Crazy Sexy Cancer in Seattle

Options
12467…56

Comments

  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited September 2008

    Rickster,

    I can give you a few words of advice about the hair.  I was an emotional wreck about losing my hair and actually decided to shave it around day 10 because I couldn't deal with the fact that it was going to come out in clumps.  I thought I would have a heart attack that day or pass out before I could do it.  I cried the whole way through, but here is what happened.  I looked in the mirror and saw my bald head and recognized myself.  You will lose your hair, but you will still recognize yourself in there.  And you will recognize that it is temporary.  I am still a total cue-ball and probably will be for awhile yet since I just finished my last chemo last week.  I don't love it, but it's OK.  Believe it or not, I am actually much more comfortable being bald than I am with a wig, scarf or hat.  I have to remind myself to put something on my head when I leave the house.

    If that doesn't help-how about a little humor...

    Short Showers!

    No need to shave your legs or armpits!

    No bad hair days!

    No hair coloring!

    Hang in there.  Just tell yourself that your hair is the last thing that cancer is going to take from you. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • footprintsangel
    footprintsangel Member Posts: 43,890
    edited September 2008

    No shampoo either, But my hair grew back lighter and curly.  I was in the hospital last night and was there 5 hours My swelling went up with the lymphedema and my Therapist saw I was having trouble breathing. They sent me home thinking it was Asthma, but my lung still hurts, I see the therapist tomorrow and I am very sore by my one lung. What would you think I should do or how long should I wait. Thanks Debbie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rickster
    rickster Member Posts: 35
    edited September 2008
    Thanks for the great advice, Tracy!!  Terrific post . . .

    My hair started coming out on day 12. After two days of hand fulls of fine thin shoulder length hair and more than a couple of meltdowns, I decided 'it was time'.  Tonight, day 14, I invited my hairdresser to my sister's home for dinner and drinks and she took me down to about 1/4 - 1/2 inch all the way around (with a few slightly longer bangs)- - -  a great transition to the actual buzz, which I may have to do next week.  My ddp sent me a surprise phone msg / photo today, wherein he had gone and gotten a buzz cut himself!  Such a surprise and kind act as we had not even discussed him doing such a thing. 

    Thanks again, Tracy, for the courage and confidence with regard to this whole 'hair thing'  - - - I really needed your reality check.

     All the best to you fine women out there who are struggling with these bc related issues!! Rickster

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited September 2008

    Rickster and Kati,

    Looking forward to seeing you tonight.  I will send you  both Private messages about how we can find each other!

    Hope everyone is doing well.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Roya
    Roya Member Posts: 346
    edited September 2008
    My thoughts will be with everyone who is going to attend the 'look good feel good' in Bellevue.  I need to put forth a bit more effort myself.  I've lost aobut 10 pounds on this chemo and everyone seems to be commenting on how much better I look.........but I sure wish I felt better.  Too bad the weight is coming off this way.  Last Friday I went for chemo, got sick, and threw up even before they hooked me up to it.  Just looking at it and thinking abou tit affected me.  I knew it was all in my mind but knowing that didn't keep it from happening.  Well, now I am halfway done with chemo.  I am completely done with A/C!!!!!!! HURRAY!!!!Laughing
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited September 2008

    The Look Good Feel Better at Overlake was great!  I got some great stuff and it was nice to talk to other people who are going through teh same thing.  The best part though was meeting Rickster and Katirob.  So great to meet both of you!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2008

    Im so glad that those of you who were able to join up at the Look Good, Feel Good function had a great time!!!

    Im waiting for my work day to be over as I am meeting up with Judie (Towhee) from this website later this evening for dinner and a visit. She will be in Walla Walla visiting her college student son for the weekend so we are going to dinner this evening and maybe get together more over the weekend.

    Its always felt lonely here because Ive never found anyone (which Im certain there are more but they dont use this site) on this side of the mountains to pal up with so meeting Judie is wonderful.

    Hope everyone is doing well

    Jule

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited September 2008

    I'm so glad the two of you are going to have a chance to meet!  It does feel very solitary sometimes.  I hope you have a great time.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • katirob
    katirob Member Posts: 42
    edited September 2008

    Hi Everybody -

         It was great meeting Tracy and Rikster.  And we got a ton of new makeup - that was fun.  Tracy demonstrated a cool way to tie a scarf - it looked amazing on her.  

         Tracy - I've been thinking about you after reading the headlines about WAMU yesterday.  How's it going?  Sounds like jobs are safe, at least for the moment.  A good friend of mine has two adult sons who both work at a WAMU call center in Texas - so she's a little concerned.  Hope everything works out ok for you.

            A small celebration - I got through tx #4 with no fever!  That's 2 out of 4.  Keeping fingers crossed for the next two :-).

     Take care everyone.

    Kati

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2008

    Hi all,

    Jule is Cool! We had a wonderful visit. I never thought I'd get to meet any of the great people here, so this was a mega-treat. She's just what you see here and I think we will find a way to meet again.

    The workshop sounds great. I wish I could have made it for a visit, but it wasn't possible.

    Way to go Kati! Fingers dutifully crossed for 5 and 6!

    Congrats on your milestone, Roya!

    Judie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2008

    Judie-I replied and left an explanation for you on the other site as well, but wanted to tell you again how much I enjoyed our visit and look forward to another.

    Hugs

    Jule

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • footprintsangel
    footprintsangel Member Posts: 43,890
    edited September 2008

    Hi Friends, I am glad you two had a wonderful time. Every day is a gift, Sometime its not what we want but its a gift.  I am fighting still for help with my bills for lymphedema. Its like its not known about or Im just gaining weight not swelling. I know it will work out, But its tiring. Please take care Seattle and others, Angel hugs Debbie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited September 2008

    Hi All,

    I started radiation today and although it is pretty easy, I was just getting used to having my life back.  I have a countdown in my laundry room to help me remember that it is only 33 days of my life! 

    I hope everyone is doing well.  Jule and Judie-so glad you were able to get together.  It is nice to be able to actually put a face with a name isn't it?

    Debbie-hang in there.  We are all thinking of you.  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited October 2008

    All,

    Just wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing.  I made it through my first week of radiation with no problems.  I feel like my energy is definitely back after chemo, but am sure that will begin to wane as radiation goes on.

    Everything in my life lately has been so scheduled and ordered as far as treatments and doctor appointments etc that last night I did something totally spontaneous.  I bought a kitten!  I already have a dog and a cat and truly don't need another responsibility, but something about this tiny gray kitty just said "take me home".  Maybe I am starting to feel like it is OK to be spontaneous and to laugh at something silly! 

    Hope you all get to laugh at something silly today.  Cool

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • footprintsangel
    footprintsangel Member Posts: 43,890
    edited October 2008

    I am wishing you all a bit of sunshine in your day. I was going done my ramp with nothing on the sides, I went on my back. I am very sore and with the lymphedema its no fun. Now everyone says they will. I told sheri on the line that she make , Help for foots, I learn alot about my true friends, I am still going to win! God Bless you all. Luv, Debbie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2008

    Tracy-happy to hear that you are feeling better...but yes you are right about the rads making you fatigued.....it was so easy after everything else that I found it hard to believe that it would kick my butt......BUT it did, big time even....I will be 24 months out in Novemeber and I still have times (the are getting fewer and farther between) that I feel like I was hit by a truck....

    I actually had one yesterday...Ive been pretty swamped with work and lots of changes in my personal life this past month so things have been hectic to say the least....I felt it starting to come on earlier in the week but just kept pushing through it (NOT RECOMMENDED!!!)...yesterday I woke with a nagging headache that nothing took away. I decided excercise was needed to whip away the fatigue....Did good too, got most all my yard work done up for the winter....but at about 2:30 or so I was hit with a wall of fatigue so severely that I had to sit in the middle of the yard because I thought my legs were going to crumble.....took about 20 minutes before I could find the energy to drag myself into the house....I took a quick shower hopped in bed and slept from about 3:30 until my alarm went off for work at 5:30 this monring....I feel better today, still tired and my headache is still there but I think with another good sound night sleep it will go away.

    Debbie-Im sorry about your fall.....do try to be more careful please.....I wish I were closer so I could help you.

    Oh and I did something fun Saturday...I went to the Salmon Days at Issaquah.....of course it rained but was still fun...my oldest grandson lives there with his dad so we all had a wonderful visit...

    Do any of you ladies live near Issaquah?

     Where is everyone else???

    Hugs

    Jule

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • familyroks
    familyroks Member Posts: 575
    edited October 2008

    Salmon Days is my favorite of all of the Seafair events!  Now that we're over here in Bremerton, we don't get to go (or choose not to make the drive).  I used to live in Issaquah then Maple Valley for many years before we moved over here.  Sometimes I sure do miss being on that side of the water.

    I was wondering where you could've possibly been yesterday where you could have been working in the yard...much less sit in the middle of it.  Now I see you are in SE Washington.  Sounds like you really needed the sleep!  Hope your headache goes away quickly.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2008

    Hi Adrienne

    Yep Im the lone girl over here on this side of the mountains.....Even though it rained most the day it was still great...I work for the state in a salmon/steelhead recovery lab but we work with chinook salmon and I believe the ones that we saw at the hatchery there yesterday were probably coho.

    I ate until I couldnt eat another bite!!! there was a vendor there selling smoked salmon/cream cheese on a bagel...OMG those made my mouth water they were so good!!!! and we bought several smoked salmon pieces at different vendors....

    Headache is a little better now but definately still there...I finally broke down and took something for it so hopefully between that and trying to get to bed early again tonight things will feel better...

    Im one of those people who push themselves until they just cant go any further...obviously Im having a hard time adjusting to life after cancer treatment....everyone tried to warn me but I still dont see it coming until its too late....I actually felt fine during most of treatment..I dont think the fatigue from rads set in until about the 5th week and then it got progressively worse for several months then suddenly I started noticing it going longer between so I think it just takes time...

    Hope you have a great being to your week.

    Hugs

    Jule

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited October 2008

    I forgot all about Salmon Days!  Dang!  We live in Maple Valley so are very close to Issaquah-in fact I drive through the town almost every day on my way home from work.  I have heard that the fatigue from radiation takes awhile to catch up.  I am hoping to get by for as long as possible.  I am going to Hawaii in November and I'm sure it will catch up with me then, but I will sleep on the beach!

    I am about 4 weeks out from my last chemo and I still get muscle weakness occasionally and my fingernails are starting to do weird things.  The good news is that I am starting to look like a baby duck!  Have very fine, white hairs all over my head.  Finally!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2008

    I wish I had realized how close you are to Issaquah Tracy!!!! I will be making more trips over there as my grandson recently moved there with his dad so maybe one of these days we can meet up.

    Oh to be able to sleep on the beach!!!!!! what a wonderful idea....I think you will be fine...the worst of the fatigue hit several months after rads ended for some reason....

    Wow, its been 4 weeks already??? the month of Sept sure flew by!!!! But Im sure it didnt seem that way to you..do you wonder what color and straight or culy on your hair? If you read the hair issue threads they have all kinds of ideas to help make it grow faster, but apparently it usually comes back curly for awhile (chemo curls) and it never seems to come back the same color.

    Well, am at work playing here so really should get some work done....visit with you later

    Hugs

    Jule

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • footprintsangel
    footprintsangel Member Posts: 43,890
    edited October 2008

    Hi Friend, It is cold in Washington tonight, I wish you all well. I am still battling for the help I need and get tired sometimes. I know I was suppost to get a call from a dr this week for help, Never did! I was told I was going to be interveiwed in the paper for help owe 3thousand for wrap and other medical needs never happen. I guess we all reach this peak and wonder when it stops. I will be ok, Just tired of fighting. Hugs to all, Debbie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • katirob
    katirob Member Posts: 42
    edited October 2008

    Hi All -

       Haven't been out here for awhile - crazy busy with work.  Finished my 5th of 6 treatments last Wed so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Got through the fatigue but got an infection AGAIN and started antibiotics today.  That's 3 out of 5 times-yikes.   And I go nowhere so I can't figure it out what's getting to me.  At least this time I didn't have to go the dr - she just called in the prescription.  

        New SEs though - my feet look dirty and bruised like I've been playing soccer barefoot.  My Dr said it usually only happens to people of color - so maybe there's something about my ancestry that I don't know about :-)  Doc says they'll get to normal.  

         Tracy - thanks for staying on the thread through your radiation - I'll be following your progress.  Hope you can beat the fatigue.  

        Julie - I live in Snoqualmie - about 10 minutes east of Issaquah.  We skipped Salmon Days - I slept most of Fri and Sat :-) 

        Debbie - I"ll keep your situation in my prayers.  This whole things is tough enough without having financial issues.  

    Take Care Everyone -

    Kati

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • footprintsangel
    footprintsangel Member Posts: 43,890
    edited October 2008

    To all my Sisters in Seattle, Have a peaceful night and stay warm. I am sore tonight I will finish in the morning. Soft hugs to all, Debbie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2008

    Debbie, I wish there were something more I could do to help you....bc is tough enough to live through without financial concerns as well.....there just has to be help for you there somewhere.....have you contacted a social worker at the hospital or from any other agencies?

    I will keep you in my thoughts for $$$ help to show up soon, but for now know that we are here for you...

    Kati-sorry to hear about the infection again.....I used to have a great aunt that lived in Snoqualmie....and an uncle that worked for the Forestry and lived in North Bend so have alot of good memories from that area as a child..both my parents were born and raised in Port Orchard so I still have alot of family in that area so over the years have made many, many trips over Snoqualmie Pass....hoping one day to meet a few of you ladies if possible.

    I spent the last 3 days camping on the Snake River....weather was great other than windy all but one day....was a very nice respite from the real world as I love to camp and fish but havent for the past 3 yrs...

    Hope everyone is having a good beginning to their week!!!

    Hugs

    Jule

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Rovergirl
    Rovergirl Member Posts: 194
    edited October 2008

    Hi Everyone -

    Haven't been on the boards much lately but wanted to check in w/ my Crazy, Sexy ,Cancer Seattle gals!  All is well w/ me I'm still completing my chemo - only 8 more weeks of AC to go - gosh, that sounds like it's a long time - it is a long time!  So far AC has been quite tolerable - had a problem w/ nausea at the beginning but not now - it's all good. 

    Can you believe this October weather ..... another nice weekend.  Hope everyone is out enjoying it.

    Rover

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • footprintsangel
    footprintsangel Member Posts: 43,890
    edited October 2008

    To My Sisters in Seattle, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Its going to be Washington weather Monday. Have a nice one, Debbie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited October 2008

    How is it possible that I haven't posted for over a week?  I guess this is what happens when you get back to normal life.  Still no  SE's from radiation to speak of.  Knock on wood I am almost halfway done and no pinkness. I did go see a plastic surgeon last week to talk about reconstruction.  I had a lumpectomy  but now look like a ice cream cone with the tip cut off so will have that fixed and am also going to have a reduction on both sides (I was looking into this prior to bc diagnosis-now it is my silver lining.)  She said since I am not expanding my skin, I should have no problems.  I was very happy to hear it.  She wants me to wait until 6 months post radiation to go back to see her though which I am fine with.  That will be about the time of my 1 year anniversary of my lumpectomy so I can wait.  She will also remove my port at that time.

    I hope all of you are doing well.  I try to check in often even if I am not posting as often as I would like.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • footprintsangel
    footprintsangel Member Posts: 43,890
    edited October 2008

    Hi  Friends, I have been thinking about how lucky we are to have this weather and not some of the other parts of the worlds weather. I am still working on getting help, Long battle when I have

    Ptherapy for my breathing now. I dont understand why America does not do better with its people, And what is it going to be when we get a new President, I am nervous, I pray it comes out good for us. God bless you all. Take care,Debbie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jen29
    jen29 Member Posts: 17
    edited October 2008

    Hey all you fabulous Washatonians!  I have been invited by one of your contributors though I haven't been dx'd...thank the Lord!  A little about me.  I'm 29, and in the wait and see limbo.  I have a strong bc history in my family.  So far I've had a mammo, u/s, and MRI.  This coming Thursday is my biopsy.  Oh, and I live in Everett so I've been going to Evergreen.  They are AMAZING there!!!

    Hope things are going well for you all!

    Hugs,

    jen

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tkone
    tkone Member Posts: 511
    edited October 2008

    Hi Jen,

    Welcome to the group.  My sister had all three of her babies at Evergreen and I have to agree, they are really great out there.

    We will all be thinking about you tomorrow when you have your biopsy and will be praying for benign results. 

    Everyone else, hope all is well.  I am 2/3 of the way done with radiation and so far very few problems.  Starting to get a little fatigued in the evenings and a little red in spots, but not bad.

    Take care! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories