March 2012 chemo

Bev_22

I had my first tx of Abraxane today.  Was told my hair would fallout and most likely 2 weeks out.  Sounds like this is right on track with the rest of the Marchers.  I feel good.  I'm starting to panic because i have not prepared for the hiar loss. No wig shopping, no scarfs, no turbans and no caps.  I have long hair and was told that I should probably cutit now so when it started falling out it would not be such a shock.  If I did not have to work with the public I would not even be concerned about hair. 

I sat next to a woman in tx that I noticed that she had not lost her hair.  Later in the conversation I was told she was wearing a wig.  It looked so real and becoming on her.  She said it was a online order for a Paula Young wig that she took to her regular hairdresser to cut and thin for her.

I just thought I would throw this out for anyone who was interested.  I may check these out.

Any more suggestions out there?

I have picked up so much from my Sister Marchers.  Thanks to all of you. 

BEV 

Love74

Bev22-I hear you...I work full time in an office with lots of people coming in. I wore my wig all last wig and nobody mentioned it to me. Its pretty similar to my old hair. I kind of wish I didnt work so that i could live in a fleecy toque!!



Masserz-the money spending for this cancer crap is getting a bit rediculous!! we just spent about $10,000 to freeze some embryos just in case the chemo damages my ovaries! And I find shopping makes me feel better so that isnt helping either!!

galena_79

End of Day 13: I did it!

Well, almost.

I sat with my hairdresser for 2 hours this afternoon, while she cut my hair into 5 or six different styles, gradually getting shorter and shorter.  My husband took photos of each new style along the way.  It was a lot of fun.  

Eventually she got down to using the hair clippers, but didn't want to leave me looking completely stubbly just yet.  She used a number 3 (10mm) at the back and sides, and number 6 (19mm) on top.

I can see some thinning areas at the back, but it still looks okay.  I will probably wear a scarf in public.  Once it thins out a lot more I'll get it trimmed right down, and pick up my wig.

A picture...

 

PS - When I went in, my hair was long, past my shoulders. 

tellie_savalis

Wow, you look great, short hair becomes you!

tellie_savalis

Kokonut- Crap, really you have to wait?  I wish I had some pithy response but mostly I just think "crap".  Then I think of all the incredible things people have peresevered through (spelling is off, took my sleepy stuff) and what medicine can do.  Spots are spots, although it sure as heck isn't want you wanted to hear, it is overcomable.  I think we are all scared, even when we don't want to admit it, so we will be scared, and fight together.  You are not alone.  I will be thinking of you and hoping mental power can make the medical system of S.C. work faster.  Or I could come to S.C. and yell at some people for you. 

Corky

tellie_savalis

Kam 170- why all the travel?  Too bad you weren't coming to PDX today, we actually had pretty good weather.  Hope it goes well. 

Kraemermom

Sissydi-your Dx is close to mine. I will start chemo 3/15.  A/C x4, T/Hx4, 6wks radiation, Herceptin q3 wks for a yr and tamoxifin x5 yrs. Lots of tears lately but I'm trying to stay positive. I have 5 children and a wonderful husband. Glad to have some type of support group who can relate!!!

QuinnCat

Thanks guys on the hair day!!  Sounds like like Day 15 for most.....this is really helpful.

cmcclean - I live in a small town and even the bigger towns (one in which I get chemo), do not have breast reconstruction, so I had to go to OHSU in PDX.  I'm headed your way this morning....we had beautiful weather here too, yesterday...the best.  My friend says I always bring bad weather when I come to Portland, but honestly, I've also avoided all of the snow storms at home with this cancer thing.  Snow is difficult when one has cancer!

khintul

Galena 79, good for you! Your approach is exactly what my hairdresser and I decided to do when I saw her last week. We're going to do it on what will be day 15 for me, just 11 days away. At first I told her we'd shave my head, but as I got thinking about it I decided it would be easier just to buzz it down really close.



I already have a short cut, I get my hair cut every 3weeks, but it's about 3-4 inches long on top. I really am sorry for the ladies with really long hair that will have a lot more drastic change. Although, let's just consider this the Universe's way of giving us a new do!



I posted separately on the board about a good resource to track SE's - it's on the American Cancer Society web page. I'm using my iPad right now, and am not that great at going there now while typing, so I'll jump over there and see if I can get the link to put here as well.



Karon

khintul

OK, here's the link to the SE spreadsheet...



http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@nho/documents/document/acsq-009502.pdf



It's very complete, and I printed it off and have been filling it out every day. The only thing is, it's quite a few pages to print, and you need one for each week. That's OK though, I think it's helpful.



Karon

kltb04

Galena - cute! As for others about to do the same the ladies at the program I went to to get my wig told me to just cut it close (buzz cut) when the time comes and not totally shave it as it would make your scalp too sore. Fwiw the wig I got there is Paula Young as well and it looks really natural. I don't know where to take it to get it more customized or thinned out since I really don't have a regular hairdresser.

onvacation

Good morning ladies!  This might be a silly question, but I am going to ask anyway!  LOL  I have fairly long hair (below shoulders) and plan on getting a wig that is to my shoulders.  I have read that you cut your hair shorter before or just at the beginning of hair shedding.  If I cut my hair shorter (maybe chin length) and then a few weeks later have a longer wig, it would be much easier for people to see a big change.  So I guess either I get a shorter wig instead of a longer one or just wait till I shed then wear my wig earlier?  I know in the scope of everything else this is minor, but I guess this is easier for me to deal with then thinking of all the other things! Or I guess I just don't worry about the change and let them figure it out!  

 I haven't started my treatment yet - still 2 weeks away, just trying to get everything I can lined up before hand.

 Any suggestions?

Thanks, Kim 

kltb04

Just do whatever you are most comfortable with. It will take about two weeks from the time you start treatment so you still have some time. You may want to just go ahead and cut most of it off and start wearing the wig once you start losing any hair at all ( rather than going shorter and shorter and then back longer). The place I went didn't have many longer wigs. Most were barely shoulder length due to the weight and comfort I guess??? The one I picked is between chin and shoulder length. Just a little shorter than my hair is now.

onvacation

Thanks Karri - yea not sure why I am stressing out about this - it is just hair right?! I didn't even think about the weight of a longer wig!

onvacation

Another question for you guys - did any of you change your diet before or during treatment?  I am a vegetarian but could do better with it.  I currently drink green juice and green smoothies, but other than that I probably eat too many carbs.  I have read several books and they recommend a low fat, whole food diet high in fiber.

kltb04

Especially in the summer in our part of the country. I'm in Arkansas. I am sure when it comes down to it, actually cutting it all off will be more traumatic than I think it will be but my hair is truly awful. Lol.



I have the worlds worst diet so I cannot advise on that. I hate vegetables, love carbs. The other ladies who have actually started/ undergone treatment may be able to help but I have read that during treatment you just have to find what you can tolerate to eat.



Afterwards is my concern because I know I am going to need to change my diet and I am so picky about food.

diamondslayer

My first appt with my MO is on Monday. My youngest daughter did her externship there and highly recommended the clinic and the drs. Since she worked there for about 8 weeks she is going with me on Mon so she can help me ask questions. She is a CMA and loved working with the cancer patients and just being there for them. She is taking quite good care of me.

From what I've read, it's chemo 101/school the first time with the MO. My onco came back with a score of 23, not sure of any other info b/c my ps nurse wouldn't really tell me anything else about it. Not sure if she knows how to read the onco. I am presuming I will need chemo but won't know anything for sure till Monday. My older daughter is making me some chemo caps for the occassion so I'm covered that way. Don't think I'll do the wig thing, we'll see though.

Thanks to everyone for the lists of things we'll need on this, yet another part of the journey. Is anyone on anti-depressants? I want to know if I will be able to take them with chemo. I have PTSD & major depression since my dh and I were ran down by a Cadillac Escalade while stopped on our Harley. I'm also getting more panic attacks but not on any anti-anxiety drugs but seriously thinking of trying to talk to my gp about getting put on something.

Changing gears here... I am waaay overweight and my veins have gotten hard to find. Apparently since my bmx and snb they can't use my left arm for anything, so I was wondering about the port I have read about. Is it put in during the mx surgery, or later, or if you don't have one is it possible to get one? I know, so many questions.

Well I hope everyone here will have a super day.

tc9876

Onvacation, that is an excellent question.  When diagnosed, I went mostly vegan with a lot of raw.  Before that, I had minimal dairy, chicken & turkey (no beef or pork) with daily green smoothies and lots of good supplements.  Since I've started chemo, I've thrown caution to the winds and ate whatever my heart desired.  I figure my good diet didn't prevent B.C. in the first place nor did it prevent me from needing chemo (I REALLY fought against chemo) so what the heck.  Well, I will probably go back to vegan once I get over my defiant mood and I do tell myself that my diet probably prevented things from being worse soooooooo...that's where I'm at.

BTW, today is a GREAT day (day 10 after TCH#1).  I feel good and the sun is SHINING. I hope that the sun is shining for all of you ladies.  Go soak up some Vitamin D!

JennL

onvacation, The lady I'm getting my wig from found me a wig that looks very similar to mine, it is long like mine (below bra strap in back).  She said she would cut it very short (like galena's) when it starts to fall out and I would leave with the wig on.  This way no one should notice:-)  The oncology nurse told me to make sure I eat calories during chemo, protein, etc.  I am going to talk to a nutritionist, someone my husband knows from work his wife was a nutritionist at memorial sloan kettering, so I'm going to email her and ask for any tips.  I will make sure I let you all know what she says.  

Galena your hair looks great! 

Hills

Hi Jenn,

I am facing the same decision. I have long hair and have purchased a wig that is as close as I could find to my current hair. I'm day three post my first AC infusion and feeling good so far. The place where I bought my wig is suggesting I shave my head when I start to feel the "release" and leave with the wig. Now I am wondering about doing what Galena did. Galena, you do look great. If it's more comfortable physically going this route, I think it would be preferable. Like you, I am surprised that the hair loss is feeling like the hardest part of this ordeal. It just feels so public and the hardest to manage with my two young daughters. It feels silly in the scheme of things and I'm not someone who spend a lot of time on my appearance. I've been a wash and go type of girl. Just wanted to commiserate.   

kltb04

Diamondslayer. About the port. I am doing everything ass-backwards since I am doing neoadjuvant chemo (before surgery) so i have only had the sentinel node biopsy and all my scans so far Your onco will probably advise on that at your first meeting. I got mine yesterday. The surgeon does the surgery. Obviously. lol. But yeah I had my sentinel node biopsy on the right side so they can only use the left. My veins are hard to find and tiny. They have about used up all they can and the iv for my scans and surgery yesterday had to be done on the outside of my wrist. Hurt like hell. So the port is welcome. Mine is still all bandaged up so I don't even know what it looks like.



But anyway I don't start chemo til Monday and will have my "training" and first session all in one.



I don't know on the antidepressant question but oh my gosh. My dad rides and some people just do not respect motorcycles. He had a Harley for awhile but recently went back to a Goldwing.

Sissydi

Onvacation, I had really long hair (to mid back), and I went with a shorter wig.....mainly because as you grow out, the transition will be easier and shorter. My wig now is shoulder length, and layered, a look I can replicate as my hair grows out!



Galena, what fun! You look so cute! When I shaved mine, I used a #2 comb, so it's pretty short, but I wear my wig all the time because my gray roots are all in now, ugh!

kltb04

Hills how old are your girls? Mine are 8 and 11. The younger one is fascinated by the whole hair loss thing.

onvacation

I like the idea of leaving with a wig on when I feel the "release"!  Thanks for that, cross that worry off my long list!

I agree that the diet is probably more important after treatment is finished.  One interesting thing my MO told me is that he does not want me to gain weight.  I am currently not overweight, so I thought that was an interesting comment.  I asked if he was going to give me something that would make me gain weight and he said no.  So I said if I have to lose my hair and go through all of this I better be skinny when this is all done!  LOL  

 Just a little about me, I am 50, single with no children.  I have a wonderful support system of friends and famiy so I am very lucky there.  I will be working through all of this and planning a BIG vacation for when this is all finished!  I usually take several beachy vacations a year, and a bit bummed that I won't be going to the Caribbean this year.  I am hoping I can work a short trip in somewhere after my radiation. 

kltb04

Speaking of Ports....for those who have them. I got conflicting and vague instructions about showering/ bathing yesterday after surgery. The dr said take the dressing off today but upon discharge the recovery nurse said 48 hours. She said 48 hours on the showering but the paperwork says no baths for a week. This may be entirely TMI but I feel like I either need to at least sit in a couple inches of water (not a full soaking bath) or I am gonna need to buy a bidet



Advice? I guess the main concern is just keeping the area dry. I just have to figure our some way to have my mom help wash my hair so I don't go to the oncologist Monday looking like a total skank.

Sissydi

Diamondslayer, yes you can take antidepressants during chemo, and don't hesitate to ask for anti anxiety meds! Actually, Ativan, which is used for anxiety, has an added benefit of wiping out nausea, and that's the drug I rely on most to take care of my nauseasness. So your getting a double benefit!

Sissydi

Karri, do the shower 48 hrs after. They just don't want you getting the incision wet yet. They make really nice waterproof te graders band aid type things you can get at the drugstore, and they will seal off the area, as long as water isn't blasting right at it!

Sissydi

Oops, Tegaderm bandages is what I meant to say Karri!

Kadia

Galena, Your hair looks great!



The thread has been so busy lately, I can't keep up! Hope everyone is doing relatively well.

Sissydi

Welcome Kraemermom! Yes, our stats are similar! You have come to a great place. This is your rant, rave, TMI, whine, complain, rage, and happy dances place!