Rosie's Cancer Journey

Our youngest is home from college and came with us to my treatment today. I made it past the halfway point and I started round 4 today. Two more to go!

After chemo comes surgery. It’s looking like this will happen in March because they aim to do it a month after my last chemo. And then, possibly more infusion therapy every three weeks, possibly radiation. We need to see what my next mammogram shows after chemo is completed and we get the pathology from the surgery.

I was more fatigued with Round 3, and my stomach was upset daily. Palliative Care has been a big help working with my oncologist to make things easier whenever possible.

The truth is that I know I’m going to feel sick again soon like I have the flu. I really miss my hair but I don’t like wigs on me. I’m not a fan of picking out a hat daily to go with my outfit and I don’t want to spend more money on hats. I think being bald makes some people uncomfortable. I’m in menopause all of a sudden and the hot flashes are real. I hate all of the meds I have to take. It’s a lot of pills. I am missing a lot of work and I don’t like it. I get fatigued so easily. I have to rest a lot and put projects on hold that I don’t want to put on hold. I have to cram a lot into the week I feel good, which can also be exhausting. These are some of my complaints if I’m being real.

And also, I just have to get through it! At least I have good days. I’m learning that I’m pretty tough and I don’t care about needles and blood draws. I try to rock the bald look. My friend, Tina, had breast cancer and was beautiful bald! She inspires me. I’m actually glad to move into menopause at age 50, because let’s just get that over with because I have to go through it eventually. I agreed to use a pill organizer even though it makes me feel like just I aged 30 years, but I see this as a good thing because I’m willing to try it. I also have the desire to stay as active as possible. Even completing small projects make me feel good. And I have my husband and a couple of great friends that have helped me be able to do that when it gets hard. Thank you, support system!

So while this is getting more difficult and I anticipate the next couple of months being rough, I will just keep going and get this over with because I have to. I plan to make the best of it, however possible. That sounds strange because how do you make the best of having cancer? I’m not sure but I have a couple of months to try.