Anyone starting Chemo in August 07?

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  • DGHoff
    DGHoff Member Posts: 624
    edited April 2008

    Aaack! I definitely need to color my hair! I was at a cafe today with my son having lunch and a man came up to us and started talking to us and telling me what a beautiful boy I had, and then asked me if I was his mom or his GRANDMA!!!  His grandma. Whimper. Whimper. OK, granted, he was maybe missing a few of his marbles along with many teeth, but still. Grandma? Sigh. Is there such a thing as non-toxic blonde haircoloring?

    DeAnn 

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  • DGHoff
    DGHoff Member Posts: 624
    edited April 2008

    Oops. I guess I already broke my promise about not complaining about the gray hair!

    DeAnn 

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited April 2008

    DeAnn,


    I may be wrong, but I think I read that the DARKER hair colors were the ones that have a greater risk...

    Harley

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  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited April 2008

    What a doofus, DeAnn. You totally don't look like someone's grandma. Sheesh!

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited April 2008

    No, I agree... you look like an elf!!

    Some people are just SO stupid! 

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  • yellowtownhouse
    yellowtownhouse Member Posts: 142
    edited April 2008

    DeAnn,  if someone thinks you look like a grandma then I don't have a prayer!  p...u....l....eeeeee...sssss...eeee!

    I went to see my hairdresser for the first time about 2 weeks ago.  I am determined to not wear this  *@%$*  wig another summer and I really do look like an old/tired/somewhat defeated gray hedgehog.  LOL.  I have also been a blonde all of my life and looking at this dark stuff is not fun.  He said to give it until the middle of May if I could (to get a little more length) and we defintely could color it and cut it into something that he thought I would be happy with.  Girls, I almost kissed his feet.  This is a man who's been in the business for over 30 years so I do trust him.  So, I'm marking off the days until next month and am hoping I have a few eyelashes back by then.

    my best to all......

    June

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  • lilith
    lilith Member Posts: 543
    edited April 2008

    Hey girls... just in to blow a kiss and a hug to all of you.

    Have been busy, trying to resurrect work. Planning some travelling (this summer for my own fun, with boyfriend and kids, and for work to NY and Rome...), trying to figure out the surgery time, fitting in my daughter wanting to see her dad (who never shows up), and life is pretty full.

    Harley - congrats on your one-year anniversary. Brilliant. I am sure it feels lots better - mine will be this 4th of July!!! lol. I guess I'll never see that date quite in the same way. I know I also have a colonoscopy in my future (I had several in the years past, as I have Chron's, lucky me!!), I have been putting it off so far as I guess with all the chemo we've been pumped with, I should be clean... all in all, I feel healthy. And that is a good feeling.

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited April 2008

    Lillith,


    Gee, I never thought about it, but I guess the chemo would kill any thing that may  have been there, hiding, in the colon... 

    I will also need to have a trans-vaginal ultrasound some time soon, since I have uterine fibroids and I'm taking Tamoxifen, which can make them grow.  I wish chemo would kill those, too!


    I just got back from lunch with my ex-boss.  She was visiting some other friends in the area, and we met for lunch.  She said that I look healthier than she remembers...but, she did mention the last time she saw me, in October, just before my last tx.  I think the fatigue was starting to set in, and I didn't have my hair back yet.  I was wearing a wig. 

    Thanks for the warm wishes on my bc anniversary!  March 15th, the Ides of March...  Now, I suppose that my birthday, in April, will always mean lots of 'annual' check ups...  Oh, well.  I'll take that over the alternative any day!

    Congratulations to you, too, because it's GREAT when we feel healthy!!

    Hugs to you!!

    Hi to everyone!

    Harley

     
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  • kimmie39
    kimmie39 Member Posts: 319
    edited April 2008

    Hi all,

    I could so meet in Washington!!! Maybe in another year Ill be out of chemotherapy!!!!  

    Nash I just had a good crying spell today, then my DH joined in and we got it out. I feel better now, Im bad about not showing my real emotions for fear of upsetting someone.

    Harley happy anniversary girl. Id do the happy dance again but Im just not up to it today.

    DeAnn thanks for the promise but you complain all you want!! Just because you have hair doesnt mean your "over it"! Shoot I spent 20 min __tching today myself.

    WackyJacky I wish you weren't so hard on yourself. Your beautiful and I mean that. I spent almost 40 yrs not liking my body and it took this IBC to finally straighten me out. And Im a heavy girl. 

    Hope all had a GREAT WEEKEND!!!!!

    Hugs Kim 

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  • Ggma
    Ggma Member Posts: 97
    edited April 2008

    June, I know the feeling about the dark hair.  I was always a blonde myself and my hair has come back silver and black!  I don't have any idea where the black hairs came from!!!  Not that it isn't looking nice and I am glad to have any hair at all!!!  I haven't made up my mind yet whether or not to have it colored back to the original shade of blonde or to keep it the way it is. 

    Church sans wig was fun today!  It was the first time I'd been there without a wig or hat since August and it sure did feel great!

    Debbi

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  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited April 2008

    Hi Ladies,

    Dh said DC was a good idea...i'm game! Somebody with a brain needs to plan it. I nominate DH.

    DeAnn...never listen to people with no teeth. He didn't say "Grandmother", he said: "GrandELF". It was a slip of your ears.

    And since we're talking about hair as well, I just want you girls to know I've had my SECOND hair cut, and why, just the other day someone stopped me and asked if I was Halle Berry. "Why, yes I am", i lied. Knowing it was my little secret. I know for a FACT that Halle gets stopped regularly and asked if she's KatoMato. It's an easy mistake to make.

    Lilith, when are you planning to be in NY...maybe (if we get these Magic Bus Feet off the ground) we could all catch up with you in or around DC?

    ok. off to work. (or wherever it is I go everyday.) 

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  • DGHoff
    DGHoff Member Posts: 624
    edited April 2008

    Thanks girls! I knew I could count on you all to convince me that I should not listen to crazy missing teeth man.

    I'm actually very grateful to have hair to worry about. Especially since my favorite wool hat just went through the wash by accident and is now small enough for a toy poodle to wear. 

    DeAnn 

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  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited April 2008

    I have a confession to make. I don't look like Halle Berry. I look like Grace Jones on Steroids. The hedgehog was cute, the poodle cuter still, Amped-up Grace Jones is just scary. I'm ready to shave it all off until the curls go away. It just gets bigger, and BIGGER, AND BIGGER up there. I'm having trouble getting into my car.

    And someone needs to educate me about haircoloring. I know there is some problem, but I thought it was that the color didn't "stick" because of the chemo - until about a year afterwards. What is the risk? Is it carcenigenic? (huge sigh and exasperated, long-suffering moan.) 

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  • lilith
    lilith Member Posts: 543
    edited April 2008

    Hi Kaye,

    I found this http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/reconstruction/ask_expert/2005_04/question_30.jsp

    on hair color... but I feel it is very dependent from each woman. By googling Hair coloring and chemotherapy, I also found messages from ladies who did color after 6 mnth, with good results. Also:

    "HAIR DYES
    During the six month period following chemotherapy, organic hairdyes should be avoided due to a potential risk of systemic poisoning. There is also concern over a possible link with exposure to organic hair dyes and bladder cancer.

    Be philosophical therefore ! Post-chemotherapy new hair (which may have a displeasing colour) will rarely exceed a length of 6cms within the initial six month period. It is better to endure this, but if necessity demands that your hair is tinted during this period, be sure to use vegetable dyes only (e.g. Henna). The colours available may not be those of choice and the hair may feel different, but they are considered safe. " from http://www.hairscientists.org/chemo.htm

    I am considering combing through mine a bit of color too: my hair is normal (not chemo hair, just as it was before, no curls), but the front has a few whites, so I may give up one of these days...

    As for NY, it will be a super-fast trip. I am a single mom, and need to rush back to my little one (12 yrs old). I'll be probably in the city 4 or 5 days... tops. I fear that opportunities for getting together will be few - work is starting to accelerate again, and I am doing my best to give my company ideas of where to send me once my operation is done... ;) so that I can be an expat executive, with a trophy boyfriend. And, new perky foobs.

    I don't have a travelling plan yet - but will for sure let you know once I know better.

    Hugs to Kimmie... thinking of you. I hope life is treating you a bit better these days. let us know how you are doing...

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited April 2008

    Kaye,

    I colored my hair at 5 months post chemo, and it seems fine.  I don't know about the link with hair color & bladder cancer, but .... WTH?

    I asked my onc about coloring my hair when I saw him in February, and this was FOUR months post chemo... I said "Do I have to wait 6 months before coloring?  He said "hasn't it bee six months?" 

    I only use semi permanent hair color, and am wondering about trying something more...natural. 

    I just COULD NOT STAND the white hair!! 

    Hope this helps! 

    Harley

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  • lilith
    lilith Member Posts: 543
    edited April 2008

    Harley, need I say that you are TOTALLY right??? of course.

    Stuff found on the web is at most useless, most of the time senseless. with the exception of you gals... :D I just added it to round out my reasoning, but I think I was answering myself rather than Kaye...

    BTW - I also meant to add for you: I am thrilled that your 'scope went well, and if your docs decided to do it, that means that they thought it meaningful - and it is. Brilliantly clear!!! What you said is motivating me to take an appointment with my doc, so that I'll have it rather soon. My reasoning about chemo is probably just my way to push away the unpleasantness of it all. Sorry. I should not carry that here with me.

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited April 2008

    Lillith, & Kaye,

    I have been really afraid about haircolor & cancer...but I just couldn't stand the white hair anymore...  I have read, and you are right, Lillith, the internet is filled with information, some which is NOT TRUE...  so, my onc wasn't too concerned about me coloring my hair, so I did it.  But, I would like to try something more natural.

    The thing I hear with our NEW chemo hair, is that it is 'virgin' hair, just as delicate as a brand new baby's hair!  So I think they don't want us to damage our new hair growth, and risk losing it once again...  just mho, though.

    Lillith,

    about the colonoscopy...it makes perfect sense that there wouldn't be anything there.  I guess our drs. are just going to be extra careful, and check everything out.  If I had Crohn's, well, I think I would try to extend the time til my next 'scope... I mean, for Pete's sake, you JUST HAD CHEMO, and you deserve a break!  I took a break from scheduling medical tests for awhile, after my last chemo.  Haven't we been thru enough??

    Pamper yourself!! 

    Take care, all!

    Harley

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  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited April 2008

    Hi Ladies,

    Well, I scratched my eyebrow today and took out about 15 eyebrow hairs.

    Not a good sign.

    I was all smug because I thought that only happened at 4 months, and here I"ve made it to 6...but noOOOOOOOo...I'm just sloOOOow. Ahh eyebrows.

    Oh well. That's why magic markers were invented, right girls?

    WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! 

    hugs, hugs and more hugs to you all.

    (Hey, did we give up on the DC reunion/trip?) 

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  • wackyjackie
    wackyjackie Member Posts: 669
    edited April 2008

    Kaye,

    I can't believe it!!! I'm losing my eyebrows too.Surprised Oh well, that should be the least of our problems.  LOL.  I'm not giving up on ANY trip.  I'll go anywhere.  I'm just too confused and  brain dead to plan anything.  I went to give my own blood on Monday for my surgery next week and the nurse asked me if I've been out of the country in the last three years.  I said yes, to Mexico.  He said what part?  I had no clue!!! No clue.  Nothing was coming to my mind.  I mean I was just there a month ago!!!! Talk about a senior moment.  And I just turned 47 about a week ago.  How sad is that?  I had to tell him that I went on a cruise and we stopped at the Cayman Islands and he-- got that?--he told me I went to Cozumel.  And he was right.  I swear I had no idea.  It feels weird to be in LaLa Land, but that's where I am right now.  I stuck my bread in the freezer instead of the bread box.  What's up with me? 

    Anyway, ladies, calgon, anyone....take me away. 

    Thanks for listening.  You ladies are the only ones who understand.  I love you ladies.

    Have a great day.

    Hugs, Jackie

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  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited April 2008

    LOL!

    And, Jackie, to make matters more confusing, I thought you said that you stuck your HEAD inside the freezer instead of the bread box. And I thought you were addressing a hot flash, so i puzzled that for a while wondering why you might want to put your head in the bread box...

    I swear I had to read it 5 times to understand it.

    I'm still not confident.

    Does Calgon make house calls?

    (Be happy. You, dear, at least got to be Crazy in Cozumel. With or without a bread box.)

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  • wackyjackie
    wackyjackie Member Posts: 669
    edited April 2008

    You know, Kaye, it's true.  I do stick my head in the freezer but yesterday was the first time i stuck my bread in the freezer.  I know I was lucky to be crazy in Cozumel  but it does no good if I can't remember I was there and a stranger has to remind me. LOL

    Have a great day.

    Hugs, Jackie

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  • kimmie39
    kimmie39 Member Posts: 319
    edited April 2008

    Hi

    Not much to say but wanted to check in. Feeling pretty good today. Doing laundry (my dh has been doing it, eeeeuuuu). Have chemo again tommorrow then off for 2 wks.  Get this Im having trouble with my prescription coverage and my part of tarceva AFTER insurance is 3500.00 !!!!!! Any suggestions?

    Talk later

    kim

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  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited April 2008

    Kim--the manufacturer of Tarceva offers assistance with insurance coverage. They also have a finanical assistance program. The link below will give you the info you need:

    https://www.genentechaccesssolutions.com/tarceva/patient/index.jsp

    This is a link to Tarceva's general insurance info page, which has the link to the link I pasted above:

    http://www.tarceva.com/patient/resources/insurance.jsp

    Hope that helps and that someone at the drug company can help you. $3500 is a bunch of money to cough up every time you need a refill.

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  • katoMato
    katoMato Member Posts: 645
    edited April 2008

    That's true, Kim - a friend of mine got assistance from them for her mother's rx of Tarceva. I'll have to double check, but i think they covered 100% of it. It was good - because the need was great. Unfortunately she wasn't able to take it (for other reasons)...I'll ask her if she has any left over, and if so I'll mail it to you. I'll check and get back to you.

    Hi everybody else - hope you guys are doing well. 

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited April 2008

    Hi all,


    I went out to dinner with my dh and MIL... I had THREE glasses of wine, and I am SOO   TIRED  NOW.....  we had to celebrate my birthday!!  it is not til Monday, though...

    Hope you all have a great weekend!

    Hugs,

    Harley

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  • lilith
    lilith Member Posts: 543
    edited April 2008

    Just a quick peek and a hug to all...

    and a special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Harley for tomorrow... of course you would celebrate early, the week-end is a must.

    you make me feel like a lush... I've always refused to stop drinking, and even during chemo, on a good day I'd have a couple of glasses... yesterday I was out at a wine testing festival and I don't know how much wine I "tried".... was feeling quite happy on the way out!

    I've never noticed you are in NC... my ex lives there, and my daughter will spend the summer in Raleigh... the coast must be beautiful.

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited April 2008

    Lilith,

    Thanks for the Happy Birthday wishes! 

    Yes, it IS very pretty here in South Eastern North Carolina!  Close to the beach, and warmer than my home state of Maryland... at least, that is where I was born!  I really like living in NC!!  Even though I moved here in Oct. 2006, and the bc dx happened in March 2007.

    I have tried to cut down on my drinking, since my bc dx, but my dh is an enabler.  He will make me Capt. Morgan & Diet Cokes before dinner, when I keep telling him that I need to cut back, because of the connection between bc & alcohol, especially since the news article last week, stating that it's especially important for ER+ bc... go figure...that was the kind I had... 

    When I was getting chemo, I had a drink when I came home, after my 1st tx!!  I also drank, but only a few times, throughout my tx.  Then, when we went out to celebrate, after my LAST tx, my dh bought a bottle of champagne, and I had a glass of champagne, to celebrate!!  We shared the bottle with some friends, over dinner.


    I don't think it hurts to drink a few drinks a week, but I had THREE last night!!! WHOO!!  and then, I ordered dessert and tea, and I didn't drink the tea, either!!!  lol

    Have you visited the thread on Humor & Games, "what about drinking?"  It is funny!  At least, some of us will continue to drink!

    I don't know...it seems that everything I like is now 'bad for me'.

    Hugs,

    Harley 

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  • chemomom
    chemomom Member Posts: 171
    edited April 2008

    Hey Harley- Have a great birthday!  And you know, depending on who you ask, it seems like everything could be bad for people.  So, might as well enjoy life and not worry too much. 

    Sorry I haven't posted much lately- nothing much to report.  Spring is here in Central NY and I am trying to pack my days full of fun with my kids.  I had forgotten what it's like to have energy!    Angie

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  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited April 2008

    Happy Birthday, Harley! I say don't worry about a few drinks--it's not going to hurt anything. Glad you had fun last night!

    Hi, Angie! I was wondering how you were doing. Glad you checked in and glad everything is OK.

    Hi, Lilith!

    Hope everyone has a good rest of the weekend. My DD had a karate tournament yesterday (she placed 3rd--hooray), and we were there with BMD and her kids from this board, and the receptionist from the cancer center, who came to cheer DD on. We were sitting there on the bleachers, and there were two other obviously chemo gals in the crowd, one of whom was sitting directly in front of us. I didn't know whether to feel happy that I was fitting in so well or alarmed that there was so much cancer going on in this random group of people.  

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited April 2008

    Angie, & Nash,

    Thanks for the warm birthday wishes!!  It has been a great weekend!  Dinner Saturday Night, and today, dh & I went for a motorcycle ride, just rode around all day!  It was fun, but something about being out in the cool air all day... man, am I tired!!
    I wonder what I'll do tomorrow?  If it's warm, maybe I'll go to the beach for a little while, and read a book!  Sounds like a great birthday to me!!

    Hope everyone had a great weekend, too!

    Hugs

    Harley

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