Sept 2012 chemo

patricia, YAY, you're half way done!!!
melrose - glad you are finished......I've got to head over to join CHEMO Jan. 2013...dang it >:( 

SeattleMama- OMG.... so sorry that you are heading to the Jan 2013 chemo thread..... I just want to remind you that we leave no one behind here!!!!  So please keep coming back here.... I'll stay here as long as you need support!!!!

Waitingforthenextstep- I am now 5 months PFC and can tell you that I find it hard to believe that I ever did chemo.  As for the hair, I had a wig but never wore it.  (The poor thing has been sitting in the bag that it came in and now has abandonment issues.)  When I went out, I wore either baseball caps, hats, bandanas or a knitted slouchy hat.  I always took whatever head covering I had off when I drove because it was so hot.  I usually didn't wear any head covering when I was home.  Sometime in early October, I started not wearing any head coverings when I went out.  I would venture out of the house everso often just so I could get used to not wearing anything.  In mid October, I attended a formal charity gala event without a head covering.  That was like my coming out and after that I quit wearing head coverings for the sole purpose of hiding my head.  My hair had started coming back and was probably 1/2 inch long by that point.  On average, normal hair is supposed to grow 1/2 inch a month.  Sections of head hair grow faster than some parts--- like the front and the back part of the crown of my head have grown back slower but it's okay.  For the most part, my hair has grown back evenly and haven't had a trim because it just looks like a short short pixie hair cut.  My last pre-chemo hair ( it was a mighty hair) fell out last week.  So now it just new hair.

I know you and I have different chemo regimens.  The gals I know who had Taxol did have hair growth during the last of their Taxols.  For some, the hair came back totally white and slowly the color has returned.  Some have different hair textures than they had before --- once had straight but now have chemo curls aka poodle curls.  Mine has come back straight and with a little more gray but who knows what the hair will do. 

You have to remember that the last time you had hair this short is when you were just a baby and was at a time you had no idea what hair was or preconceived notions about hair and your appearance.  At that time, you just didn't care or even know to care.  It is a wonderous thing that the human body is so resilient and can start doing things it normally did before the chemo. 

Now that I have hair, my husband and daughter have both confessed to me and said " You were bald.... you had no hair after chemo."  I politely correct them and tell them " I never lost all of my hair..... yes I had a very very thin veil of hair but never lost all of it.  Hair on my head is still head on my head even if it was just sparse."  For those who see us, I did look like I didn't have hair but I could always rub my head (very comforting) and feel the little hair I had plus the new emerging duck fuzz.

So who ever reads this, please always remember that you are beautiful no matter what stage of treatment you are in!!!!  The inside of each of you has never changed or waivered; just the outside.  No matter what, it's all good.....

Thanks again Melrose!



I tried to use mascara earlier today. Kept moving it over top and lower lashes to "catch" some to coat. Found 3. ugh.

Aww, Melrose, thanx hun. You made me smile
I'll find out tomorrow what the new concoction is along with results from ct scan.  Good thoughts and prayers please.
btw, my daughter always wants to run her hand over my "peachy fuzz".  I told her from the beginning, I don't care about the hair, just want to get rid of the cancer.  She offered to feel bad on my behalf, for the waste basket full of hair.  From the mouths of babes.

SeattleMama - Sending lots of hugs and prayers your way.  : )))

Seattlemamma...thoughts are with you!!!



Hugs,

Erin

Seattlemama - You're in my thoughts and prayers.

Jojo, hopefully you will not need additional chemo.

Jojo & Melrose - Stopped by Sephora-thanks for the tip.  Also watched the video.  I'll watch it again this weekend and practice.

 Hugs : )))

All - on the subject of fingernails ...

Some of you mentioned that the tips of your nails started to turn white, kind of like a french manicure.  Can you tell me what you experienced next?  Mine are starting to turn white now.

Thanks!

Damiana-I hope all goes well with the ultrasound.  Please do keep us posted.  Also, my legs do give out on me every once in a while and it scares/frustrates me.  There are many times I can't get up out of bed and my DH has to give me a push to get going.  Ugh is right!

Damiana positive vibes being sent your way for tomorrow....

thanks for all the love, chickies.....ct scan was clean.:)  I think my onc was surprised :P
Starting weekly taxol and adriamycin for 2-3 mths.  Then back to herceptin, and adding navelbine and xeloda.

returning the love, good vibes, prayers to all

SeattleMama- That is wonderful news !!!!!!  Now it's back in the BGC ( aka Big Girl Chair) and back to business!!!  We will be here to support you for as long as it takes!!!!  Now get some rest!!!!! 

Daminia...Sending prayers your way!! My legs give out every now and then with no warning! Very disturbing!



Seattlemamma..Whoo hoo! Congrats on clean scans.



JoJo...good luck with your MO...hope you don't have to do chemo again! I would think radiation would get the last little bits.



Neta...I've never done acupuncture before. I've been thinking of trying it hoping it may help my neuropathy.



Faith..I have the white stuff on my big toes. What is that from? I hope it goes away or I will never be able to have a French pedicure again cause it will show. Sigh! Who cares though, right! Not important now.



I had a reflexology massage today thinking it may help my neuropathy. I should have had a regular massage instead. She did rub my back but I couldn't relax cause I kept thinking she was getting the oil on my new wig. Lol.



Hugs to you all and positive vibes for clean scans and rapid healing and working legs!!

damaina, hope the ultrasound goes well.  Could it be some type of scar tissue or something from the surgery?  I had a few small lumps under my arm following surgery which turned out to be nothing.

seattlemama, great news on your scans.

Zap number 9 today.  At the halfway point tomorrow.