For those starting TAC in March/April 2006....

Hey Marcia and everyone, thanks for the pick me up, I had really fallen into the basement there. I finally slept for... 4 straight hours last night!!!! WOOOO! I actually dragged my sorry butt out to bowling to get my money since it was prize night, but I didn't bowl. One of my friends there made me this really cute scarf it's dark blue, and has little parrots all over it in different bright colors! And I also had won some extra money for having a high series or something? lol

Today and this weekend it's the couch and bed for me, and the computer with a heating pad on my back.

I hope everyone has a good weekend.

Paula

Jeannette, So sorry about your hair. I have to admit, being bald is a bummer. So many things to remind you about your hair when you don't have it anymore...the showers that don't take as long because you don't have hair to wash and dry, the shampoo commercials that only remind you of not needing shampoo...Looking in the mirror still startles me at times and then I am only reminded that I was diagnosed with bc. I tell my self that if the hair falls out it the chemo must be working.
I hope they find a solution to healing your belly without decadron. And the metal mouth taste subsides as the days roll on.
Feel better soon!
MarciaA.

I have read on the boards of the many ways that other women have dealt with losing their hair. Saturday was my turn. It was an amazing experience that I want to share with all of you.

First, a bit of background. I am not native but have a lot of native (Native American/Aboriginal) friends and several that I am very close to. Native people regard hair as very sacred, respected, and only cut for significant reasons. A woman will cut her hair to mark a major change or turning point in her life. So one of my friends suggested a ceremony to cut my hair before I had no choice over the loss.

A handfull of us gathered at my house and, the day being remarkably warm and calm, on my porch. It is most often too windy to sit there for long so this in itself was remarkable. The greening fields and Rocky mountains were the background.
Although we had come casually dressed in slacks, we quickly realized that if this was to be a ceremony, that in traditional manner skits should be worn. So I hauled out some wraps and skirts for everyone. Next we smudged (purified) ourselves with burning sage (a traditional women's purification herb), and smudged the scissors, shaver, cloths, etc. that we would use for the hair cutting.

We then settled outside and they wrapped a special blanket that had been given to me after my surgery around me to keep me safe and protect me. (Blankets are also special, but that is another story). We sat on another special blanket of mine and had a pipe ceremony to offer our prayers to Creator. That became a very spiritual and very powerful time as we shared stories and two of the native women present shared teachings of womanhood and changing and taking charge of our lives).
We then moved on to the grand cutting - and head shaving afterwards. It was a gentle way to let go. But my heavens, what a revelation. I actually disliked the colour of the hair that got clipped off - the dye job I had been so proud of!. And then the great unmasking - the roots showed the real colour - which I hadn't seen for many years, and has altered considerably. Well, I am not ready for that yet.

When all was finished we celebrated with tea and the most incredible array of desert sweets that everyone had brought.
And I felt good!

And the following morning In woke up and still felt good about having all my hair off and moving on in my life. To new beginnings and new awarenesses. And being so grateful to have friends who shared this special time.

Even now, a couple of days later, I feel OK about having my hair shaved off. I have read on the boards of the many ways that other women have dealt with losing their hair. Saturday was my turn. It was an amazing experience that I want to share with all of you.

First, a bit of background. I am not native but have a lot of native (Native American/Aboriginal) friends and several that I am very close to. Native people regard hair as very sacred, respected, and only cut for significant reasons. A woman will cut her hair to mark a major change or turning point in her life. So one of my friends suggested a ceremony to cut my hair before I had no choice over the loss.

A handfull of us gathered at my house and, the day being remarkably warm and calm, on my porch. It is most often too windy to sit there for long so this in itself was remarkable. The greening fields and Rocky mountains were the background.
Although we had come casually dressed in slacks, we quickly realized that if this was to be a ceremony, that in traditional manner skits should be worn. So I hauled out some wraps and skirts for everyone. Next we smudged (purified) ourselves with burning sage (a traditional women's purification herb), and smudged the scissors, shaver, cloths, etc. that we would use for the hair cutting.

We then settled outside and they wrapped a special blanket that had been given to me after my surgery around me to keep me safe and protect me. (Blankets are also special, but that is another story). We sat on another special blanket of mine and had a pipe ceremony to offer our prayers to Creator. That became a very spiritual and very powerful time as we shared stories and two of the native women present shared teachings of womanhood and changing and taking charge of our lives).
We then moved on to the grand cutting - and head shaving afterwards. It was a gentle way to let go. But my heavens, what a revelation. I actually disliked the colour of the hair that got clipped off - the dye job I had been so proud of!. And then the great unmasking - the roots showed the real colour - whicc I hadn't seen for many years, and has altered considerably. Well, I am not ready for that yet.

When all was finished we celebrated with tea and the most incredible array of desert sweets that everyone had brought.
And I felt good!

And the following morning I woke up and still felt good about having all my hair off and moving on in my life. To new beginnings and new awarenesses. And being so grateful to have friends who shared this special time.

I am pleased - and surprised - at my reaction and acceptance of my hair loss. I was not looking forward to it. But now that it is done I am ready to get on with the rest of my healing. Bring on the chemo and let it be done!

I was particularly interested in the pipe ceremony.It brought to mind how some use medicinal marijuana. I have never smoked but I have to admit there have been times I have thought about it when I am so nauseated from the chemo. I hope the ceremony works to ward off evil Cancer! For sure it was reinforcement of the power of friendship. Thank you for sharing your story.
MarciaA.

Marcia, Thinking good thoughts for you for #4; I'm off to #3 on Thursday and I also expect to be d&o for a few days (the Neulasta is worse that the chemo so far, except for the cumulative fatigue). I'm glad to hear that they can safely reduce the dose of Taxotere when the se's get bad! Leigh

Thanks so much Leigh, I hope your TAC #3 goes well this Thursday.Thanks for the well wishes.

Paula. I still have eyebrows and eye lashes but not as many as I did when I started. My eye brows and eye lashes probably won't be able to survive another chemo blast but I will let you know. Thank you for the good vibes. Let's hope most of the worst is behind us.
Take Care
MarciaA.

Marcia and Leigh - I have TAC #3 this Thursday 5/4. I am already stressing out about it. My big 50 is on the 8th and I am hoping that I feel decent by then. i was so looking forward to my birthday till this darn bc diagnosis in February. Like Marcia, I take the Decadron tomorrow and day of chemo. For me no noticable side effects. The Neulasta doesn't bother me too much either. Its the darned TAC that does me in. By the time the Taxotere is done or before, I am absolutely miserable. I have Emend, Kytrel, Ativan, compazine suppositories and Marinole for nausea. After #2 I went for IV hydration for the next 3 days, the first two included kytrel in the IV. I have no appetite for a good 3 days after chemo so eating is hard - besides nothing has any taste!!! I have lost 17# since this diagnosis process and trying not to loose anymore. I still have some hair on top of my head - it fell out day 12 - 18 after my first chemo then stopped. Wonder when the rest will go? I prefer hats to my wig- my hubby likes me in ball caps best. He got me a great pink one. No pit hair or leg hair, pretty skimpy on my arms and my lashes are thinning. Still have eyebrows - dread loosing them - I know I can pencil in eyebrows, but I am not very talented with make-up. Marcia and Leigh, I hope things go well for you with you next treatments. Karen

Hey Paula, my eyebrows thinned out totally and my eye lashes are falling out. I also lost all of the hair you know where and my head is thinning out, havent lost it all yet. I did shave my head hair really short and all I have is a small bald spot on the top and thinning on the sides.

I am keeping everyone in my thoughts and prayers and am sending out the good vibes for all of us to have strength and whatever else we need to get through this,

Thank goodness for this board!!

Sylvie

jps - my hair is doing the same thing on my head, I keep growing a bit of stubble back! I give up on keeping it shaved now, I figure it will give up soon too. I thought I was the only one with stubborn hair like that LOL

On the other hand... I haven't had to shave legs or pits for the whole time yay! small thing to be happy about I guess. As for that "other" hair hehehe it's almost gone totally. I'm not good with makeup either, but I'm armed with some eyebrow stencils just in case. I have to looke up one of those classes around here I'm sure it would be fun and I know my sister would go with me.

Paula

Leigh, bless your heart for raising so much money for the Relay for life. I have only felt like donating this year since my neuropathy had made it hard to participate. I will be thinking of you tomorrow.

Mindy, so sorry about your nausea. I have Emend, zofran and phenergan. My nausea lasts about 5 -6 days after chemo. Hope you are feeling more yourself in the next few days. You gotta gear up for #3 then you are half way there!

Karen1956, good to hear from you again. Don't you just hate the decadron but It acts like a diuretic for me and helps with the fluid retention. I took advantage of the hyperness the decadron gives me and worked around the house today to get as much done as I could. My two sons are coming in this week from college for the summer and once again my house will be full of testosterone! I hope the nausea won't be bad for you next time and you can remain hydrated better. In Case I get chemo brain..Have a Happy 50th birthday... I hope you will live to celebrate your 100th cancer free.

Kburns, Haven't heard from you lately, are you doing ok since you got the antibiotic cream?

Paula, you are sounding more like yourself, Glad you are doing better.

Well off to the #4...Take care Ladies, I will be thinking of all of you on the TAC thread..you all know what it is like!
MarciaA.

Well, Let's keep the bump up!
It's day 16 for me (TAC 1), and as predicted the hairs are tumbling off. Noticed that my legs are geting real smooth and no razor burn. That is a plus. I just have the fuzz left from the hair shave on Saturday. Not gone but getting no longer. Oh well, if it bothers me too much I shall reach for the duct tape.

meanwhile my onc gave the go ahead for me to truck off to a conference at the end of the month. Fortunately it's at the end of cycle 2 so it will be my best week. And I have something to look forward to besides sitting around and getting too preoccupied with all of this physical stuff.

I talked with the onc. about the decadron - it is BAD for tummy healing which I am still coping with after my reconstructive surgery (TRAM). So the decadron will be cut in half.
Am thinking of you with this Paula, and hope that the side effects aren't too bad with the reduction.
Anyway, let's hear from the rest of the TACers.
jeannette

Leigh I hope you continue to do well after your 3rd one! Halfway home baby! When I go for number 4 in two weeks (less actually) I'm going to be taking 4mg of decaron twice a day the day before treatment to see if that stops the horrible leg body aches I had last time. Wonder if it was water related or something? But I never saw any signs of retention.

Actually I'm anxiously awaiting hearing from Marcia who went thru 4 the other day! Go Marcia Go!!

Paula

Yes, getting the shot after TAC, same day, and my wbc's have been great. I asked on the John Hopkins board about getting it the same day as treatment, and they said it varies from onc to onc when they do it, so I felt better about it when my new onc told me he does it the same day. Saves me a darn trip too!!

Paula