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Posted 1/12/2005 10:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everybody!

I went to my onc dr on Monday and got all the info from him.  It's pretty good.  I have stage II.  The tumor was 2.5 cm.  Two nodes were involved.  They tested 10 more that were negative.  Yeah!  I will have 6 chemo treatments, one every three weeks.  Then I will have 6 weeks of radiation.  This will push me into menopause which will be fine by me.  No more monthly unwanted visitor!!!! :-)      I need to be cancer free for 10 years.  That seems like a long time to me, but no matter, because I am going to keep an eye on this evil thing for the rest of my life, which will be longer than 10 years, God willing!  So....

How did you girls handle losing your hair?  He said I will definetly lose mine.  I'm kind of looking forward to that and let me explain.  For years I've been dying my hair because if I don't I will be totally gray or white, not sure which.  This is not to say that's a bad thing, it's just that I keep my hair dyed dark brown and if I tried to let it grow out, I would look like a skunk because my roots would be white!  Yuck!!!!  Anyway, this way, my old damaged dyed dark brown hair will be gone and the healthy natural color (whatever that will be) will grow back.  That's what I'm looking forward to.  In the meantime, I can wear scarfs and/or wigs.

I'm looking forward to a whole new look! 

I'm so glad I have this place to come to.  You guys are so wonderful and you've helped me so much.  Hugs and lotsa love!

Posted 1/12/2005 12:05 PM (GMT 0)
Tamaralynn, Can't wait to hear about your new look!! Ten years, five years, one year, it really is all the same. When you reach your milestones it just mean you are still here fighting and helping others. Love and hugs, Candy
Posted 1/12/2005 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, love your attitude. Its just wonderful. I was not lucky enough to have a computer when I was diagnosed. I put up with my hair coming out all over the place and really not up for all the cleaning that entailed. After I met these ladies they told me the quick and easy way is to shave your head. It also hurts when you let it come out in bits at the time. What is really great is the stories you will share later and laugh about. I think my moment came when I stepped into the shower for the first time bald... I stood there and could not decide the protocol for washing bald heads. Do you use soap or shampoo? I still remember standing there trying to decide like this was the most important decision in the world. Suddenly I saw the humor in it all and started laugh and from that minute on I knew I could deal with whatever came along. Love and hugs Joyce
Posted 1/12/2005 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
Tamaralynn
Greetings from Down Under (NZ)
Your game plan sounds good - and your attitude is first class!
BTW as a getting on to 2 yr survivor, I found the hair loss the least of the problems in retrospect. My hair grew back curly and still has a wave- my pre C hair was straight as the proverbial poker! Also more natural colour. I have kept it short and everyone says it suits me so well. I hope you become just as happy with your new hair.
Best wishes for the "journey"
Kath
Posted 1/12/2005 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
Bald, smald, it's not the worse thing to happen. I used a wig and scarves. You can do lots of things with a beautiful, silk scarf and it gives one such a air of mystery. Re: the shampoo/soap conundrum, I'm for Dove bars, the soaps, not desserts. They have lots of extra emollients and moisturizers to keep that unprotected scalp in good health. Hope this helps, Luci
Posted 1/12/2005 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
Gee I was about to come and say you had a great attitude and look how many beat me to it! I know everyone is tired of hearing me tell about my daughter's beautiful hair when hers grew back. She was a blonde and like her mother kept it blonde as we grew older and our hair darkened. When she lost hers it grew in just a beautiful salt and pepper. Not the most expensive beautician could have made it so pretty. And she thought it made her look older and missed her blonde hair, so she went for the Nice 'n Easy and went back to blonde. I did not have chemo so I can't relate any personal story but my hair is mostly white now and I love white hair. Grandmas are supposed to be white, right? And I will be a great grandma in April. LOL. Hope your hair comes in beautiful and that your chemo sessions go as well as hers did, too. Hugs MK
Posted 1/12/2005 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
My son shaved mine and took out all his frustrations of me grounding him while growing up while doing it. We laughed and laughed. One thing I did have to have and you might want to check into it is a sleep cap. My little bald head would get so cold at night, so I found a wonderful sleep cap and it kept me nice and warm. ahhh the little things! Your attitude is great, don't lose that it will help you more than you know. My hair grew back curly unlike the poker straight hair before, but after a year I was back to straight, but it was fun while it lasted. You will be amazed at how fast you can get ready in the mornings! LOL Good Luck to you and keep us posted.

L&H
Sara
Posted 1/12/2005 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
My son also shaved my head. We laughed as well. We called it a head-shaving party. My one regret is that I didn't do it sooner. I was losing hair by the handful when I finally said, "Enough!"

I also had stick-straight hair, so losing it was no great loss in the first place. I figured I could only improve on it, and I did. Like Kath, I have curly hair now, and I'm loving it. I don't know about the gray, because I kept mine colored as well. But I've dyed it back to it's natural color, reddish-brown, and it never looked as good!! I hope you get the same results.

L&H,
Rita
Posted 1/12/2005 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
I am currently dealing with the hair loss thing.  It came out quite a bit after my last chemo treatment, before Christmas.  Not all came out, but just in case, I bought a wig.  I was about to return to work and didn't think anyone would enjoy seeing a bald chick.  LOL  I haven't had to wear it yet.  I still have enough hair to be acceptable.  However, I just had another chemo yesterday and wouldn't be surprised if the rest falls out.  I cut it shorter myself when it was falling out in hands-full.  Everyone - friends, co-workers, family - tell me I'm beautiful anyway.  They are lying through their teeth, but it makes me feel good.  My scalp was hurting as the hair fell out, but stopped. 

 

A co-worker bought me some garlic shampoo that was designed by a woman who went through chemo.  I've started using it, but can't tell any difference yet.  It's from Nora Ross.  Anyone heard of this?

 

L & H,

Posted 1/13/2005 4:05 AM (GMT 0)

Hi. My hair came out on day 19 (AC). I didn't want a buzz cut, so I just waited. A few days prior, my scalp got sore to the touch. A couple days before, my hair felt funny when I washed it...like real coarse or something. On the day it decided to come out, I was home on first day of a weeks vacation, for Thanksgiving. I told everyone at work that when they next saw me, I would be in a wig. Anyway, when I washed my hair, and rinsed it, it was all matted together. I couldn't even separate it with my fingers. I got the comb and tried to pull it through and a clump came out...so I just combed at the roots, until I combed it all out. I tied a scarf on my head and went about my business.

Funny story...I was walking through the house one evening and when I walk down the hall, I have to pass a huge 4'x6' mirror. As I passed the mirror, for one nano second, I forgot I was bald and scared myself to death. I thought a burglar had gotten into the house. Once I realized it was me, I had a good laugh. Take care of you.

Cindy

Posted 1/13/2005 4:27 AM (GMT 0)
Tamaralynn,

I can't really help you with the losing hair problem with chemo, I was one of the lucky ones and my hair only thinned while taking it, but I didn't lose it. I took CMF, not sure what you will be taking, but could the doctor maybe be wrong with this? You might just be one of the lucky ones too! HMMMMMM, but after all of the straight hair turning to curly stories, maybe I am the unlucky one that I DID NOT lose my hair. I have had thin stick straight hair all of my life. I think I could take a cruise on the money I have invested in perms throughout my lifetime!

Best of luck to you....the gals previously have given you some great advice.

Hugs,
Debbie
^j^ ^j^
Posted 1/13/2005 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
My hair also came out right before chemo #2 (AC). I was so determined to be in control (can you imagine?) that I had a friend shave it off before any of it fell out. I could not stand to see it go, so I took it on my terms. When the stubble came out, it was a relief to have it gone, I was so detached already from it. I rubbed it out in the shower and made quite a mess, as the hair was all over me (not attractive) and the drain.

I cried and cried when we shaved it, that day was the hardest for me. Then it was over, and life went on for me...just getting by that day was the challenge. I wore a wig in public and a turban thingy from ACS at home and to sleep. Who knew how cold a bald head was in Michigan winter?

I always had some sprouts of hair left, so I used a pea-sized drop of shampoo. If nothing else, it made me feel normal.

Keep up the positive attitude, it will take you far!
Lori
Posted 1/14/2005 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Every time my hand went to my head and the hair came out - I cried. (During the holidays - thanksgiving and christmas and new years) Finally after DAY 14 (pay attention - this is important!) it came out in droves - I cried and cried. Then on day 15 I woke up at 3 am and told hubby to just "Put out of my misery and shave my head NOW!!!" The crazy man said "NO, BECAUSE YOU WILL KEEP CRYING!!" All I could think about was it will take two minutes - and I will cry, but the other way will take weeks and I'll still cry - shave it now and get it over with - HELL, I was late for work that day - oh, and the wig hurt - did you know that you can adjust them? I didn't - I spent $200 on the first wig - wore it exactly one day and then spent $100 on the next wig and it looked great.

L & H,
Cathy
Posted 1/14/2005 3:22 AM (GMT 0)

Lost hair after chemo #1.  I now have about 3/4 inch of hair all over my head.  Very dark and starting to look very curly!  I hope so.  Eight years ago when it grew back, the curl was great.  When it got a little longer, I was at SummerWaves and a woman came up and asked me if that was my curl or if it was a perm.  I said "It's mine".  She went on and on about how beautiful the curl was.  (I didn't want to tell her that the perm cost about $10,000.00.)  In 8 years the cost of "that perm" has really gone up!!!!!!!!!

Good luck and let us know how the hair grows back!!!

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