Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
Comments
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For those of you buying wigs, my friend(cancer survivor)gave me a tip when I was buying mine. Make sure you buy one that has some sort of bangs. That way if you loose your eyebrows you can kind of hide it. Something that I hadn't thought of.
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Annie, I agree with SouthernCharm that your wig looks great! I am now almost bald on top too, but a fair amount of hair on the side....sort of like male pattern baldness. I imagine the stuff on the side will come out too, but in the meantime, my Giants baseball cap works, especially since they are trying to hang on to connection (but they have to win tonight and the next few nights to even have a chance..BEAT LA!) So....I am wearing it even to work. People think I am just an obsessive fan.
I think I am going to get one of those wiglets for sure, but no real wig for me, just not my thing. I will make do with scarves and hats. Though seeing how cute some of the wigs others have are, I have wondered if I should change my mind on that one.
HUGS!
Octogirl
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Hi everyone!
This board does move fast! I spent the day taking care of everyone else so I can do chemo tomorrow and let DH take care of the family for a few days. From last time I know I'm kinda jittery for a few days and then crash for a few days.
I'm in tears and overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support from our friends and family the past few days. I am scared for tomorrow's chemo and the SE's and my hair falling out but it does help to have such great support.
Good luck to my same day chemo sisters and hugs and good wishes for where ever you are in your chemo cycle!!
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mom2boo - We should be chemo buddies tomorrow! Good luck!!
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headcovers.com sells human hair eyebrows! If my brows go I'm getting them!
The trick with the wig is to get the hand tied lace front on super awesome sale. It looks like my natural hairline. I can't do bangs. Bangs make my face look so fat with a big fat nose. I'll just go for the fake eyebrows. Gotta practice the fake lashes too cuz I don't want to go round like Marlena Dietrich a la Carol Burnette.
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That would be awesome!
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i bought an eyebrow stencil and this stuff from sephora that has fibers in it to use with the stencil so it's more like eyebrows. I have a friend in TV news whose makeup artist recommended it. The same friend also bought me a bunch of fake eyelashes to use.
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is eyebrow loss inevitable?
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One of the local women here had two stubborn eyebrow hairs that hung on, but that was it.
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Annie! That wig looks fantastic on you! Two thumbs up!
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skittlegirl - good luck to you too! Is yours an all day event like mine? First I see my MO and then it's at least 5 hours for all the premeds, 2 chemo drugs and 2 targeted therapies.
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All you brave women warriors here posting about buzzing your hair off gave me courage. I don't have an electric shaver, so I trimmed the best I could to less than an inch --- and my scalp doesn't hurt so much now! Still sore if the hairs move, but much less than when the hair was longer.
Felt utterly devastated yyesterday when the bresat surgery physical therapist confirmed that yes, I am developing lymfedema, not only in my arm but also my chest wall (so that's why the scar lookss so puffy in the evening but doesn't look/feel infected..) But am trying to focus on the positives: the compression sleeve she gave me lessend the upper arm evening pain enough that I didn't need to take pain meds! Also, these forums have a lot of discussion/advice for lymfedema. Maybe it won't be the end of the world
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moo2boo - Yep. I go in for labs at 9. See the doc at 10. Start infusion at 10:30, which takes 6 hours. Then have an ultrasound on my thyroid about 15 minutes away from the cancer center. It will be a long day for both of us.
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Well..took the plunge and buzzed the head last night. DH did the deed and what he didn't get, came off in the shower. Scalp is sore but I have a sleeping cap that stays secure overnight. There were tears..god its awful. Still feeling nausea though. This time around, the side effects have been delayed. I didn't feel anything until day 5 and the stomach issues are tough to take. Its been 3 days now so lets hope it lets up today.
Annie, I like how you think. I may not taste the coffee, vodka or whatever but hey, its worth a shot
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Ok ladies. I have this port thing on Friday. What drugs, creams or whatever am I supposed to ask for? This has been rather rushed and I won't be able to speak with my surgeon until I'm right there at the hospital so I need to make a list. Any insights would be appreciated.
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Annie, the only thing I can think of is something for anxiety the night before if that's an issue for you. The numbing cream is for when they access the port for chemo, and your MO will prescribe that. Other than that, it was the standard don't eat before the procedure kind of stuff.
I had general anesthesia for my mastectomy/ALND, and was really nauseated for a day or so afterwards. No trouble after the twilight anesthesia with the port surgery. Also, before the mastectomy, they gave me something to relax me and said I would be awake until just before the actual surgery started. I remember them wheeling me through the doors to the surgery hall 10 feet from my pre-op cutain area, then I woke up in a post-op curtain area so similar to pre-op that I was unaware I'd gone anywhere. For the twilight anesthesia, they gave me something to relax me, and I remember the surgery room and transferring to the surgery table, then I woke up in post-op. A couple of graham crackers and some juice, and I was on the curb waiting for my husband.
BTW: they drew blood from my port yesterday without numbing cream (between cancer appointments and work, I forgot it), and it was no big deal. I felt the stick because it's a perpendicular puncture, but I now know there's no cause for panic if I forget again. One more small monster vanquished.
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Ladies what chemo are you on? My Dr. recommended taxotere with cytoxan ( tc) I have stage 1 grade 2 cancer had a double mastectomy. After chemo he recommends tamoxifen. Er+, pr-, her- . Sorry I have no idea how to post on the bottom and leave it there lol. Negative lymph nodes. Thank you.
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Annie, I agree with Scotland. After discussing with the anesthesiologist right before the surgery, I chose conscious sedation. I felt so much better than after my two prior surgeries. I vaguely remember moving to the operating table and that was it. I had some discomfort for a few days afterwards, mostly when trying to sleep because laying on either side hunched my shoulders over and put pressure on the site. Our recliner was my bed for a couple nights.
Your wig looks great and you are so courageous to post your bald picture. Thank you for that. It makes me feel not so alone. My buzz is extremely patchy right now. I just want it all to go so it can be over with. Also, thanks for the tip on the It Stays product to keep my wig in place. I used it yesterday and it worked great.
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Hey Aga! You've got a much less aggressive cancer than I have - they put me on Adriamycin, Cytoxan, and later Taxol. Being young with a grade 3 tumor they told me I needed the nuclear option for chemo. Earlier stage, less aggressive... less chemo.
As for the signature...
In your profile, it's under Settings (very bottom) -> change your Dx & procedures to Public (click on the private icon).
There's also a section further up where you can type in a note like your name and anything else.0 -
I used the numbing cream they gave me last time, but I put it on too early and then I had to wait forever for a spot to open because we were late to the appointment (doc office was running behind). The nurse gave me ice to put on the spot and I think that worked even better than the numbing cream. It was nice and cold when she stuck me and I didn't even feel it!
I asked the anesthesiologist what kind of sedation they were giving and told them that general anesthesia makes me vomit after surgery. I asked to avoid that. She said no problem, that it didn't require general anesthesia. She was doing propofol and she explained how it was a twilight sedation and you wake up easily and can feel comfortable and alert the rest of the day. She was right and it was simple, I don't remember a thing and I felt just fine afterwards. No pain at all! I was shocked.
Also - prior to the port procedure I asked my BS if the procedure would be painful. She said I should expect it not to be painful because she does not do something called "tunneling" which is what some doctors still do, and that can cause some discomfort post surgery. So it might be worth asking the BS this before they do the procedure (I asked as I was gowning up and she was there talking to me).
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Thanks! All helpful info!
Twiggy I love It Stays. It's just so much extra peace of mind security and it really does hold tight.
I just sorta got used to the bald. It doesn't hurt anymore so I'm getting ok with it.
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I'm not sure I even took an ibuprofen after the port installation. I slept in our bed with extra pillows. For a week or so, I could feel it if I moved just right. Mostly because the surgeon had to attach it to my jugular instead of the normal spot. She told my husband that there was wasn't enough real estate to do anything else. The joys of being small! They don't want me to pick up anything more than 10 pounds on that side for a month. I have a bony shoulder/clavicle area, so I can see the port and sometimes have to shift things off of it (including my 12 year old and the dog, who wanted to snuggle this weekend). They didn't want me to shower for 48 hours, so I made sure to shower before the procedure. Even if you talk to the surgeon, call his/her office and request instructions. I love my surgeon, but I did have to call and ask.
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hi all.
Am 10 day past my 2nd TC infusion. My pre chemo decadron was reduced from 5 tablets(4mg) night before and 5 tablets day of, to only 2 tablets night before and day of. Reduced heartburn and tremors a lot but felt a little queasier though so I just used my Zofran once a day for a few days.
Barely had bone pain on leukine shots this time (yay) but had lingering injection site reaction. Managed with ice, topical cortisone and Benadryl at night.
Most of my hair fell off before round 2 but I didn't shave (couldn't do it) and just cut remaining bob cut hair close to skin. so I have fuzzy hair all over . I did not trim my bangs so I look like Linus and I have a hairline! So I'm still able to wear caps during errands and school runs. But have been alternating wear halo( from tlc) full wig, and cap with human hair attached( my favorite - just wear and go)
Am getting used to almost bald look . Hate the sweaty head though. Not sure if it's the meds. I always bring a baseball cap in the car so when I get hot from my full wig or halo I just switch out.
Oh I also took my full wig to a stylist at a cancer hospital botique. She thinned the sides and bangs and adjusted the lace cap by hemming. Wig looks better less poufy! So ladies take your wigs to a stylist and give it a chance.
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Day 14... I ran my fingers through my hair a few times last night and this morning. I came away with enough hair to make somebody a nice beard.
It begins. -.-
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Buzzed it off last night. Hats with halo look will do. Its a bit longer than I normally wear but I feel human today. Last night was brutal
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I had general anesthesia for my port. He glued the beejeebus out of me afterwards so no stitches. The glue started peeling up a week later and yesterday (day 8) he gave the okay to pick at the glue.
I didn't have any bathing restrictions and he even told me I could go swimming on Sunday (day 6).
The most annoying thing is when I drive the seat belt goes right over it so I have a small pillow to cushion it.
For pain, he sent me home with some oxycodone. And also an anti-nausea med.
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I'll smile tomorrow..lol..rough night with a bad tummy
Getting better today though.0 -
Good morning, ladies! Lisa, I'm with you...they are throwing the kitchen sink at this mess. I'm having radiation afterwards too, then an oophorectomy, then reconstruction and 10+ years of an aromitase inhibitor in lieu of Tamoxifen, since I will be post menopausal by then. I see you are in your 30s and BRCA+ as well. Are you having an ooph?
I would never have guessed I'd be BRCA+ I am the first in my family to have breast cancer.
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hugs to all the ladies feeling down and out today. Last night, I just stared at my body. Scars everywhere, no nipples, the port, down over 15 lbs and can't put on weight. I just wondered, "Whose body is this?" I used to be a distance runner. I just look old, sick. So I understand about losing the hair... It's sort of the final straw.
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