2012 sisters
Comments
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Chrisrenee, ditto eveyone's posts!! You have breast cancer and belong here. Who cares what your treatment plan is... your life has been forever changed... welcome to the club!
Hello to all! I went back to work between chemo and surgery this coming Friday. It was a bad idea because it wiped me out. Between working all day and running my daughter around my body didn't want to do anything but sleep. I'm out again now for surgery... I took today as a "me" day to cook and clean tomorow is the radioactive injection and surgery Friday. I told work I am not coming back too soon this time. -
Thank you again everyone. I will officially stop throwing my pity party for 1. You all have cheered me up, thank you!
Chrissera- don't push it with doing too much too soon. I have had issues with these pesky drain tubes, I have had them in for 3 weeks now. My boss called me on Monday to tell me not to come in at all this week if I got them out yesterday. She said we would just have me come in the following Monday. -
Chrisrenee, you're part of the family. You can't choose not to be now. 😉 Even though we'd all like to be able to forget our "club" even had to exist, I am so grateful it does.
On another note, ladies my head itches so damn bad. Im 5 days post first TC treatment. Is this the start of hair loss? It's not all over itchiness. It's the back of my head. I've had issues before here this would happen and I kept saying I had dry scalp. I have no idea if that's it. Any ideas? -
chrisrenee77, um, "... you had bc but you are in the weenie club because you didn't have any form of treatment." double mastectomy is not "no treatment" - that's major life-altering surgery. Being on Femara is not "no treatment." Reconstruction? iron infusions? That doesn't sound like a good time to me... So next time that thought pops up in your brain, just think, "wooh! I'm gonna go out and get a double MX, who's with me?!?!?!"
(I completely intend this sarcasm to be of benefit. if it's not, just let me know and I will cut it out...) -
Chrisrenee,sorry. You are one of us. Ditto all above. You qualify for the club. Wish you didn't, wish none of of did.
Mrscich, that seems a little early for the hair symptoms, but who knows with the stuff.
I found s lump in my axilla about three weeks ago when the cord relaxed after PT. my ROOM looked at my recent CT scans from about 4-5 weeks ago and didn't see it. So I get to go back to the breast clinic where all this started and get another ultrasound. I am very much hoping it is just a seroma but it moves around so much that makes me worried that it isn't. I may need to get another biopsy. Really not looking forward to having my axilla messed with again and definitely not looking forward to the answer.
The gift that keeps on giving.
Going for treatment 17 today. And a run. Today is my husbands birthday too. Got lots of stuff to do for that. But it's nice to be off work. -
MrsC, my scalp was uncomfortable a long time before the hair loss kicked in at 14 days like clockwork and I too have dry calp even when not chemo'd. I had already cut it pretty short. The best thing for it was when I switched to using my facial cleanser and lotion on it but that could be a little tricky if you still have some hair. Maybe try working some lotion or oil in a half hour or so before you shower and then only use a little shampoo? worth a shot.
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I had itchy scalp about a week before the hair really startedto fall out. I switched to baby shampoo it is the most gentle shampoo you can buy.
I am 4 weeks post chemo and it is starting to grow back! so even though the hair thing is very traumatic and makes us cry, it is only temporary... :-) -
All sarcasm is welcomed. I can be very sarcastic as well. It's a club that I do not intend on getting out of. I guess I never thought of all the things I've done since May as treatments. I've just thought it to be vanity for wanting what I had not what I have if that makes sense. I am honored to be in this amazing club with all of you.
But on a cute note... Last night we had our local Americas night out and my daughter Taylor goes over a gets her face painted and comes back with a pink ribbon painted on her face. She makes me one proud momma.
Thank you all again for all the encouragement. -
Thanks for the advice for itchy scalp. It's awful I tell ya.
I thought I was ok with the hair loss thing...until now. A few weeks ago I got my hair cut short (into a cute bob style) but I still have plenty of hair. I'm doing TC every 3 weeks and from what I hear on I'm on the 2 chemos that pretty much guarantee hair loss. I told myself I wasn't going to shave it until it started falling out but once it did, it was gone. Now Im wondering if I should just do it and get it over with or hold out hope that I'm one in a million that won't have hair loss. I think once its gone it will be easier but it's WHEN to shave it is my issue. Help! -
Yep, sorry to echo the sentiment one more time, but all that's needed to be in this club is BC. Losing a part of you, and your immortality (the way you viewed yourself before) is quite enough!
I can identify with the whole feeling guilty part, my first two chemos were not too bad, and the people around me sometimes don't get that this is really serious, and can't understand why one day last week I spent the whole day crying. They say "but you're not throwing up, right?" as if that were the only thing that qualifies as worthy of sympathy - No, I'm not throwing up. But I'm still short a boob, tired all the time, feeling crappy, have a couple other symptoms, lost my hair and oh yeah, I've been diagnosed with CANCER - so I get to worry that maybe someday this will rear it's ugly head again, and I get to do all these crappy things to myself to try to make sure it won't! I get to worry that after it all, I might have trouble coming up with the stamina to do my regular job, etc etc etc. Aaargh.
On that note, it's a gray day here, foggy. I hope that the autumn/winter shortening days don't make a tough thing tougher. Perhaps I'll get in a walk today, or a bike ride. Sending everyone hugs (I always take one when I can get one!)
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Mrscich- a friend of mine told me that if I had to have chemo that she normally shaves the hair at around day 21. But others who have gone through it might have a different answer. So sorry this is something you have to go through.
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Oh, MrsCich - I shaved my head at the first hint of hairloss (three handfuls coming out in the shower) day 14, and I am still wondering (at day 23) if I did it too early, and was that normal hairloss - maybe I TOO could be the lucky one who didn't lose my hair. I am on AC which, according to my chemo nurse, absolutely guarantees hair loss. No exceptions.
So who's to say what the better approach is? I thought if I shaved it, I could stop crying about losing it. (Didn't).
But when everybody says hair loss, does that mean all of it? I still have my eyebrows, eyelashes, and pubic hair. My armpits came out because of rubbing with deoderant, but that's it.
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Oh the itchy, tender scalp. Like most here, I got mine cut really short... actually as soon as I knew I'd lose it. But the tender scalp never stopped. the wind would blow and it would hurt. I got it buzzed at the cancer centre here... volunteers in the Look Good Feel Better room does it. The tenderness stopped and I didn't dwell on it so much because it wasn't hurting. You just have to do what is right for you.
We have another beautiful sunny day here, bit chilly, but the sun is shining. I am going to spend the day in my garden getting ready for Spring
And I am going to rake the pine needles from our driveway.... it is like a carpet of them.Hope you all have a wonderful day with love and happiness.
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A quick check-in, officially halfway through chemo now (if you don't count the Herceptin). It hit me sooner this time but I felt I was on top of the side effects better this time.
Chrisrenee - funny how our minds work eh? I agree with what has already been said by everyone else. Hold your head high and know that you are a survivor and that your experience is unique to you, but is your experience with BC and not to be trivialized.
Juneaubug - yay sleep! Glad you got some, really helps with trying to have a positive outlook. 5 km - take it easy, it's a walk and not a race. On the walk I did there were lots of volunteers along the way cheering us on, police and paramedics available if needed and bands etc playing. People had decorated their homes and lawns, always something to look at and a wonderful feeling of camaraderie amongst the walkers.
Jpmomof3 - you are almost halfway yourself, hope the lump turns out to be a seroma but until you know for sure it will sure be a worry
MrsCich - I had my hair buzzed at 14 days. My scalp was starting to keep me up at night. I have pictures right before and right after the buzz and the relief is obvious in them. Now I still have a few gray tufts but mostly bald, eyebrows and eyelashes thinning but hanging in there.
Mccook - take it easy at work, OK?
Take care everyone, I'm going to go tackle showering, ambitious eh?
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Tazzy I have been wondering about how short to get the buzz cut. When the hair falls out and you have a buzz cut does that little bit of hair still fall out too? I have an appt. with the "look good feel better" gang on the 16th.I am waiting for a bit more sun thus warmth to go out in the garden. Waiting also for 11 cubic meters of compost to be delivered this morning - sharing it with the neighbours.
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That is a lot of compost marianelizabeth
Was going to post a pic of when I had my hair buzzed... some reason photobucket is not showing my pics. I was like a #1 buzz... and yes the rest fell out and I was bald as a coot. I made an appt with the LGFB crew - just so they have enough time.
Sunny, but boy is it chilly... brrr !!
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"Gimme head with hair. Long beautiful hair. Shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen..." Most of you are probably too young to remember the musical "Hair" -- but when I was contemplating buzzing or not to buzz, this song went through my mind and made me smile. I grew up in the hippy era when our hair was long -- down to our waists!
I came to terms with losing my hair, it wasn't easy by any stretch of the imagination. I had my head buzzed at the cancer center on day 13 -- the day before my second AC treatment. I just could not bare/bear the thought of losing it all over the place, especially down my shower drain which would have caused all kinds of other problems to say the least. Well, when I saw my MO at my 3rd AC treatment, day 28, I still had all of my short stubs and was concerned that the AC wasn;t working. He said that often, the hair does not fall out but that the hair follicles become weak and the hair breaks off. Well, I still have my short stubs, two months later. I'm not sure if I would have lost my hair or not had it been longer, but I have never regretted having it buzzed. I DO know that it stopped growing though.
Bottom line is that everyone has to do what is comfortable for them. For me, I still sing/hum the song Hair when I pass a mirror or window reflection. As others have said, you are not your hair, each of you are a wonderful vibrant women who will go on with your life with or without your hair.
Adding, my scalp has been itching since chemo started and I thought for sure it was the beginning of losing my hair -- not so in my case.
Good luck to each and everyone of you contemplating to buzz or not to buzz -- it is a very personal decision. But if you decide to buzz, make sure you listen to Hair before, during or after -- maybe I'm geeky that way.
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Ah - to buzz or not to buzz... I buzzed it the same day the first major clumps started coming out in the shower. Once it was dry after my shower, I took a test tug on a clump of hair and it slid right on out and into my hands. So I went with the buzz. That was the day of my 2nd AC txt. Now one week after my 3rd AC - I still have stubble on my head, and some of it seems to have actually grown a teeny, tiny bit longer. But then again - there are a variety of bare spots amidst the stubble. So even if it wouldn't have all fallen out - some of it would have for sure, and the rest might have broken. For me - it was easier to make a clean cut (no pun intended) and just have it out of the way so I didn't have to deal with it falling out. For me - made it emotionally easier. And my husband - for what its worth - says I have a beautifully shaped head and finds my buzzed scalp oddly attractive.
Good luck, Mrscich! Hugs to you all! -
Homeward bound😁....finally.
Chrisrenee: really? Only had a bmx. Damn... You earn your seat here my friend.
Years shaved it at 20 days right before third tx. 1# on the clippers. It all started coming out in junks before that. Scroll back to around 8/8 and you'll see my photos posted.
SEs have mostly passed. Hot flashes way down, just insomnia and taking my pill at night. Hope I'm like this when I start my new job on the 5th.
That's JPmom; your right. I'll take it slow and carry on at the walk...just like everything else, huh? ;-) -
Tomorrow is chemo #1 for me and I have an appt. with a volunteer hair dresser at the cancer clinic one week later who will help me select a free wig and cut and style it for me. Like all of you, I will have to figure out when to get my hair buzzed off. Ugg. Don't think I am going to be a huge "wig" person but it's unchartered ground so who knows! Not as lucky with the LGFB program. They are so backlogged that I can't get in until Nov 14! With any luck the eyebrows will hang on until then. lol
It's is a beautiful, sunny day today here in BC!
Hugs to all!
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I was also told with A/C it was def coming out. Right after 2nd treatment it did! Some strands in the shower. But leading up to that it started getting brittle. So that afternoon I went right to my stylist. She gave me a buzz and it was cite but even that was coming out and freaked me out to see it on the pillow so I went back and took the rest off. Then went shopping for fabulous scarves! Good with the bad right!?
All the rest came off too and the eyes went when I was finished with taxol but its coming back now.
For those who color their hair I look at it this way...it's like a fresh start. Last time I saw my real color was 30 years ago (darn punk stage in the 80's!) so it's like starting over with a clean canvas! Might go punk again just because I can! -
Ladies....this is interesting ....Indidn't have chemo "JUST radiation" and now on Letrozole. I have lost have my hair due to L, but what you all describe is the same as what I'm going through!!!!!,everytime my scalp gets itchy and very sensitive is the time when I seem to lose more hair than usual.....what's with that?????
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Scottie1- unfortunately it is one of the side effects of letrazole. I am on that as well. I noticed last week that i was "shedding" more than normal when i would wash my hair. So when i looked it up it states that you could lose minimal to all of your hair. How long have you been on letrazole?
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It's been seven months now. I have lost so much, but just think it's interesting when my scalp gets very itchy and sensitive, Imknow I'm in for a major shedding!!!!!!!
Would like to find out if later or after our five years, will we get our hair back????
or should I start shopping around for some funky wigs!!!!! -
I've been on it since June, I have noticed a gradual increase in loss of hair. But my hair is so thick my gradual hair loss will not be noticeable. When I go back to my ONC I'm going to ask her all about it. Who knows if I start losing my hair I can definitely rock a short spikey wig. No problems there. Nothing like being a "New" me right. New tatas and fake hair, why not. Haha
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It is so comforting to hear that we have some similarities in this journey.
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Pinky.... I went to see Hair in London in the early 70's. That is where if fell in love with Paul Nicholas an English actor. What memories you brought back.. ha ha ! I didn't wear a wig (and still don't) instead had fun with hats and scarves... and wear them just as we did back in the hippie days. I am thinking that I may revert to still wearing them when I do have a full head of hair again... not to cover up the baldness, but because I just really like them.
Ramols: My DH says the same thing about my baldness.. and now it is growing back he said its weird to see.
Juneau: happy to hear the SE's have mainly passed. Good luck for your new job on the 5th.
Halfcan - wear something with big pockets for your first chemo cos us lot will be jumping in them and going with you. I find that so sad that the LGFB workshop is so full.
Karen - like you I have always coloured my hair... but its growing back black with splecks of grey... well they are more than splecks but I am praying to the brunette gods to take them. Yep, this is a new start.
Scottie... that sucks you can lose your hair on Letrozole... like WTF??? I see my Onc tomorrow and she will likely tell me what hormone's I will be on. Oh! well lucky I brought a lot of scarves and headbands.
Hope you are all managing to enjoy your day.
Beautiful and sunny here in the Okanagan again. Little cooler but bluebird skies. I have been in the garden lots and just raked the driveway of the carpet of pine needles the wind brought down.
Sending hugs and peace to you all. -
Tazzy, don't quote me on this but I believe Letrozole more than the others is "famous" for hair loss. ..Tazzy when you see your Onc tomorrow, could you ask if your hair grows back in after finishing L ....I keep forgetting to ask mine.
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I will ask Scottie... I have written it down so I dont forget (chemo brain
). I did google it and it does say its one of the SE's... arh! the gift that keeps giving ?! -
Today the bomb dropped. Neulasta has been denied by insurance. :-( Now to try its 7days injection counterpart per cycle. See if that might get approved. Sigh...
Thanks tazzy....I'm going to wear my cargo pants...lots of pockets so I can take you all!!!! :-)
Hugs
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