Anyone starting Chemo in Feb?
Comments
-
For those of you who went to genetics counseling before testing: what did they ask you?
I am going forthe counseling to see if they will "let" me be tested. We have no cancer in our family THAT WE KNOW OF. My grandparents' siblings all stayed in Italy, and we don't know what happened to all 26 of them. My father's family is also not known to me, as he died when I was 20 and I never stayed in touch with any of them. My dad died of heart disease at 54.
So we have large gaps in the history- not a lot of known relatives. The fact that I am triple negative is what made my onc suggest seeing if they would do it. I am very concerned for my 20 year old daughter, as my husband's family is rife with ovarian, breast, colon cancers. And there is a connection between breast and other cancers according to some things that I have been reading.
Anyway, if there is any insight into how I can answer the questions to get them to ok the testing, that would be great. Otherwise, does anyone know what it costs? If insurance doesn't want to pay, maybe I will do it anyway. Knowing I had one of the genes would help the onc if I ever need to do chemo again.thanks.
0 -
Big Hugs Sammie Kay.
I got soap and chocolates...what more could a girl ask for. I'm headed to the bath now...I'm going to soak and read and eat chocolate and soap myself up with that wonderful scented soap.... Ahhh...such luxury.Have a nice Sunday all.
0 -
Good morning!
Terry - thanks for the info! DH has his follow up next week and I'm sure he'll know more by then. He's pretty much back to his regular diet, but no strawberries, nuts or lettuce. He wanted to go to a move last nght and I said ok, but remember, no popcorn. Well...no movie either then!
Leah - My BRCA testing situation was really similar to yours. The counselors will ask you questions to help your insurance determine whether or not they will cover the testing. It runs about $3000 and the paitient responsibility will be between $300 - $500. I am adopted, but by a blood relative. There was no contact kept between the families so other than knowing complete medical history on one side of the family, it was the same as someone who doesnt know their birth family. My Onc told me to be sure to tell the couselors that I'm adopted, and that I do not have medical info for the maternal side of the family. Insurance covered it, I paid $500. Someone did tell me that us triple negs do get less of a push back from insurance. Good luck with that and please ask me if you have any questions!
Twink!!!! It's so good to hear from you!! Are you feeling better? I've missed you both here and at the Hampton's. Tell that Boss of yours that your job is getting in the way of your computer time! (((Twink)))
Catherine, where are you girl?? Come tell us what's for dinner. Miss you!
Have a nice Sunday all.
(((Hugs)))
Carynn
0 -
LEAH>thank you for the pics...I bet you sit and daydream about it to take yourself back there! I never saw a genetic counsler! My BS just ordered the genetic testing before I had surgery in Janurary. Had to fight insurance to get them to pay for it (I think it was about $3,500), they kept saying they didn't have the info needed from my BS. Finally got them to pay it in August. I had no co pay since I had reached out my out of pocket limit very early in the year. So I can't help you with the questions since I never saw the counsler. I am the first to have bc in my family that we know of, read somewhere they want to really catch the first one if they can for genetic testing for better results so may be why they approved it after all.
Wow its a beautiful sunny day here and almost 80 degrees after a week of fall temps. Neighbors tree that always turns bright orange first has done it finally! So the others should follow quickly now. I saw a hot air balloon at the end of our street this morning when getting the newspaper. Went in to tell DH and grabbed the camera but it was gone in just that couple of minutes, was thinking maybe I imagined it it was gone so quick!
Speaking of hair, I had my haircut for the first time just before we went to San Diego in September. It was looking like a ball of curls. I had her shape it up by cutting the sides really short (leaving no curls there) and leaving the curls on top and a little on the sides. Its starting to look that way again so am debating on getting it trimmed up that way again. But I'm thinking of putting on my fav wig since it is getting colder. Was watching Oprah this past week and they were showing what styles made women look younger and it was the ones with hair in their face like my fav wig. Combing hair back off the face and no bangs can make you look older...is what they said. That would be my short haircut style, thats why I think maybe I should let it grow and wear my wig in the meantime this winter then see if I should get it cut in the spring. Ironically most of the styles were straight hair, and now I've finally gotten the curly hair I wanted all my life...it figures straight seems to be the in style now! So LEAH>how was your haircut?
0 -
Hello Ladies,
Glad to hear that the DH's are doing better:)
Marsha, great pics and costumes.
Leah, Sorry, I did not know you were in Boston. What a great place. We'll definitely go back (PG) another time.
As for the hair situation....... Well. mine looks so bad I still keep it covered from my family with hats when not wearing the Cranial Prosthesis, as it looks so bad. Talk about a wirey, curly, uncontrolled head:) Don't get me wrong, glad to have hair, but I need to find a hairdresser who can deal with this type of hair and also dying new hair.
As for the eyelashes, I was so impressed with how lush and great my lashes grew after treatment, only for them to thin out several times and now I think that the Tamoxifen is causing them to thin.
By the way, CYPD26 test came back and said I am metabolizing the Tamoxifen normally, so I'll continue to take it.
Well, got to fly and call a friend who just found out she has stage 0, but fast growing BC. Have you heard of someone being stage 0 and fast growing. I did not know that those two went together. Anyone know about this?
Cheers for now...... Keep smiling and as usual it was great to see all your posts. What a great group.
Jel
0 -
Hi honey, I'm home!
Jan - it sounds like you've been really busy this week. Anymore balloon siteings?
Jel - Are you using Nixon? I swear by it! I was one of the last of our group to finish chemo and I've been topless since August. Granted, it's SHORT, and I'd never choose to wear it this way, but you know what, it's ok! I do actually get compliments on it now.
Miss hearing from you all. Sending big hugs. Hope to talk to you soon!
Carynn
0 -
Just a quick stop over to read and see how everyone is doing.
Phyl glad to hear your eye surgery is healing so well. Congratulations on getting rid of glasses.
So good to hear from Twyla, Carynn, Jan,Jel,Pat,Leah, and everyone else I might have missed.
I am still sick. Spent all weekend under a blanket with horrible joint pains and fever up and down. Yuk. I finally went to the doctor today. She thinks I have a viral syndrome(I think that is latin for "your guess is as good as mine"). She did send me to the lab for a nasal swab for influenza. Then she noticed a red spot on my arm and thinks I have shingles. Oh joy. I was started on a medication for shingles. Just what I needed another medication to take. I am getting very tired of being sick and losing my sense of humor.
I will be off work this week. Don't really feel like having physical therapy, when my whole body hurts. Maybe I can have the electrical stim., and the heat. Forget the massage.
Oh well enough about me. Everyone take care and keep posting. I enjoy reading about you.
Catherine, where are you? We miss your posts.
Love to all, Sammie Kay
0 -
Hi Carynn,
Are you using the shampoo or it is something else?
Any suggestions welcome.
Cheers,
Jel
0 -
Good evening, dear all... I've been reading... but swamped in work and other things, so did not really took the time to post.
Sammie Kay, I am so sorry to read that you have all these health issues... I love your note about "latin" explanations... I hope this is NOT shingles. I did not get the flu shot in the end... the consent form was mentioning possible complications for people who had Guillain-barré syndrome (polyo is a similar thing)... so I want to know more before I get it.
I do not know whether it is seasonal changes, but today my knees hurt badly, making sitting and getting up a real adventure... hopefully this will pass and not become the "new normal"... My mastectomy scars are also very uncomfortable this week especially... The biking has been good though, walks too... go figure what's going on (Tamox + avastin effects, probably).
Marsha, your Halloween pictures are great: boy, you're scary looking... great make up, what fun it must have been to prepare all this. Do you work some? Is the market still OK? What is your "typical" day in sunny, warm Florida?
Carynn, say hi to your DH, good to know he is recovering... Hopefully, this will be it... wishing smooth sailing from now on... How do you feel yourself? How is work? I can't believe how warm it still is in Phoenix... I brought a few plants (a beautiful jasmin) inside because freezes are going to be the norm now... although still very sunny and beautiful (last week with leaves left, I would think).
Twink, Leah, Hillary, Jan, Melanie, Terry, Phyl, Pat, Vegas... nice to hear from you. Love the pics, Leah (last time I was in Florence was Jan. 81, with a friend... we were freezing... spending most of our time in museums, of course, and in Benetton stores -- the rage at the time...). What are the gardens/parc? I can't recognize the place...
Alyson, dear SP, thank you for the card from London: took 4 days (takes much more from France, especially postcards). Where are you now? How was Prague? Hope you're feeling good and enjoying the rest of your trip.
Karen, Tink, where are you? How are you doing?
I'll post a few pictures later on this week. My hair is straight up, cowlicks all over, will have to think about doing something about it at some point... I think my eyebrows are gone again (very thin)...
Hillary, sorry... WF has been the main source of meals this week (to save me time)... great spinach/ricotta lasagna, though... and a good hearty soup tonight...
Well... I have to go back to my big project (radiotherapy accelerator manuals)... deadlines!!! I'd rather vegg in front of TV...
Big hugs to all, I will be back soon to read about each of you...
Have a gentle week, stay away from bad bugs...
Catherine
0 -
Thanks for the all the comments on hair woes ... at least I'm not the only one! It's funny, my hair is much straighter than I thought it would be. I have some waves in the back, but the front and sides basically grow straight out! I have to use quite a lot of hair gel -- I'm using Redken's Hardwear, emphasis on hard as I'm basically laquering my hair into some semblance of style. It's gotten too long to spike on the top and sides. Carynn -- How does Rewind work? In a couple of weeks, I'll go back to my hairstylist to get it colored and "shaped" (i.e. not cut!). I'll probably need to buy more "product", so I'm always interested in new ideas ...
Keeping on the hair front, does anyone else get comments from folks about your "new haircut"? There are a lot of folks at work who don't know about my diagnosis and comment on my new hairstyle. I just smile and mumble thank you. It's particularly awkward if I'm with someone who does know what happened. I'm also getting tired of those "you look great" comments ... I'm overweight and my hair looks like a barely-tamed poodle-do! I know folks mean well, but it sure is nice to be able to vent to all of you!! OK, venting over ...
Jan -- It's so funny that you want to go back to your wig ... I've stuffed mine in a drawer hoping that they never see the light of day again! I know that I'm complaining about my hair, but I could not go back to a wig! I'm a hat person, so I plan on lots of hat to cover my poor head this winter!!
Leah -- The genetic counselor is basically going to ask questions about any types of cancer in your family, as well as any gaps in family health history. They then plug it into some statistical models which give them an idea of what your chances are of having a BRCA1/2 mutation. The way I understand it, if the chances are high enough, they can convince the insurance company to pay for the testing. I don't know what the cut-off is ... I had a 40% chance of carrying a mutation, and the insurance company paid for the whole thing. One caveat ... there are new and more precise tests coming out all the time, so I am going to ask to be checked for some of them in a year.
Also, I'm glad that you liked the chocolates and the book. I'm sorry about folks hounding you about whether you got the chocolates. I had specifically asked for it to be delivered on the weekend. When I looked at the confirmation notice, I saw that they were delivering it on a Monday. I had fears of all those gorgeous chocolates melting before you got to them! About the book ... Wendy gave an amazing talk at the Living Beyond Breast Cancer conference. She is such an enthusiastic person ... it was great to get a chance to meet her in person!
SammieKay -- You need to take care of yourself! Sending you warm hugs and well wishes ...
Catherine -- Thanks for the food update ... I do worry if I don't hear about your fantastic meals, but sometimes work does get in the way of enjoyment. I've just about finished everything in our freezer, so I've either got to start cooking again or buying some nice prepared foods.
OK, another set of complaints ... is anyone still having joint pain? It's mostly in my hips, but my knees also hurt and occasionally my wrists. If I keep warm enough at night, then it's not so bad when I wake up. So, I've been bundling up in the PJs. Of course, everything gets soaked on the two or three times a week that I get night sweats -- LOL!
Marsha -- Loved your photos! I'm going to try to post one of me and ds in our costumes. We get tons of kids in our neighborhood -- I swear, they bus them in for halloween! Lots of houses close together, lots of kids, lots of decorated houses -- what fun!
There's no school today, so I took ds and a friend to a science museum this morning and now have another over for a playdate.Hugs to all,
Hillary
0 -
No luck in posting a picture ...
0 -
{{{{Sammie Kay}}}} - hope this helps.
Still reading and keeping up with everyone - I now have a cold so I've been trying to take it easy. My pre-surgery appointments are first thing tomorrow so I guess I have to go 'out amongst them'.
Gotta run - I had a batch of fresh salsa in progress last night when I ran out of steam and I do need to finish it this evening. Made spaghetti and garlic bread for dinner. Going to finish the chores and veg!
Hugs to you all! Looking forward to seeing more pics. I know I've been saying this for 10 months now but I do need to take a pic and post it. Just HATE having my picture taken. Argh!
Phyl
0 -
I know we're not really complaining about hair...but while we're on the subject, mine was mildly wavy before chemo and now it's curly curly curly...corkscrew curly (did Leah say that too?).
I'm using a Redkin product too but it's basically to bring some order to the curls while playing it up at the same time. I've tried a number of products and I like Redkin best...doesn't collect in my hair and make it feel dirty and look dull. Here's a pic from my visit to Vancouver. Dad and his wife to the left of me and my youngest sis to my right.
Joint aches and other ailments continue but seem to be abating. Overall I'm feeling pretty good physically. Now, if I could just whip my mind into shape I'd be laughing.
Soo... who all is coming to Florida in February?
0 -
Good evening everyone!
SammieKay - I'm so sorry to hear that you arent feeling well. I do hope it's not shingles! Please take care of yourself.
Jel - I use the Nioxin shampoo. I was using the scalp therapy as well, but now that I have hair about equal to a short hair cut, I switched to just the shampoo.
Catherine - It's so nice to hear from you! I'm sorry to hear about your joint pain. That's something I can really relate to. I hope it clears up soon for you.
Hillary - Rewind is kind of a gel. You dont need to use much at all. But you can use it to bring out curls, or to calm them down. If you dont like how it comes out, you can dampen your fingers and run them thru your hair to start over, or freshen the look.
Phyl - Good to hear from you too! Sorry to hear that you are under the weather. Hope you are feeling better soon. And yes, do post a pix soon!
Hope to talk to you all soon. Have a great night all!
0 -
Yes Hillary, I agree...I'm going to have to fall on my sword the next time I hear a "you look so good" kind of comment. I get plenty of compliments on my short hairstyle. Many from those who have no idea of why my hair is short. Others from those who do. I was talking to a woman outside the office the other day. She'd commented on how 'fabulous' my short, curly hairstyle is (she knows it's not entirely by choice). She asked whether I had to blow-dry or anything. I responded that I get out of the shower, towel dry, run my fingers and a little product through my hair and that's it. She said she was jealous. Flippantly, I said, it came at a price. Silently, I thought, I'd rather have my long hair, breasts and old self back. So it is... they like my short hair. I don't care.0
-
Hi girls...yes....I get compliments on my short new hair style. I would never wear my hair this short by choice. I was coming in straight, but just in the last couple of days has started to "flip" up around my ears and neck.....don't know what to do with it except gel it up and/or down.
Hillary....I am having terrible joint pain...fingers, wrists, back, ankles and especially my hips. I have to creak up and down from my chair. I think it is the Femara. I am having trouble sleeping because my back hurts so much....How would one know if the cancer moved to your bones, if your bones already hurt???
Well, we just got back from the first round of the state playoffs...our girls lost, but not without a fight. It was sad to see their tears. But they had a great run. Now we start talking to the college coaches, to see what they have to offer. Another adventure.
Herceptin on Thursday....mammogram next Thursday. I am a little nervous about that....anyone had one yet?
Well...my contacts are killing me....talk to you all later...
Love,
0 -
Hi girls,
Hillary, I laughed out loud at your description of yourself, the poodle do. I don't even have enough length to look like that. Mine is more like a brillo pad. I swear mine hasn't grown in length in a month. Could it be like watching grass grow?
Thanks to everyone for their concern. I am feeling better, but still running a low grade temp. As long as I take my pain med and Tylenol, I am o.k. I am trying to be patient. Just worry in the back of my mind. Like Terry said, how do you know if this stuff is in your bones, when your bones hurt so bad.
Terry, sorry the girls lost, but as you said, 'what a good run' and hopefully that will bring in some scholarship offers for your DD.
I have the same pain in the joints that all of you describe. I changed to Femara, hoping it would have less side effects than Arimidex. I will probably go back to Arimidex because I have a new 90 day supply. I took a 30 day trial of Femara. I really saw no difference in the side effects.
Oh Twyla, you said it all...wouldn't we all like our old selves back, hair, boobs, bodies and all. {{{{Twink}}}} Nice picture. I won't say your hair is cute, but it is.
Phyl, sorry you are feeling under the weather. Be sure and take care.
Caryn, bless your heart. You deal with joint pain all the time. We all realize what you go through with the side effects of the AIs.
Hugs to all. Do take care. Sammie Kay
0 -
Sammie Kay hope you are feeling better soon. Shingles? OH I hope not! Probably your immune system is just down.
Terry hope you dd gets a great offer for college. Sorry to her they lost but I know you guys had fun and you are proud of them. My back hurts too. The only reason I am not worried about canceritis is cause the onc said cancer pain does NOT move around. Sometimes it is the center of my back some times across the top and sometimes in and around the shoulder blades. I think it is tension. He said a consistent, deep pain for 2 weeks is something I should be contacting him for.
Twink I had to smile at your story. "Jealous" indeed. It certainly does come with a price and I for one would be perfectly happy to NOT KNOW how cute I am with pixie length hair! I will say tho, looking at your smiling pic, you are making the best of a bad situation!! How's that? I told one friend, I'd rather you just say stuff like "wow, Marsha, that really sucks" whem I am having a bitchy day instead of telling me how wonderful I have handled this or how great I look (?????) Glad to hear the SE of your chemo are starting to subside!
Phyl, ECK your sick, sorry to hear that. Your surgery is coming up soon right? And yes, we all wish you would post a picture!!!!
Hillary, LOL on poodle-doo. My hair is growing straight forward and thick. In the back justa little wave but noticed today it is starting to hang over my ears a little!! Eyelashes are really pissing me off. Very thin and stubby. They came in nice and lush! Dang!
Catherine, you sound so busy that is great! Weather there must be starting to get cold. My mastectomy scars have been bothering me a little too lately. Kinda like a tight band around my chest where the boobs use to be? I'm starting to get some feeling back a little on the bad side too. BTW I don't have typical days you should know me better than that! hahahaha I'm my own boss so can kinda make my days up as I go along. The real estate market is still pretty flat but are starting to see "fire sales" which is what all my intvestors are looking for! We are also a property management company so have rentals to kinda supplement our income. Here was something fun:
Sunday night I EmCee's a fund raiser for our theatre. Our next mainstage show is Always........Patsy Cline. We held a reality type show ALMOST.....Patsy Cline. We had 24 contestants, 4 "celebrity" judges and myself as EmCee. The audience could also vote for $1 a vote. HUGE success with about 300 people attending. One girls family voted 200 times ($200). She didn't win though. 1st prize was $500, 2nd $200 and 3rd $100. All 3 were really good. I had my best country western costume on (OK got it at the costume shop). First time I had been back on stage for 2 years and it felt great. Didn't have a script and had to ad lib but it was fun!
Jel, I really want to have that tamoxifen test. Glad to hear you are metabolizing it!
Jan, you had a haircut?? NO no not me. I don't care what it looks like, not cutting one single hair on my head for a little while!!!!!! So far I don't need gel but will use that for a while before I cut it. hahahaa
Leah, on the BRCA testing. I was told my only qualification was being under 50 and premenapausal. I decided not to do the test. I have no children and no sisters. My brothers do but they all know to be dilegent. My mom's mom and sister both had BC but post menapausal, one in her 60s the other in her 70s. So not really a candidate for it. I would really talk up the fathers side of the family and how you don't know much about them medically. How are you feeling?
Melanie how was your entertainment weekend? Weren't you in Dallas doing a race party?
Hey to Pat, Karen and anyone I missed! Have a great day all, it's Wednesday, BNO night so go out and have some fun with your girlfriends! Hugs Marsha
0 -
TWINK>you aint kidding you have curly curls! Hey I thought I was looking at my cousin Linda there for a sec, your sis on the far right of the pic looks just like her. OMG...her long lost twin? I had to kinda chuckle at your "I don't care...comes at a price" statements. Interesting how everyones hair is coming back in...weird too kinda!
MARSHA>No pics from Almost Patsy Cline? Sounds like it was alot of fun! Enjoyed your Halloween pics, made me smile.
We had our first frost this morning so its officially FALL! I've had so much energy lately I haven't needed a daily nap in weeks!
0 -
Twink? Can you pick out your sister's "twin" in this photo?
0 -
Twink - Looks like we posted at the same time last night. I'm sorry I missed you! I've been thinking of you and hope all is well.
I just wanted to sneak in quickly and see how you all are doing. A dear friend of DH & I passed away this afternoon. The family had DH come to the hospital and he was there when he passed. I'm so very sad right now. A great friend, great guy, gone way too soon.
Thank you all for being there.
Carynn
0 -
Hey Jan...I think the woman in the white, with the green tee looks like my stepmother. Maybe I got my left and right reversed in my description of that pic. The woman on the far side of my Dad, is his wife. The woman with my arm around her shoulder is my baby sis. Wow! Your cousin does look like my stepmother! I hope she's nicer
.I'm off for rads setup this morning. I lost the appointment reminder (d'oh) and am going from memory for the appointment time. That's a little risky since my memory sucks lately and I have too many appointments to confuse. Well...I'll post later with any news.
Hugs everybody.
0 -
...
0 -
Carynn,
So sorry to hear about your loss.
Jel0 -
..
0 -
Hi all,
Carynn, so sorry for your loss. That is really hard.
Twyla, I started thinking about what you said about wanting your old hair, old boobs and old life back and I did a real meltdown. Because, that is exactly how I feel. I cried off and on all day yesterday. But my sister/friend was in town and she picked me up and took me to lunch. I am so miserable with these expanders, so called to ps and they had me come in. He told me a few corny jokes and they moved my exchange surgery up to Nov.29th. That helped some. I can't wait to get these expanders out. I sure hope the implants don't drive me crazy. Also, running fever for over a week and feeling drug out doesn't help. No one can seem to diagnose the problem. The ps told me I didn't have fever because it wasn't over 101.5. That is so much bull. Anyway, I am going to work tomorrow, fever or not.
PS also didn't think my spot was shingles, so go figure. I will finish the medication for shingles and see if I feel better.
I hope everyone is doing well. I think of all of you as I watch the weather. Quite a difference from our PA girls to the TX and Phoenix girls. I really am ready for some cold weather. But so far just a little cooler in morning and hot in the afternoon.
Hugs to all, Sammie Kay
0 -
I apologize if I offended anyone by my chuckle over what Twink said that may have caused others to cry. I was seeing it as being said sarcastically in my mind and probably something I would have blurted accidently thus my chuckle.
((((((SAMMIE KAY)))))))))) It sounds like having expanders and reconstruction is such an awful ordeal to go through.
Ah I see TWINK that was stepmom...uh yeah my cousin is wonderful, she's the oldest of 6 that grew up next door to me!
I'm getting a little nervous about my upcoming Mammogram, the first one since having my lumpectomy. I just know they are going to squish em too hard to be sure they get a clear pic. That usually hurts me and with scar tissue now in both...I wonder if it will hurt even more? I have my days of meltdowns but I couldn't really pinpoint what triggers them.
CARRYN>I'm so sorry for your loss, it seems when we lose someone close to us these days we take it pretty hard, probably harder than "before" bc?
0 -
Hello Everyone!
As usual, I am so behind on posting that it would be hard for me to catch up...
Carynn; I am so sorry for your loss. There are just never the right words...
Sammie; As you know, I had the one step process like Twink and just didn't have to go through the terrible expander pain. My very dear friend did expanders and had a difficult time much like you are going through. Once you get the permanent implants, you will be fine. What a tough time you have had.
Marsha; Don't you fret about mixing up your SP's. I really thought it was pretty funny
Dallas was a great weekend. Lots of good food, good drinks and best of all...great friends. Mark Martin watched the truck races with us on Friday night. It's always nice to have him with us. A celebrity among us mere mortals...lol. We took 22 people to Pete's Dueling Piano Bar in Fort Worth on Saturday night. Had a blast as usual. We have become quite well known there for "non-Texans". They put us front and center everytime.
Someone please remind me of the dates in Feb. I have to get my plane tickets. I will most likely only stay for 3 nights. Will have to explore that a bit more.
Let me know what I need to do to help find a place. I have been searching online, but I am unfamiliar with Flagler. It looks like Daytona Beach is pretty close and I wonder if that is an option also?
On the Hairfront...
Mine is very curly all over. I have used several products and like the blue glue. I can't remember the exact name. I try to paste it down on the top and at my face and let the rest stay curled. Then I lightly spray it with hairspray. Works pretty good. Just don't touch...could get a nasty "hair-cut". I have colored it twice and got it trimmed...mainly around the neckline. I have it pretty dark right now. I am becoming much more comfortable with my appearance as time goes on. It's definitely not the "old me" and it is hard sometimes when I see pictures of me now and then. Sometimes it is just plain sad. I hate to complain, because I don't want to seem trivial when it's all about survival, but I think we all have the right to grieve what we have lost.
Something that is so weird is how complete strangers (even men) will approach me and ask "is your hair naturally that curly" When I have had a perm, no one asked that. Also, a lot of people touch it and play with it. Makes me squeamish.
On a really happy note...
My brand new niece arrived home from China yesterday! There was a group of us that met them at the airport. When I saw her in my sister in laws arms...I lost it. I just boo hoo'd like a big 'ol baby. I am not the emotional type, but man...that got to me. She is so adorable. I love her!
Thinking of all of you...Catherine, Hillary, Jan, Alyson, Jel, Terry, Phyl and Leah...I hope I didn't miss anyone!
0 -
Hello, all,
It seems more than a few of us are dragging ourselves around. I empathize with the emotional pain and the physical pain, and the fatigue. Plus the holidays are coming around, which are always less than fabulous for me. Bah-humbug.
The next scan is November 19, which is 60 days post RFA. This one should just be an abdominal. So nothing to get too excited about.
Twink's comment on just wanting her old life back is interesting to me. I don't think I want the old one back, this one is turning out to be more interesting. I amuse myself daily with what I won't do anymore, or how differently I view things that I used to take oh so seriously. I can understand the hair and boobs, but I have been working **forever** on loving and accepting myself, and some of that is coming home to roost.
The genetics counseling went well. I did agree to the test as they did recommend it based on the TripleNeg. Now that the radiologists have gone back, they actually know that they saw the cancer in 2002, when I was 48. So the pre50 diagnosis, plus the triple negative, plus the absence of information on both branches of the family, led her to recommend it. So they took my blood, and I will wait for 3 weeks for an answer. It has lots of implications for my 20 year old daughter, too, so I think it is worth it.
That's all the news these days. Other than finding that I don't have the stomach to work 15 hour days anymore, I am plodding along. Tired a lot, not sleeping too well, but hopefully this too shall pass.
Love you all.
0 -
Carynn,
I'm so sorry, I missed what you wrote in my quick dry-by this morning. It's hard, I know. (((Carynn)))
Twilah
0
