One of my favorite things about Mojo & The Mess has always been the conversations we have. Whether it’s in the comments, my inbox, or someone stopping me in the grocery store, you all ask some really thoughtful, funny, and sometimes surprisingly personal questions.
So I figured it was time for another round of Ask Izzy.
Let’s get into it.
Q: Do you ever have days where you almost feel normal?
A: I do, and I’ve learned not to take them for granted.
Those are the days I work on Mojo & The Mess, plan The Village, grab coffee with Pete, run errands, catch up on life, or simply enjoy not feeling miserable.
The funny thing is, “normal” has changed.
A good day used to mean crossing everything off my to-do list. Now it means I had enough energy to get dressed, accomplish a few things, maybe make dinner, and not spend the evening recovering.
The bar has definitely moved, but I’ll celebrate a good day however it comes.
Q: What’s the weirdest side effect you’ve had?
A: Taste changes are wild.
One week I love something. The next week it tastes like chemicals.
Water randomly tastes metallic.
Coffee can taste amazing one day and completely disgusting the next.
I’ve learned not to buy too much of anything because chemo has commitment issues.
Q: What’s something people always get wrong about stage four cancer?
A: They assume there’s an end.
People ask me all the time, “When do you finish chemo?”
For a lot of metastatic patients, there isn’t a finish line.
Treatment isn’t about being “done.”
It’s about buying time, slowing things down, and hoping the next scan gives you more time than the last one.
Q: What’s one thing you miss that has nothing to do with cancer?
A: Trusting my body.
Before cancer, if I had a headache, it was just a headache.
If my back hurt, I probably slept funny.
Now every new pain makes me stop and wonder.
Is this treatment?
Is this cancer?
Should I call my doctor?
You don’t realize how peaceful it is to trust your own body until you can’t anymore.
Q: Does Pete ever get on your nerves?
A: Every single day.
He also takes incredible care of me, so I guess I’ll keep him.
People imagine caregiving is one long Hallmark movie.
It’s not.
He still steals the blanket.
I still roll my eyes when he asks what’s for dinner.
We still tease each other, argue over dumb things, and laugh until one of us snorts.
Cancer changed our lives.
It didn’t change who we are together.
Q: What’s in your purse these days?
A: Honestly?
It looks like a tiny emergency room.
Nausea meds.
Pain meds.
ChapStick.
Hand sanitizer.
Alcohol wipes.
Peppermints.
A charger.
Snacks.
Bandages.
Tissues.
And about fifty receipts that apparently live there permanently.
Q: Have you ever cried over something completely ridiculous?
A: Oh, absolutely.
I’ve cried because I dropped my fork.
Because my coffee got cold.
Because nothing sounded good to eat.
Because I couldn’t get comfortable.
The thing is… you’re usually not crying about the fork.
You’re crying because you’ve spent weeks holding it together, and the fork just happened to be the final straw.
Q: What’s one symptom nobody warned you about?
A: The mental exhaustion.
Cancer isn’t just physically draining.
It’s mentally loud.
Every ache makes you think.
Every headache makes you pause.
Every scan comes with anxiety.
Every lab result has the potential to change everything.
It’s like your brain never gets a day off.
Q: What’s your favorite comfort food right now?
A: Toast.
Toast has never let me down.
Mashed potatoes are usually a safe bet too.
Everything else depends on whatever mood chemo wakes up in that day.
Q: Do you ever get tired of talking about cancer?
A: Sometimes.
I’d love to talk about dogs, books, coffee, reality TV, or vacation plans.
But I also know what it felt like to be newly diagnosed and desperately searching for someone who was being honest.
If sharing my life helps someone else feel a little less alone, then it’s worth having the hard conversations.
Q: What’s the funniest thing that’s happened during treatment?
A: Cancer patients have the darkest sense of humor.
I’ve laughed until I cried in infusion rooms.
I’ve watched nurses dance.
I’ve heard jokes that would probably horrify healthy people.
Sometimes laughter is how we survive.
And honestly… oncology nurses are some of the funniest people you’ll ever meet.
Q: If you had one perfectly healthy day, what would you do?
A: I’d leave the house without packing medication.
I’d spend the whole day outside.
Go to the beach.
Eat whatever sounded good.
Walk until my legs got tired for a normal reason.
Throw the ball for Mojo until he was worn out.
Stay out way too late with Pete.
And for one entire day…
I wouldn’t think about cancer once.
Q: Last question… how are you, really?
A: I’m okay.
Not perfect.
Not falling apart.
Just… okay.
Some days I’m exhausted.
Some days I’m hopeful.
Some days I’m frustrated.
Some days I laugh until my stomach hurts.
Most days I’m a little bit of all of those things.
I’ve learned that hope and fear can exist at the same time.
So can gratitude and grief.
Cancer has changed my life in ways I never could’ve imagined, but it hasn’t taken my sense of humor, my love for the people around me, or my desire to keep making a difference.
As long as I still have those things, I’ll keep showing up.
Before you go, I wanted to mention something for those of you who are newer to Mojo & The Mess.
This website has become so much more than just a blog. Every page was created with a purpose, and I hope you’ll take a few minutes to explore.
If you’re looking for honest, unfiltered stories about life with cancer, head over to the Blog. That’s where I share everything from treatment updates to the moments that make me laugh, cry, and everything in between.
If you or someone you love has been affected by cancer, don’t miss the Resources page. It’s filled with organizations, financial assistance programs, support services, educational information, and tools that can make this journey a little less overwhelming.
If you’d like to support the work we’re doing, visit Keep Us Going. Every donation, purchase, and share helps keep Mojo & The Mess alive, allows me to continue writing, growing this community, and creating new resources for patients and caregivers.
And finally, take a look at The Village. This has become one of the biggest passions of my life. The Village is about bringing cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, nonprofits, local businesses, healthcare organizations, and the community together in one place to remind people that no one should have to face cancer alone.
Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or this is your very first visit, thank you.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for caring.
Thank you for showing up.
And thank you for being part of this little corner of the internet that reminds people they’re never alone in the mess.
💛 Until next time,
Izzy
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