Karen Kasonic

Living with and dying from Metastatic Breast Cancer

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

One more tweet from John Kasonic (Karen’s dad). Karen’s obituary is in today’s Seattle Times. See link below

https://t.co/CDnp4qV6B3

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

Karen was always a giver of support for others with breast cancer. Karen and a friend, Rebecca Bryson, set up a fund at the University of Washington to support breast cancer. “The Kasonic Fund for HER2+ Breast Cancer” donations to this fund can be directed to the UW Foundation

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

A final Karen Kasonic Tweets from her father John. While Karen bravely faced her metastatic breast cancer for 15 years, Karen lost her cancer fight on Saturday the 14th around 3pm. She was at our home and died peacefully. Karen was beloved by everyone who knew her.

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

Meant their guest bedroom

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

Yesterday went to get spinal MRI. Fell in the room, hit my cheek on the table as I went down. Not good at all. Decided I cannot live on my own anymore. This morning I moved into my parent’s bedroom. It’s tough losing the last of my independence.

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

@jrgralow Thank you, Julie! Sure wishing you were here as I navigate the final decisions. But I’ve got lots of support at Fred Hutch. Hope you are well!

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

@margaritanachos Hard week— took a fall at 4am, hit my head. Since I’m on blood thinners I had to go to ER for a CT. Luckily no bleed and I’m home in my own bed now. Got a big old lump on my forehead!

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

Needed four units of blood during the last hospital visit. Thank you again, blood donors!

[Dan Savage @fakedansavage]

Not the obituary I wanted to read today.

https://t.co/QvxyHoeCRL

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

@LibbyMbc Yes! I’ve gained weight on some chemos, but right now I’m losing and have gone from 180 to 126 in the past few months. Always wanted to be thin. But now I just look like a sack of skin!

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

@timeforAna I’m on Facebook and Instagram (Karen Kasonic). Are you on those?

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

@timeforAna Love to see your pretty face! 💗

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

@CANsurvive Oh Flori, I know this fear. Sending hugs.

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

@margaritanachos Thank you for asking! Infection is gone, but I’m struggling a lot with fatigue and pain. Hopeful that things will improve. How are you doing?

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

Got a UTI which turned into a superbug infection. In hospital 5 days, now been home a week doing IV antibiotics twice a day through my port. I’m so tired, all I do is sleep. In pain all of the time. Weight is in the 120’s now. Feel like I’m disappearing…

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

@timeforAna I have a stent in the ureter, the tube between my right kidney and my bladder. I have had no problems with it, no bladder spasms or pain. It has to be replaced every 3 months, which is annoying to do all the pre-op to go under general anesthesia, the actual exchange is 20 mins

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

@parisboettger Thank you

[Fred Hutch Cancer Center @fredhutch]

Fred Hutch physician-scientist Dr. @gary_lyman recently published a broad overview of common, acute #chemotherapy-associated adverse events and how to manage them. https://t.co/zBWQ3u0sdD

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

@timeforAna I’m actually at an ok weight for my height, I’ve always struggled with my weight so it feels crazy now to be in “normal” sizes and be able to eat whatever I want. But I do need to build muscle back, especially in my legs. I want to be able to walk more than a few yards!

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

Lots of changes lately. I’m doing TDM-1 again, two rounds down. Vascular surgery worked great, edema is almost resolved! 30lbs gone, that was a lot of fluid in the legs. But shows how thin I’m getting. I weigh less than i ever have as an adult. Trying to eat more, it’s difficult.

[Karen Kasonic @kkasonic]

@WillRiker7 Ugh, the pumpkin spice is everywhere! Not my thing… today I even saw pumpkin spice tortilla chips. It’s getting out of hand! 😜