January 2016 Chemo!

The sweet hair stylist who did our LGFB class who is a breast cancer survivor told us not to use the little caps under our wigs so that our scalps would be able to breathe,that's the purpose of having the wigs made with that mesh material, especially when the weather gets hot. She also says when people bring their synthetic wigs to her she just washes them with a little dawn in a tub of water,rinsed them well and puts on a stand to air dry

Hello All

Jen: Big hugs to you. At any given time, this could be any of us. So we are here for you.

My 3rd AC combo was Feb 8th. It took a couple of extra days to feel better. So I'm dreading this 4th one on Monday the 22nd. I know it has a cumulative effect, but I thought I would at least feel better by Sunday. I took almost 8 days.

I start dose dense taxol after this one. My ONC, wants as much in me as possible, since I'm an IBC combo IDC. At first it was going to be 12 weekly infusions. Still may be. They will know more after this last AC.

Hair: mine is a fine fuzz after the initial shedding just won't all go, and now it's growing some. weird. . I wear wigs when I go out. I use Almond oil on my nails and scalp. It really helps the dryness.

I'm really nervous about the Taxol as I spent 6 days in the hospital after my initial AC infusion. Trying to be positive, but I'm scared to death.

My wig came! I love the way it looks and it is much more comfortable than my others. It is a Racquel Welch memory, the style is always. Supposedly I can use heat to straighten it, but I probably won't because I like the big curls! I'm going to try to wear while running errands today!

thanks!!! I don't really see myself wearing awake every day, especially on workdays when it will be all day long. But it would be nice to be able to when I go out with my friends or family, and not look like cancer girl!

Hi friends,

Thank you so much for all of your supportive words and virtual hugs. I may be in denial a little bit but I'm actually ok with this diagnosis. As long as there is a plan, then I'm good. Here's my more full and hopeful update, for those who are interested:

The BC has spread to at least two places in my bones we know of but likely many more we don't see yet because it's too small to be picked up by the scan. The good news is that it's hormonally responsive and should therefore respond well to both the chemo I'm doing and hormonal therapy afterwards. The doctor talked about a pretty long lifespan overall. Research I was doing on my own showed a median lifespan of 2 to 3 years after diagnosis but he's talking more like me being able to see my 6 year old son graduate from high school and college. Of course you never know how this journey will go but he does have many patients have been living with this for years and some for decades and I will do everything in my power to make sure I can become one of them. So I'm now stage4 and there's no cure yet but lots of options to try to control the cancer and hopefully give me a good quality of life. While a lot can change, I feel confident saying I still have some time on this earth and I plan to make the most of it.

I am very hopeful and I think I'm lucky to know this now and not have recurrence or worse metastases later. Gotta keep this out of my liver and brain. My doctor has said multiple times that I will outlive him and although he's not dugie hauser's age by a long shot I do believe he's coming from a place of medical hope. My job is to just try to reduce the stress and take care of my mind, body and soul, and of course go live with happiness and raise my beautiful son.

Finished third TC infusion on Wednesday and am feeling as good as usual. Will probably have a pretty quiet weekend but am otherwise ok. And I had the first post-chemo poop and thank goodness it was not a constipated mess like last time! So many of the tips from you ladies helped. SO grateful for you all each day.

And I'm behind on responding to people but wnat you to know I read them all and am sending hugs to those who aren't feeling so great right now and high-fiving each of us as we get through each day. Go kick some cancer friends!

Jen- Sending you big hugs!! I love your attitude and perspective. I think we all would hope to be as positive in the same situation. Sending you lots of positive energy!

welcome thHernandez, I certainly hear you there. I feel the same way even after all that I've gone through to get to this point. I hope that you are tolerating chemo well.

Jill: love the wig....color is great on you

Jen: Amazing strength and attitude...you got this!

Welcome thHernandez

Of all the SE I've experienced, I'm finding the ones related to eating (sore mouth, diarrhea, taste changes, abdomonial pain) to be the hardest. Last round I was able to eat a few things like milkshakes, apple juice, grape juice and ice cream that tasted "normal". This round I can hardly handle anything. I gag at the thought of having to take food with my medication. I am wondering if anyone has resorted to IV nutrients?

Well I did it shaved off my hair. I did better then I thought no tears but drank some good wine. My niece who does hair did it after the salon was closed. Then me and my sister got take out Chinese. So glad to have my family. Taking this one day at a time. Hope I find a cute wig at ACS Monday. I am still working and don't want to wear hats to work.

I will add that I am also still working, originally I did not want to wear hats at work, but in the end they were the most comfortable for me. I wear cute slouchy caps. I hope you find a wigs that you like and are comfortable in, but if not you will still figure it out. I never imagined I would wear anything but wigs and yet I do and it's been fine, I still feel attractive and professional Here is a picture of my usual look. I have some lighter weight jersey ones I changed to when I get hot.

You look great Sheri. I'm always amazed at how great everyone looks whether you are bald, wearing a wig or a hat! Jill, I love your hats! I have a million slouchy ones they I am wearing over my crazy looking hair that I can't style until after May 3rd.

Why did she yell at you? Because it was a food court? Were you tempted to rip off your wig to shame her into minding her own business? How rude of her.

Sheri, you look great. Hope they have a wig you like. I mostly wear a Buff around the house (like they wear in Survivor), but only because I already had them from trying to cover up my lupus rash on my neck a couple of years ago. I wear a hat to go walk or hike with the dog. If I'm going out in public, I will wear my wig.

Lovestofly-love the wig! And EFF off to the rude lady at food court! I would have told her she might want to move to another line because I have cancer cooties!

Even though I wearmy wig in public, I am not above playing the cancer card. When the flowers my brother sent me for VDay looked worse than gas station flowers, I called up the florist and demanded a replacement bouquet. (This was a $90 1800 Flowers purchase -I looked it up online so I was determined to get our money's worth). Anyway, I told her that this is the first time he's ever sent me flowers and it was because I have cancer and he lives in Switzerland and can't be here. "And you send me dead flowers." Got new bouquet next day. 🌷🌹🌸 and I made them bring them to OHare airport and pay to park to exchange the flowers. Yeah, they wanted the dead ones back!

So, I am working full time when my treatment schedule and SFX allow. I worked 9 days last cycle. I am hoping to do better this cycle. I wear a uniform to work, so I bought the good wig to look normal. At the end of every day and commute, I'm tired but it's a good tired. A normal tired. When I lay around suffering, I'm tired, too, but it's not the same. If you cant go to work, you can't. I had killer cramping and diarrhea last time.

Okay, I said I probably wouldn't take a baldy picture, but my brother came to my infusion party and we have matching heads:

My cousin wanted us to take a photo with him in the wig all Fabio-like, but I'm not ruining my cap on his enormous head!