In May, 2011, Rose Egge, a community news reporter in Seattle who was 25 at the time, went to the doctor. She’d been having back pain for months and it wasn’t getting better.
She was finding it annoying at yoga class and the fatigue was getting worse. Rose had the nagging feeling it wasn’t a pulled muscle. And it wasn’t.
Rose got the terrible news she had a rare cancer, acute lymphoblastic lymphoma, and a tumor on her spine. In her mid-20s, her life was being turned upside down with aggressive chemotherapy needed immediately and her future very uncertain.
Rose is one of the most “sunshiny” people you can meet. She is upbeat and tried to remain so as she embarked on eight months of treatment.
The drugs sickened her, she had a catheter in her chest for the rounds of chemotherapy, she had multiple spinal taps and other tests, she lost her hair, and her toned body -- formerly in top shape -- went downhill. Depression was inevitable and Rose, with support from family and friends, fought it.
This is a story, however, with an upbeat report now. Rose has completed her treatment. Her blonde hair is growing back and the tests show she is cancer free! And she is back to yoga class and her job working for the website of a major broadcasting company.
I interviewed Rose the other day and urge you to watch her tell her story of the shock of diagnosis as a young adult, the treatment, and now the recovery.
See “Fighting Cancer in Your 20s: Lessons Learned” at http://goo.gl/O3I6j/
Listening to Rose is inspiring for people of all ages and I know you’ll be pulling for her as she now attempts to resume a full life. You can also keep up with Rose on her blog:
http://www.komonews.com/news/health/rose/
Her next project is building a foundation to help other young adults who are diagnosed with cancer. She calls it “Thrive Through Cancer” and, from the looks of things, Rose is a great example of how a young adult can thrive, and help others do the same, in life after cancer.
http://thrivethroughcancer.org/
About the author: Andrew Schorr is a medical journalist, cancer survivor and founder of Patient Power, a one-of-a-kind company bringing in-depth information to patients with cancer and chronic illness. Audio and video programs, plus transcripts, help patients make informed decisions to support their health in partnership with their medical team.
Patient Power is at www.PatientPower.info and on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Schorr is also the author of “The Web Savvy Patient: An Insider's Guide to Navigating the Internet When Facing Medical Crisis" found at www.websavvypatient.com/
Resource:
Interview with Rose Egge, journalist and cancer survivor, Seattle, Wash., via Skype, posted 01/12/12 online at Patient Power: Fighting Cancer in Your 20s: Lessons Learned
http://www.patientpower.info/video/fighting-cancer-in-your-20s-lessons-learned?autoplay=1
Reviewed January 12, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith