2010 Sisters
Comments
-
tryn2staycalm - Im so sorry, I know the pain you are feeling, my dear Tyler (Golden Retriever) I had cremated and he is sitting in a pretty wooden box on a shelf with a memorial to him. I still miss him so much and its been 6 years. I now have a beautiful long haired Chihuahua with the best temperment and so smart. I never thought I would get another dog after loosing Tyler, but in time, I did, and Im glad. The pain eases, but never fully goes away. Ever read the poem "Rainbow Bridge"? I still cant read it without crying.
lago - I got the free bracelets, took 1 look and said, eh... No. lol.
Hope everyone is well today, I went in for all my per-op test and exam today. 6 days to go.
Kristy
0 -
Cathy--> Sorry about the loss of your beloved dog.
jag--> hope you are feeling better today
0 -
Hi there. Bloodwork and Dr appt this a.m. and everything is a "go". Chemo tomorrow (1st Taxotere) and I am kind of anxious about it. I know all I can about it, just something tells me this is going to be a rough time. I signed up for this all knowing it would be aggressive and thorough, but never did I think how hard all this would actually be. I am tolerating it all and doing well, it just can be so rough, difficult and I would rather be heading for a million different places rather than walking thru that door tomorrow and gearing up for my next infusion. Oh well. I know why and it is all going to be well worth it in the end, right?
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you
take good care and just breathe. . .
Teklya
0 -
Teklya--> I'll be thinking about you tomorrow! Let us know how you are doing!0
-
<<<<TEK>>>> I will be there with you holding your hand. Just keep that in mind.
0 -
Cathy- So sorry about your dog. Like you said everything is harder when you are going through what we are going through.
My hair was looking and feeling "dead" last Sunday. I started wearing my wig on Monday over my hair. I felt very self conscious. Only my secretary could tell it wasn't my hair. Tuesday on the way to my Herceptin appointment my hair started to shed. After my appointment I had my stylist cut it really short, I couldn't bear to buzz it yet. I cried so hard. I feel so masculine. Today I'm shedding even worse. Not sure what I'm going to do when it's completely gone. I'm so tired of everyone telling me it will grow back and it's just temporary, etc.
Good luck tomorrow Teklya, I will be thinking about you.
Congrats Lago!
0 -
Amyjo, I would check with the pcp to see about a sleeve for the lymphedema. I was having a lot of problems with my arm and told him I was planning on flying. He sent me to a lymph therapist right away to get measured and treated before I left. It really helped during the flight. The sleeves come in a couple of colors and nobody noticed mine.
Redsoxfan what type of upper body are you doing? I'm not sure what I can try at the gym. So far I'm only managing to do the treadmill and feel like a little old lady next to the rest of the girls there! I just keep telling myself, I'm coming from a different space then they are.
BarbaraA, Sorry about the Ray's maybe tomorrow will be a better game.
0 -
jag-Hang in there girl. Like Tina said, just keep remembering why you are doing this. Just keep showing up and moving in the right direction. You will have lousy days. After all, they are pouring really strong chemicals in you. Keep in mind that your emotions are also affected, not just your body. Your hormones are probably going crazy, hence the emotions and hotflashes too. I found it helpful to distract myself any way I could. Even small diversions like a walk around the block really helped. If it continues or you can't shake it, do ask for help with a counselor and possibly meds. A lot of ladies have found it necessary. Keeping you in my prayers.0
-
(((Teklya))) You will be ok tomorrow. Did they give you the dexamethasone to take? Make sure you take it. It will help. PM me if you have questions.
Shelley
0 -
Lago - great news on no rads! That must be a big relief.
Cathy - I'm sorry about your dear dog. I read the Rainbow Bridge poem that sweetareobabe mentioned. It is very moving. I lost the 'dog of my life' two years ago and still miss her every day. I just hope she is in doggy heaven chasing rabbits and having a great time.
Jag - all I can say is cancer is cruel and the price we pay to fight it is way too high. But we WILL get through it somehow. I pray for a breakthrough cure every day to end it once and for all.
0 -
Jag- Im scared to death to loose my hair, I never in my life imagined myself with short hair. I saw myself as the old lady with grey hair in a bun, then when let down would be past my butt. But... unfortunatly, I will soon be seeing myself with short hair for the first time since I was a little girl. If I cut it really short now, (before surgery next week) 1) I can donate to locks of love and 2) it will be much easier for my bf to wash my hair for me. Part of me wants to match the wig I want, but that wont give me enough hair to donate. So Im having a hard time deciding. This weekend, the hair gets cut 1 way or the other. I am so affraid of what people with think. I dont know how some people buy different styles and colors of wigs and visit the same places with different wigs. Im so self conscious.
My social worker told me today, that once its gone and the shock is over, (and I have a good cry) I will come to accept it. I hope she is right. Im so sorry we are all going through this, and Im sure everyone feels the same.
((HUGS))
0 -
Jag- its day 3 for me with no hair. I went out today to a support group and I wore a beanie cover with a hat on top. i wore my wig to work, but it was just not me....i just wasnt confident in myself. you know, like being a fake. I honestly dont like looking in the mirror, because I dont look, attractive, masculine and just ugh! I didnt mind losing the breast, but the hair issue is really hitting me hard, and its really depressing me. Ive had so many ppl tell me its no big deal, and ya ya it will grow back. But im still having a hard time dealing with no hair. my friend gave me a really short cut with the trimmer. I went to shower and half of it fell out, leaving me with bald patches, so we just shaved it. I cried and cried. I hope I snap out of it soon, but no one can help me over come this, I have to just come to terms with it myself. And im sure i will, but for now, im feeling really shitty about it all. I wish I could say something positive, but im just still getting a grip on things myself.
0 -
The chemo nurse said for most women losing their hair is the hardest part. She really felt I will have trouble with this because I have mid length hair (above shoulders) and it is thick and really nice. I personally feel I'm prepared.
I'm more worried about pain and long term SE and stuff. But of course in less than 2 weeks we'll see how I do. My first chemo was Tuesday. Hair will be falling out and I still don't have a wig picked out.
I think I'm really going to get into wearing scarfs on my head and not having to deal with styling my hair in the mornings. Talk about saving time. Nice hair can be a hassle too.
---------------------------------------------------------
I highly recommend you guys check out the Looks Good Feels Good program. I went last week. They have several locations in my city so I just went to the one at the hospital I was being treated eventhough there were 2 others that were closer. They talk about make up, wigs, scarfs, skin care and they give you a free bag of make up. See if there is something near you: http://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/
There are tips on the site too.
Jag looks like this one might be near you:Augusta , ME
Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care
Maine General Medical Center 361 Old Belgrade Rd
Phone: 8004643102
Add. Contact Phone: 20762194530 -
Good morning. Just back from a nice long walk. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, fall is in the air, the trees are losing their colourful leaves and I am grateful to be alive today. I took my IPod and listened to Josh Groban (some inspiration tunes) and cried the entire walk! No problem, I truly needed that!
I am headed for a nice soak in the tub. Today is my 4th chemo day. I will keep you all updated when I can.
Have a truly incredible day, all of you; thinking about all you angels out there.
Just breathe. . .
Teklya
0 -
Thanks for all the comments...
I wear my wig to work and it really is nice and for the most part no one notices. When I get home I take it off and that's when I lose it, no pun intended. I'm starting to get little bear patches in the back of my head. Thinking about buzzing or going shorter this weekend, we'll see. I can't seem to snap out of it or to come to terms with it. I had naturally black, thick, long beautiful hair. I was born with more hair on my head than I have now! I dealt with the other SE ok, the surgeries, etc but losing the hair - I just don't know what to say or do. I'm also worried about losing my eyebrows and eyelashes. I've tried a couple of scarves, but I just look so stupid. Some women can really rock them, I just can't.
I did look into the Look Good program, but it is all volunteer run and they are not having one this month. The next one is scheduled for the end of November.
0 -
Sign up. November will be hear sooner than you think. They do fill up.
0 -
I wore my beanie hat to work today, but now i feel everyone is looking at me. I think i will wear my wig to work. i hope I feel more stronger about my hair, but, for now, im grieving the loss of my beautiful hair. Time will heal....i hope.
0 -
Redninrah - I wore my wig to work exactly one time, for the reason you said, it made me feel fake. It was also May in Florida, and about 90F, hot and itchy. I started wearing bandanas and scarfs thereafter and it has never been a problem. Now I'm wearing ball caps, too, which is really fun, and even shows some bare head, but I don't care. If people ask me what's up I just tell them. I've decided every day is BC awareness day until my hair comes back in! It did help others I think, they felt less awkward about asking me what was going, and I preferred for people to ask me instead of the rumor mill going around. I even got some offers of help, dinner, etc. which I did accept gratefully. You just never know. Most people do care.0
-
ya my beanie is pretty breathable........
I have not exposed my bare head to my very young daughters yet, I dont want to scare them- i get scared looking at myself in the mirror LOL
0 -
A funny story, another lady at work who had BC last year and lost her hair, said that one day she was watching her grandson and she forgot to wear her wig. The little boy asked her why she got such a bad hair cut! He said he didn't like her new hair cut! I thought it was funny, and that you just don't really know how kids are going to react. It never crossed his mind that she was sick. She is glad of that.
0 -
just reading today.over worked the arm.prayin for all of you that are goin through some rough spots.really tough.i pray every day that cancer will get cancer.amen.FIND A CURE.ITS LONG OVERDUE.
0 -
Sisters: Thanks so much for the kind words and the caring. Today was the first day I wore a scarf to work. Way too bald to go without anything today. I had to do a bit of shopping and banking for work and even though I was self conscious about it I even got a compliment or 2 on how it looked. Next week I will try the wig (off work for a week - tomorrow 2nd chemo). Its very close to my own hair only straighter. I'm really glad its getting cooler and it's not the summer heat and wearing scarves and wigs. Thank God for small mercy's. Hope everyone finds the strength they need to cope.
Cathy
0 -
Ladies, big warm HUGS to all you doing chemo. Scarves look very stylish and keep the head warm.
Lago - LOVE your picture, you are so beautiful!
OK - anxiety is over...I am CLEAN!! Mammo is fine. No US needed!!! Whew. Having a nice fruit juice...with a splash of vodka.
0 -
Thanks Barbara but it's so small how can you tell… Yeah I know I have a great smile. My parents paid a lot of money for that. I grew up knowing that was the family trip to expo '67 in Japan or at least the price was the same.
And I decided when people ask me about my bald head (do you have cancer) I'm going to tell them I am protesting genital mutilation of young women in Africa, Middle East, etc. That's why I shaved my head. Well lets see if I have the guts to do it.
0 -
redninrah- where did you purchase or receive your wig? I bought mine through a salon. Not a wig shop, or at the cancer center. My insurance covered it. The reason I'm saying this is that out of the box it looked like a wig, the stylist shaped it and thinned it. I didn't know the first thing about wigs. The stylist really did know what she was doing. Half of the salons clientele are chemo patients (how sad). I did go back and had her shorten it a little more, didn't want to deal with the longer length. I'm not kidding when I tell you that no can tell it's a wig, not my kids, my mom, friends the chemo nurses. I do feel self conscious, but way better for me than having the short bald spotted look. I may be more comfortable in a scarf later. I have shown my kids 17, 16 and 9 the transitions as to not shock them. They seem to be fine with it, it's me that can't look in the mirror. Downright depressive. I also have to say I'm shocked that all my other "parts" have lost most of their hair - a little weirded out by that!
0 -
(((hugs to all))) It sounds like it's been a really rough week for everyone.
Sweeta, my dd donates to locks of love almost every year. She found out this last time she didn't need the 10" but could donate 5" instead. Seems they sell the shorter hair and use the money to make the wigs.
And... I saw someone just recently that had a scarf tied really neat with just a little bit of hair hanging out the back. From what I read here at bcdorg it might have been a partial wig but it looked really cute. Add big earrings, and you're a trend setter!
0 -
lago- Hah! I have found any talk of genital mutilation will stop any conversation! I just read "Infidel" by Ayan Hirsi Ali...astonishing. Great photo, great smile!
Barb- great news on the "all clear". I'm raising a toast to many more clear years to come!
For all you ladies losing your hair. It really will get better. The anticipation is the worst thing. A tip that a lot of ladies find helpful is to use a lint roller to get the little "stuck" hairs out once it does fall out. For every hair that falls out, just imagine another cancer cell disappearing. Praying for all of you.
tryn2staycalm- Cathy, hooray for blessings and doesn't that definitely include this beautiful, COOL Autumn weather!
0 -
Thanks all. Lago, I am all over the genital mutilation cause. Great idea. Do it!!
Cathy-big warm hugs.
DM-Thanks for the atta girl! I'll take it 6 months at a time!
0 -
Hey Barbara, how about a glass of vodka with a splash of juice? lol
Congrats on the clean Mammo. good to see you feeling better.
Kristy
0 -
Kristy-THANKS!! Woo Hoo! It is great to know that the next one is 6 months out.
And the vodka did indeed outnumber the juice. After all, it is a celebration.
Celebrate good times, Come On!!! etc.
0
