% but much improved. I work in a school office, so I need my voice in order to do my job.

    I really love my job. My coworkers put together this amazing gift basket for me. I’m not even sure how to begin to thank everyone. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and love, and this is a wonderful feeling to have when you are going through something like this.

    In the afternoon, I drove to Capitol Hill where my doctor is located to get IV fluids. Wow, I feel so much better after that! I’m starting electrolytes today in hopes this helps. And yesterday, and today, I’m eating rice and protein shakes. I had a handful of yogurt covered blueberries last night, and while tasty, they too, made my stomach turn. A Tummy Pop from the gift basket helped with that as well.

    I also filled out my FMLA paperwork and was told I am not covered. My dad was really sick and passed away in June. I took a lot of time off to care for him and help him with appointments and hospital visits. Much of that was paid time off but I had to take unpaid time. And I work at a school, so I have summer off as well. There is a requirement to work X many days to be covered. Because of that, I could lose my benefits if I take much more unpaid time. I am still trying to understand all of this and I have to sit down and look at it all. Washington State offers paid medical leave so technically it isn’t unpaid for me because I qualify for that. But if it is unpaid through my employer, then that’s what will ding me, and I think I have just used up all of my paid time off. I’m hoping I can make it through the next round of chemo without a whammy and fill out the paperwork again right after I meet the threshold. Talk about scary! This round was not easy.

    And yes, there are a lot of feelings that come up with me around this and how I got to this point because of what I needed to do to help my dad, but I also know I wouldn’t do anything different. Life sure is something, sometimes.

    As of right now, I do think I’m barely going to make it to be able to qualify for FMLA and keep my benefits. I need good juju and prayers that this will also work out. ♥️

    Update here- https://rosiec.blog/2025/11/14/benefits-should-be-ok-for-now/

  • Port Placed

    This is a picture of me just before getting my port placed this morning. It went well and I’m doing okay as far as that goes. But for some unknown reason, I have lost my voice. I have no idea why. I wasn’t intubated when I was sedated. So I’m feeling better than I was yesterday, but now I can’t talk. And I’m really frustrated. Maybe it is stress related? Anyway, enjoy my crazy surgery picture of me smiling my way through this!