MsKarin

(((((((Jen)))))))

Indulge

Eyebrows and Eyelashes

I am now 15 weeks to the day since my last chemo. I NEVER did loss all my eyebrows. They first thinned out at the insides. I used powder to fill in. By the time the outside started to thin the inside had grown back.

As for the eyelashes they came out in cycles so I never went lash less. I think it was somewhere between weeks 5-8 that they started to fall out about 3-6 each eye every weekend. By the time the next week rolled around the ones that left before had already grown back.

If I start to loss them for a second time I hope they go and come like they did before.

Facial Hair

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I think this might be. If my understanding is correct, doesn't chemo and or Tamoxifen throw your body into early menopause? The peach fuzz facial hair is acquired during menopause. I already had it before chemo. It was the last of my hair to leave and the first to reappear with a vengeance. I hope for your sake I'm wrong but if I'm right don't plan on it leaving. Oh and Rock don't shave again. It will return thicker.

All,

Sorry you haven't heard from me in awhile. Thought I would pop in before you start worrying about my absence again. I have been really busy and haven't had time to use the computer. Will try and get on later tonight and catch up on what I've missed. Hope all is well for all of you.

Eddie - Happy Anniversary! I was on Taxotere. Tomorrow will be eleven weeks out. I never had the burping thing but I do still have slight tingling in the ball of the left foot.

Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer update

I still haven't seen the broadcast myself. As of yet there is no link on ABC for a video. I am still waiting to hear if there will be. My family told me that on the first shot I looked very nervous. I knew this before they told me. Because it was a live show we did a quick run through before hand. During the run through the camera was only on me for a little bit. During the live show the camera stayed on me longer while they introduced me. Rock called my smile a Million Dollar smile. My husband calls one of my smiles a dumb grin.  I know which one he is referring to because it is a dumb grin. So when the camera didn't move off of me I was thinking am I doing the dumb grin or am I OK?

Thank God the only time I had to talk was when the host asked me "So Karin how do you feel? I wanted to be creative and respond with "Thanks to the American Cancer Society and Mary Ann I now Look Good and Feel better". After all that was the reason for me being on the show, to promote the Look Good...Feel better program. Instead my nervousness took over and I gave a quick either Fine, thank you or Good, thank you reply. I don't even remember which one it was I said.

To sum it all up I am a little embarrassed of myself on air. My family told me I also did my nervous twitch thing. I wear dentures and sometimes when I am nervous I suck my dentures back up tight. They told me I did that but I still looked fine and not to worry about it. Oh well I wasn't on to look glamorous anyway. I was on to give hope to those getting ready to go through hair loss and show you can look normal and not like a cancer victim. I did manage to accomplish that.

The highlight of my day was meeting Dr. Weiss. I still can't believe I got to talk with her. You never know how much things you do can touch the lives of others. I let her know and see (through our pictures) how she is responsible for bringing us all together. I gave her a big teary eyed thank you from all of us.

Dr. Weiss was wearing the Breast Cancer logo necklace available for purchase on this website. If you don't know about it you can find it by going to the Breast Cancer .org homepage. Go to the bottom and click on Visit our gift shop. I would proudly wear this necklace because it is a reminder of all of you and what got me through my ordeal. I wish they made it in silver so I could afford to purchase one.

Kristy,

Have a great today.

Speaking of Insurance issues I just have to share what I told my Rads Onc Cigna representative. They keep charging me out-of-network for him and he is in-net-work. He gave me his representatives name and told me to email her to complain. In my closing this is what I said

"I never in my wildest dreams would have thought the excellent Cigna coverage I have would turn into one of my worst side effects of Breast Cancer."

Rads advice

Mary I too used the Remedy Skin Repair Cream. My center used to give the Aquaphor but found better results with the Remedy so that is what they give out now. I never had to buy it they kept me supplied with it. I loved it because it is not greasy like the Aquaphor plus it smells good.

You said you are starting to get pink. Once that pink starts to turn red I would stop wearing a bra. I didn't and because of it the bra band made my skin peel off before it was ready to. I had raw skin. Once I stopped wearing a bra the rest peels with new skin under it so no rawness. I am waiting for the under arm area to heal before I start wearing a bra again.

To help with the healing process I have been wearing tanks or T shirts under an opened shirt or blazer.

15 minutes of fame.

Yesterday was my last radiation treatment. Today when I got home from work there was a phone message from my rad nurse. She wanted me to call back because she had a question to ask me. Turns out she had recommended me to an American Cancer Society person as a good candidate for a model she was looking for for an ABC show airing this Sunday. Because of Hippa laws or whatever it is called she could not give her my name or number but could call me and ask me to call the representative, which I did. I will be on a local Philadelphia show this Sunday morning.

Sun, Oct 12, 11:30am - 12:00pm

ABC's channel 6 WPVI

Take Action: Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer

Patients, breakthrough treatments and a panel to answer questions.

From what I understand Robin Roberts will be part of the panel. As for me at this point all I know is I will be the model for the American Cancer Society's Look Good...Feel Better program. They will start with me bald (semi bald, it is starting to grow) and with no make up then show how make up and a wig can transform you into not looking like a cancer patient.

Don't know if I will get a chance to speak but I am taking my pole dancing picture with me and if the opportunity arises they will know about all of my friends here that have helped me through this.

Randie - hope your recovery is going well.