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Posted 5/10/2005 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ladies-

Im wondering if anyone can reccomend a good electric razor?I'm starting to feel like a wooly bear here.Do these thing's really work?The one I bought is terrible.Also, I'm closing in on day 14 of chemo, and my hair is shedding really bad.Did you just keep cutting shorter, or did you work up the nerve to go GI Jane?We had to roll up the car windows today because my hair was trying to ride all over DH.I've heard if I dont shave it , the hair will matt up.Is that true?Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Michelle

Posted 5/11/2005 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Michelle! Nice to see you! I did not realize you started chemo, where did you decide to go?

I did the GI Jane thing because I was not going to stand to see my hair fall out. It was part of me keeping control and I knew I could not handle letting it go...I went the weekend around day 18 or so, and had it buzzed. It was traumatic and terrible and I cried, but then I was in charge of what happened and had the weekend to get used to the wig before work. When the stubble finally fell out, I was relieved to get it overwith and I was already detached from it then, so I was glad to rub it out in the shower. I won't tell you what I looked like with the hair stubble all over me in the shower! LOL

As for a razor, I had a SNB and kept shaving. By the end of chemo, the hair had stopped growing, and by the time rads were done, I eventually had to start shaving again. But it grew through chemo, as did my leg hair...it was amazing. Sorry I can't help with the razor question....

L&H,
Lori
Posted 5/11/2005 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
Lori-
I ended up at U of M.I started chemo on April 27th, and I go back this Thursday.I didn't do to well the first week, but I'm feeling fine now.I'm still waiting to get the correct path report, and should find out Thursday.I have to admit I was so scared the first day of chemo, I cried. I think I'm keeping myself in denial until the moment everything happens.I have to say it really does work great until that moment.
The hair is another issue , its hard to ignore when its every where.Mine is rubbing out in the shower now, and its long.I have to say it does not taste too great!LOL-I hope everyone is well
Michelle
Posted 5/11/2005 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Michelle-
I did chemo at U of M too. The nurse I had (Wendy??) was great. My onc is Dr. Wicha, we did Tuesday chemo. I cried too the first day, not knowing what to expect, and the "is this really happening" reality set in. If you did not do well that first week, please ask about a different cocktail of pre-meds. WHile they may not find the right combo for you right away, there is no need to suffer without trying other options. I was given decadron, Kytril and now I forgot...they gave me Torecan to take prn but I hardly used it (for nausea). I took a little ativan to counter the steroid jitters, and then went on pepcid for reflux and ambien for sleep. One pill to counter the side effects of the next one. Oh, and I took stool softeners to help the constipation.

I'll be back to the cancer center in Aug for my mammo and check with the onc, then we move to annual visits. Yikes!

Keep us posted regarding that path report and be sure to get copies of everything.

Some people say that the hair follicles or scalp feel tender before the hair falls out. I am not sure how it felt for me, but once I shaved it and cried and mourned, then I was fine....do what works for you, we all cope differently....but hopefully you'll find it....

L&H,
Lori
Posted 5/11/2005 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Lori-
Lida is my nurse, and she is truly wonderful. I have to say I really really like her.Dr. Blayney is my onc.He has all the credentials, but Dr. Wicha is the one I would have chose had I been given a choice. He seems to have the best credentials on the paper they sent me.As for the stool softeners - I went from one extreme to the other. Had that not been a problem, I could have worked through the fatigue!!LOL
Are you graduating from the Tomoxifen in Aug?Yearly visits-wont that be nice.Thanks for the advice-now I just need the courage to do the inevitable.
Michelle
Posted 5/11/2005 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
The only negative to Dr W is that he is the direcetor of the cancer center and I think he sees very few patients. He is a doll though, and I really like him. I picked him up in the breast clinic. I actually graduate from Tamoxifen on June 20, but the Aug appointment was when my annual mammo was scheduled. I last saw him in February, which was the 5 year mark from starting chemo, just always kept appointments in that schedule.

Sending you cyber courage across the warm Michigan sky tonight....I had someone else cut my hair, I could not do it either. But as hard as it was, I could not just watch it fall out...just my way to take control.

Hang in there-
Lori
Posted 5/11/2005 3:20 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Michelle! Ahhhh, the hair loss. I remember it well. Mine began to start falling out about 8 days after my first treatment. Now, I am one that does NOT even like pets that shed, so the hair everywhere was a real issue for me. My sil was my beautician, so we kept cutting it shorter and shorter. Finally, after about 2 wks, I had her shave it. I was the one that decided when I would lose my hair..NOT the chemo. I felt sad but I really didn't cry. My head was very tender for a bit. I think the problem came when my hair began to grow back in and I forgot how long it took to shampoo, dry, etc plus shave my legs. lol  I lost all of the hair on my body so I didn't invest in an electric razor. I would imagine, if you can just hang in there, it won't be much longer before you won't need a razor either. BTW...don't forget to keep a hat on so you don't sunburn your head. Also, protect the arm that you had the lymph nodes removed from. Don't let it get sunburned if possible.

Have fun with the wigs and hats. Just think, you can have any color hair and any style that you want now. You don't have to be afraid.

Hugs

Deb

Posted 5/11/2005 6:13 AM (GMT 0)

Hi, Michelle,

I know exactly what you are going through, because I just had my head shaved today, and I feel relieved, I didn't even cried. I had long hair, and I tried not to shave right away, I was in denial. Then, 16 days after my first chemo it started falling out pretty bad. I feel relieved now, because the feeling of losing my hair in bunches everyday was worse than shaving my head. I couldn't stand it anymore. So today I am feeling much better than yesterday(just a little cold on my head).

Try cutting your hair shorter, in order to get used to it, then shave it . Do not wait like I did, the feeling is much worse.

Hang in there. You will be ok.

Hugs and love,

Karla.

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