2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

Anonymous

Rosemarie -
You look great with short hair! As for the aches and pains in your knees and hips...I have the same complaint but my toes and heels also ache. It started during Taxol so I blamed it on the neuropathy s/e's. But now since I found out I have major bone density issues (Osteopenia). I'm assuming it's from that.
Have you had a bone density scan? And, are you taking Tamoxifen?
Laura

Anonymous

Help...I have a mini-mohawk!



Should I get the top trimmed to match the sides?

marymelodi

It's so fun to see how everyone's hair is coming along. Laura: you might want to get your "do" evened up. It is hard to tell.

Rosemarie: I think you look cute! My color is different, also - I got white and curly after chemo.

Tracy: Wow - you are really moving on with your life! I wonder if you would say that breast cancer unleashed a whole new you?

Greetings to everyone. Paula - like you, I am trying to lose weight and get more exercise. Hard to get myself up and out some days. I agree with Amy that having a teacher or trainer is a help.

Hope all is peaceful and productive for everyone today!

ake

laura, it's hard to tell in that picture, but what if you got the whole thing layered and evened out? it's hard to cut our hair after we waited to grow it for so long, but i found that once my hair was layered all over and kinda chopped up, it's actually growing out and staying in a style more. although, you do look awesome with your mini-mohawk i love your shirt by the way

Anonymous

marymelodi - Amy -

I think you're right...it's time for my first haircut! I cannot believe it's come to this point! Some days I feel the past year has flown by and other days I feel it's been an eternity.
It's so weird - I STILL don't think everything has hit me. And perhaps it never will.

July 21st will be one year that I got the phone call and heard the Dr. say "you've got cancer". Those three words still "ring" in my ears...it's very creepy and surreal. Sometimes I think I've been numb for the past year.

My pink shirt...I try to wear extra feminine/frilly clothes so I DON'T LOOK LIKE A FRICKIN' DUDE! LOL LOL LOL

Laura

TracySeattle

Ha! I started wearing make up again so that I didn't look like a dude! :-)

My hair is growing back much longer on the top than on the sides too. I think I am going to have to have it evened out at some point....

Yes, I think having this experience has unleashed a whole new me and hopefully a more caring and compassionate me....

I love you all, it is good to be back here with you and watching us all moving on as a group.... My one year anniversary is in September, the 6th I think.....

Have a good day!

ake

when you ladies get your haircut...tell them you want layered, choppy. i put wax in my hair every day and i love it. love it!!! plus, going to the salon and having your head shampooed is as good as it gets sometimes...especially after being bald for so long. isn't it strange there was a point when we were all bald? seriously!...so bizarre.

august 12th is the day i found my lump and august 17th is when it was confirmed to be cancer. i just went to therapy and cried a bit about it, but it's not such a bad thing to let out all this pent up emotion. i think i really need to do it sometimes after being in fight fight mode for so long. i think we are all incredibly strong and braver than we ever thought possible and honestly, that makes us all more beautiful than we ever were!

and laura...you seriously don't look like a dude...even if you were army fatigues! i think it's funny that we're all wearing girly clothes and makeup...i think it's nice to be able to dress up and feel like the kick ass women we are!!!

sherryhaire

OK Need some help--Just came home from Plastic Surgeon visit he gave me 2 options for my bi-lateral reconstruction.
1. Have a DIEP done and just do one breast right now then wait 3-6 months and go back and have the skin and tissue taken from my back along with small implant to complete the second breast. or:
2. Do the DIEP proceedure, split it in half to give me some padding on top then go back after 3-6 months and have small implants on both sides.
I just don't know what to do, I know it has to be my decision but What would you do?

RobinTN

Tracy
I am so glad to hear from you.So you did it huh? I cant wait until its my turn,and I know it will come soon.I can almost feel the peace of mind that is coming my way.Please when you have time pm me and let me know what happened if you dont mind,I need all the encouragement and help I can get.
You sound so much better in your post,I am so glad for you.have tons of fun with your new life and please stay in touch with me.

Paula15089

Ladies - fabulous pics!!! i need to get off my bum and change my avatar too..

Laura - i second what Amy said - get a trim, and use WAX! I dont know what i would do without it. Experiment with different products until you find the one that works. You now need to train you hair all over again to make it sit in the right direction..

Amy - yeah, i though about personal trainer.. they are very pricey though, and i think its my diet that needs adjusting.

Dont know whats wrong, but I am getting random aches and pains lately... One day its my back, next its my hips, then knee, then shoulder?? I either got older suddenly, or i am doing something wrong in the gym.

TracySeattle

So I guess I am new at this hair thing. What is Wax? Can you give me a brand name? I use a stong hold gel on my hair....

Paula15089

Tracy, wax and pomade i think are mush better for short hair than gel. Gel makes hair stiff and scrunchy, wax and pomade keep it defined and have strong hold without being stiff. A little goes a long way, just rub it between your fingers, and then use them to style your hair.
Every brand of hair products makes wax and pomade, you can even get a combined wax/pomade product! If you hair is unruly, find the one with the strongest hold.
If you want to start from a cheap brand, just to see what its like, you can get them at supermarkets. I have the Sunsilk one (i think its called modelling clay or something) and its dirt cheap and suprisingly good. For the more upscale brand try special hairproducts stores. TiGi is a good brand for example... I also like Aveda. You really have to experiment!
Good luck!

ake

wax/pomade is so great because you can make your hair look messy, but styled all at the same time...which is good for short hair. you just put a little on your hands and mess up your hair. i love it

RoseMarie

Sherry - don't know much about those procedures but I'll keep you in my prayers regarding your decision!
Laura - you look great! I'm finally starting to enjoy my do and am getting used to having curly hair.
I called my onc yesterday about my legs - he sent me in for an ultrasound to rule out clots - everything was fine. However, he then told me to go to my primary care doctor for follow up - what??? My right leg is 1 inch smaller than my left leg. I know they deal with neurotic people like me all the time but I think this is significant...

TracySeattle

Thanks for the hair advice! I will give it a try!!! I'm also thinking about dyeing it soon, but can't decide what color to go with....

Rosemarie - I am so sorry about your leg, it doesn't seem to stop does it? I have been getting cramps in my right calf during the night (alot) but it goes away during the day. The thought of a blood clot has run thru my mind....

hope you all have a good day today!

ravdeb

Hey Laura,
What a cute picture!

I have had my hair trimmed twice. My hair is growing in stronger on the sides and back and thinner on the top so I had it evened a bit all around. I WISH I had more on top. It's also not as curly on the top as the rest is.

So, I'm using a hair cream to kinda make it look like the rest.

This short hair is fun. We rode in the back seat of my brother in law's convertible and hardly a hair was out of place!!!!

My new problem is now, after being out of Taxol for 4 months, my nails seem to be getting ready to take flight

NOne have fallen off but one is peeling off and looks like it won't make it. Hopefully the others, that look similar, will stay on. Has this happened to any of you after 4 months????

TracyNY

One year today I got the dreaded news. One year later I'm here, healthy and more fabulous than ever!! They should give out pins and keychains like they do in AA and NA!!

I had a haircut on Monday, I felt like an ingrate trimming the locks that I prayed soooo hard for. I may give the hair wax a shot, I use Clinique gel which does a firm curl but I was my hair daily so it doesn't get too crispy.

I'm getting ready for my summer holiday next week, I'm off to Ocho Rios for two weeks and I cannot wait!

Anonymous

Rosemarie -
I am hoping and praying that it's nothing serious. Let us know what your PCP says.

tda -
Fun, fun - you deserve it! I love Ocho Rios! Where are you staying? I met my husband at Hedonism in Negril Beach - we were both on vacation...love at first bite - oops I mean sight! LOL LOL

Amy - Paula -
Wax it is! I'm heading out to the Aveda Salon shortly to pick some up and while I'm there - I just may treat myself to a much needed pedicure! Thanks.

Everyone -
Hello!

Laura

debbie444

Hedonism - isnt that the place we see on satellite tv where people wander around with no clothes on???!!!!!
Debbie

RoseMarie

Thanks Laura, my PCP took measurements of my legs and said if the left continues to get bigger then we'll do another ultrasound to rule out clots again and if the right continues to get smaller then we have to worry about atrophe due to nerve damage. I just feel better having had someone see me and talk to me...I leave for Tallahassee tomorrow so the doc. said to make sure we make frequent stops and that I move my legs a lot.

I bought wax - can't wait to try it - just supermarket stuff but thought I'd give it a shot. Must say had never heard of wax before!!

Tda - have a GREAT time!! What a great sounding trip!!!

Ravdeb - hope your nails hold up!!

Tracy - hope all is better with your legs. The doctor told me to watch for swelling. They also said another sign of a clot would be if your leg suddenly feels really warm or changes color...

Have a great rest of the week ladies - hope to be back online in a few days after I settle in and finish loving on my sister's new baby!!!

debbie444

Rosemarie - hope it all turns out ok for you.

Today i felt really humbled - twice. The first time was when my daughters teacher showed me a peice of work she had done, a peice of prose under the heading My Role Model ( it made us both cry!)
It was called 'A Poem for My Mum'

Deborah is as beautiful as a butterfly
And as gentle as a wish
She is as playful as a puppy
Her eyes are as blue as the summer sky
And shine into my heart
Her hair is chocolate brown
And as soft as a baby duckiling.
She is the bravest person i know
I love her - she is my Mum.

Well after i had composed myself in the staff toilets i went to a coffee morning run in aid of the breast care unit at our hospital. It is hosted by an elderly couple on our estate . This year they apologised that they were only doing it 10 - 4 as she is having chemo again and needs to lie down in the evening. She is 84! They have opened their house for the last 9 years and raise about £600 a time selling scones and raffle tickets.

Hope we get comission on wax sales!

Debbie

maryannecb

maryannecb

I managed to figure out how to post my pics but can't seem to get my pic small enough to change my Avatar. Any hints?

Tracy, glad to hear you so positive. Keep up your spirits.

Laura- I think we have the same hair! Mine is shorter but growing faster on top . It is wavey not curly.

Rosemarie hope your leg issues don't amount to anything serious. Did they do any bloodwork? Is there color change?
Does your calf hurt?

Mary melodi ,are you still training for your hike? Is your husband still keen too?

Amy and Paula thanks for the hair advice. It is great to have you two a "head" of us in the hair game.

Sherry I think I would opt for option 2 as far as recon goes. It sounds the most likely to have a n even match.Which option are they pushing?

Paula, I feel about 80 when I firsat stand up but as I start to move I do feel better. I guesss that is the answer, keep active.

Ravdeb, my two large toenails are just hanging in. On is only attached by 1'4. Nail polish is covering them so I am no longer looking at them. My finger nails are split and fraying but I see nice normal growth about half way down. I am hoping they will be back by Fall..

I had my Herceptin today. There was a mix up with my docs appointment. They told me to come today but he had me scheduled for Monday. I don't see him now for three weeks. My last appointment was in early May. I felt let down as he did not examine or review my tests with me. Oh well.

Fists up!

TracySeattle

Ravdeb - I lost 6 of my finger nails, well, actually they turned black and got really soft so I pealed them off. And I lost one big toe nail - the toe nail just came off about 3 weeks ago!!!!

We are all using Hair Wax!!! Isn't that so totally cool???? WE HAVE HAIR!!!!! YAY!!!!!

I love all of you!

ake

maryanne....what a beautiful picture...you look very chic

tda....happy anniversary!!!!!

debbie...you totally made me cry. what a beautiful, amazing poem.

wish me luck ladies...tomorrow is my appt. with the fertility specialist.

ravdeb

Rosemarie..just read about your leg..hope it's all okay.
maryanne..you look beautiful!
debbie.. what a totally amazing poem!
and to those who lost nails long after chemo..that all sucks. was hoping you'd all tell me I was imagining this. I think that if I had lost it while on chemo it would not have bothered me nearly as much as losing it now, when I'm trying to get my life back in order. maybe they will hang on and not leave me. One of them is really taking flight. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Amy..good luck with the fertility specialist. Hope that goes well for you.
tda..have fun on your vacation!!!

I'm enjoying my trip in the States. All we do is eat and shop! Have been busy with my family this week and then my dh will be back in Israel and I will spend the remainder of my trip with my daughter. We plan to see some shows, visit some family here and shop, shop, shop!!!! Well, the biggest problem with all of this is that I feel about 10 years older than I did a year ago when I was visiting in the States. So tired, my leg hurts me a lot (from a herniated disc that started acting up along with my new gift of rheumatoid from the chemo) and it is frustrating me! So very tired...ugh.

Take care Ladies.

debbie444

I have evertything crossed for your visit to the fertility specialist today - lets hope its a special day for you both.

Did i have a different chemo to most of you? I had FEC , my hair seems slower than a lot of you but my nails are in better condition than they have ever been. When i went for my nail art the other day, the manicurist said they were the strongest she had seen in months. ( i do strip wallpaper with them and pull staples out of the wall with them!)
Today is my visit to the rheumatologist (sp?) to see how to treat me after my oophrectomy. Lets see how it goes.
Hope everyone is looking forward to the weekend
Debbie

Paula15089

Debbie, I believe in US and Australia they mainly use A/C and Taxol... FEC is used mainly in Europe.
I think how fast your hair and nails grow is very individual... not as much due to type of chemo.
Ravdeb, great to hear from you! Isnt shopping in the States great??!! I go crazy every time i go there!

Amy, best of luck to you. Are you thinking about freezing any embryos or eggs? I thought about it before starting chemo, but my onc has discouraged me since my tumour is highly ER+ve..

debbie444

Ravdeb - eating and shopping - my kind of break! Looking forward to seeing some pics.
Maryanne - great new pics. I altered my pics on www.resize2mail.com , which lets you keep altering the size. I found it best to crop the excess off first (on the same site) Its straight forward - i manage it which says something!
Debbie

TracySeattle

YAY!!! I changed my Avitar! Thanks, Debbie for the info!

Hope you all have a good day today!