Hair loss

Well, I went to the place to see the wig they ordered for me and to see what else they had in case aI didn't like that one. Well, I liked the style, but there was nothong burgundy/red to the wig. I almost got it. Then they showed me this short one that they thought may be close to what I'm looking for in color. I tried it on but I still had a lot of hair on my head so it didn't quite sit right, but I liked it!!!   It's a kind ofdarker color with kind of darker red hi-lights in it and kind of flips in the back. It's slightly layered. I also figured it will be easier to come out of a short wig once my hair starts growing back. This way people will already be used to me having short hair. Later yesterday evening I took off my little cao which I have been wearing since Thursday night and proceeded to pull the rest of my hair out, then cutting away at it until I just didn't want to deal with it anymore. I will finishing cutting what I can today and try my wig on again.

I'm sorry to keep going on about the hair loss. Maybe it a subconscience thing about the disease. I have been keeping myself busy the last couple of days making candles in jars. I made some fall/holiday scents to take to work and sell. Sometimes I sell on Ebay too. I enjoy doing that and wish I could do it full time. I also make tarts for tart/oil warmers/burners.

I didn't experience any kind of pain with the Neulasta shot. I did a couple of times have a pain shoot across my lower back, but that was about it. Hopefully the rest of my treatments will go kind of good like this did. Other than I ate ome wrong foods which made my stomach hurt real bad last week. Thanks for all the support and listening to me rant about my stinkin' hair.

{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}

Bernadette and Katt,

Hi guys, I don't check this site on my home computer over the weekends and I found myself wondering about you guys, couldn't wait to get to work to get an update.

Bernadette I'm so glad that your cough is better and I agree with what you said to Katt, it was easier when my hair was gone  in some ways - still a bit of a heartache and I can't wait to get it back but having it fall out a little at a time was agony! Your job sounds like something that lets you deal with a lot of people, something I really enjoy too. I understand why you'd miss it and especially given what you're going through.

about the Taxol and the Neulasta - my treatment included the Neulasta to keep my white count up but then again I had chemo everyother week. Not sure if that's your schedule. And yes it hurts!! Plus the Taxol produced really bad back pains for me, just the lower back across my pelvic bone and thighs. It was bad mostly on my 3rd day after the shot so it was a double whammy. Sorry --- maybe it will be different for you.

Katt, sounds like your wig is really cute. I think having a new color or style is the upside of wearing a wig. Plus you're right it won't be such a dramatic change when your hair grows back to have short hair. Please don't feel like you're going on and on about your hair lose. I promise you that's one of the most difficult things for all of us. In a book I read the author said she'd rather have vomiting everyday if she could keep her hair.

Today begins my second week of radiation, I'm starting to feel more comfortable there. I try and park in the same place, use the same dressing room to change in and the tech's are beginning to be more friendly. All of those things make it okay for me. I'm really trying to stay in the present. I go so far out in my mind that I start wishing my life away...thinking how wonderful it will be when I'm through.

Yesterday I participated in the Denver Race for the Cure along with 63,000 other people. It was very emotional to see the sea of pink. $1 million was raised for research and help for breast cancer patients.

It was a long day but I'm glad that I was there. This was my second time and I felt a little better about being there. I wasn't sure if I could claim to be a survivor since I'm currently undergoing treatment for my second cancer in one year but they gave me two pink ribbons for my hat and said "if not you then who!". I had my family there and some friends for support -- I am blessed.

Good to hear from you guys.

hugs and good wishes from Denver

Love,

Donna

Hi Bernadette, wow, we're so much alike! I have never been sick either. Not even colds! I've had the flu once in 58 years. I know what you mean it's so weird to be sick. I hate it...

I wonder if there is some connection between people who aren't normally sick and those who get cancer?!?

I don't know about Neupogen -- is that for red blood cells?

Speaking of the Race --- I was sitting next to a women who had lymphodema and looked like she wasn't feeling too well. When the 5 - 10 year survivors came into the area she said her wish was to be cancer free for 5 years so she could see her daughter graduate. Then the people who were 50 year survivors came in and we both looked at each other and said "That's what we want -- 50 years! Can you imagine!

I have to remind myself that people do make it and not get to down about all of this health stuff.

Take care and hope you're feeling better today.

love from Denver on a cloudy cool day.
Donna

Hi Bernadette, I think we should ask others on the site about there previous health issues, it does seem like a strange coincidence. I think it is hard to be sick when you've never been sick before and especially with a live threatening illness.

I'm sorry to hear about your mom, that must be really difficult on a couple of levels. One to lose your mom and two to see cancer at its worst.

Someone told me to see each persons cancer individually and to remember that the out comes are different in each case - but I think it would be harder to do if you lose someone you love to the disease.

I saw former skater Peggy Fleming on the Today Show - she's 7 years cancer free. Tomorrow the Today Show is doing a 1/2 hour segment on breast cancer and treatments -- might be good one to catch!

Speaking of that have you heard Melissa Etheridge's song - I Run To Live? It's about her fight with breast cancer and I also heard that Olivia Newton John is a long time survivor who is releasing a new recording to help the fight against breast cancer.

I'm choosing to see the people above as hope that we too can be survivors - especially if we do everything we can to get well, which of course means treatments of chemo and radiation if need be.

love from Denver on a cool autumn day,
Donna

You gals have brought up an interesting point. I had not had any serious illnesses before my bc diagnosis. I took advil if I had a headache or the flu. That was the only med I took. Other than maybe an antibotic for strep throat (which was seldom). Also, I am right handed and my bc was on the left side.

Another interesting subject for a poll would be the genetic testing.

Deb

Yes it's me again with the hair issues. This hair loss thing is a weird thing with the places I have lost and not lost hair. I haven't had to shave below my knees for 2 months but yet I have some hair on my knees. I have a lot of hair on the back of my thighs which I didn't lose but had some noticable hair on my inner thighs which disappeared. Of course the head hair went with no problem . No armpit hair, no nose hair, lost the hair off my lips(down below) but still have some at the top of that area. Had a little bit of hair above my lip which basically thinned out. Still have my eyebrows and lashes.

Now what I want to know, is about how long after chemo is done can I expect my head hair to start growing back?   I haven't been able to look at myself in the mirror without having my head covered. That's how traumatizing this has been to me.

Katt

There is hope for your hair because mine is coming back in during Taxol too. I had that itchy burning feeling and then I noticed blond curly hair coming in. Now I have brown mixed in with it. My natural hair color is auburn so this is quite a shock. I still have 4 more Taxol to go so I hope it does not fall out. The only bad thing is that you will loose your eyelashes and eyebrows during taxol. I have just accepted it and it is just one less step in getting ready in the morning. as for hair on the rest of my body it is all gone too. The upper pelvic area held on the longest. I have no trouble looking at myself without hair, for some reason I have just accepted it. I really look like a cancer patient now without eyelashes though. I usually have thick long lashes so that is a little harder to cover.
Katt when are you starting Taxol?? You didnt mention that you were scheduled for it.

katt

I thought everyone did Taxol I guess I was wrong, do you have to have rads? I will as soon as my Taxol is done. I hope the last 2 treatment go smoothly.

Kathy

Im doing 8 Taxol I have 3 left. I hope you have better luck with Taxotere than I did. It is a cousin to Taxol so the symptoms are mostly the same. I have had a really bad week it started out with body aches and head aches, now I have a cold and cough again. My whole body aches and I cant stay awake. I went to bed last night at 11 and slept till 6 today. My throat is raw from coughing why oh why cant I just feel good again.
I wish you luck with the taxotere.

Kathy

I feel better again my Dr gave me a powerful antibiotic and it worked fast. I cant afford to be sick right now, Im trying to take care of my hubby. He will get out of the hospital tomarrow or saturday and then I will be waiting on him again. I know what you mean about the bad taste in your mouth I always have a metal taste so food does not taste like it is supposed to. I now have a 5 oclock shadow of hair on my head, I dont know why it is coming in while Im on Taxol but it is. I lost every bit of hair I had left on the rest of my body. I cant figure it out but Im glad my hair is coming back in.