It has been a month now that I have been without my hair. Yes, it was very traumatic losing my hair but I have moved on now. At first I thought I had to have a wig to wear to feel “normal.” But after the first week of wearing the free wig I received from a local hospital wig bank, I found it uncomfortable. It’s hot and itchy at times. Most people who don’t know me, think it is my own hair so it gave me time to adjust. In case you are in need of a wig due to cancer, you should check with your local hospitals or cancer treatment centers. They usually have free wigs and scarves that are donated to them. I have gotten some really cute scarves and do rags that people handmade or donated to these organizations for people just like us who need them. Here is one such site on the Internet who provides free hats to cancer patients. Heavenly Hats sent me a wonderful box full of brand new hats. The hats vary from knitted stocking caps to brimmed hats.
Anyway most days now I just wear a pretty scarf or my favorite tan baseball hat. Even at work, I wear a baseball cap as our small office all got matching baseball caps with our logo on them to wear. My two female co-workers wanted to have matching hats so when I had to start wearing one due to my hair loss, they wanted to wear a hat too in solidarity. I was so touched. So we’ve all been wearing our hats at work and not too many people have said anything.
Several people have been emailing and posting questions, asking how I’m feeling. I’m happy to report that I am feeling fine these days. I am just gearing up for next week’s chemo. On July 3, I will have my 3rd treatment and then on July 24, I will have my final one. What a wonderful feeling it will be when I complete chemo!
So this is my latest update. I do wear my wig on special occasions when a baseball cap isn’t appropriate. But mainly I love wearing my comfortable cap. So until this pink journey is over, my non-hair style will be hats, scarves and a wig when necessary.[…]
The time has come for the big haircut. This isn’t just a trim to get me by. Last Thursday, which was day 14 after my first chemo treatment, my hair began to fall out. My hair has been shoulder length for years. On Thursday, those long strands began to just fall out. Of course I had to keep checking and each time I pulled on a few strands, my hair came right out. I could only laugh to prevent myself from crying. I’ve known this day was coming. In fact, the doctor was right on target with his prediction of when my hair might begin to fall out.
Thursday night, my falling hair took a more serious move and I had to call my dear neighbor friend Joanne to help me. After some tears, a good heart-to-heart talk with my friend and a glass of wine, I got my nerves and my emotions in check. Yes its only hair and no I’m not just my hair. I’ve heard it said, if the chemo is doing this to ones hair, what can it be doing to those nasty cancer cells. So Joanne trimmed my hair short on the back and sides to get me through a few more days as she just didn’t have the heart to shave it all off. It looked quite cute and gave me a few days to adjust to short hair. But I knew what was coming and it was just three days away.
Sunday arrived and my hair is really not wanting to enjoy the holiday weekend with me. I know the time has come and it needs to be today. So on this beautiful Sunday afternoon, with a sweet breeze blowing off the creek onto our porch, my husband and I took the next step in our pink journey and shaved my head. Yes my head’s not too pretty looking now but feels so much better. I donned a bandanna scarf and with my head held high, I continue on down the roadway of my pink journey.[…]
What a difference 5 days makes. Today is day 5 after my first chemo treatment on May 8. I actually feel pretty normal today. The first few days were pretty shaky and I felt very weak. I did take all my pre-meds for nausea and post-meds too. I thank God that I didn’t get sick to the point of throwing up. Not to say I didn’t have waves of nausea. They say that they have come so far now that you don’t have to be sick all the time during chemo treatments and I believe it now. Sure you’re pretty much down for 3-4 days but for me I have survived round one of chemo fairly well.
I haven’t lost my hair yet but I know that day will come soon. Probably next week but at least I’m feeling good now and passed the worse of round one. My husband and youngest son who is still at home have been wonderful. They have been getting dinner ready, cleaning, vacuuming, and otherwise waiting on me as needed. Tonight I have dinner made so that will be a nice treat for them. I plan to return to work tomorrow also. I know everyone is happy to see me feeling better too. It has been very stressful on my family to see me struggling with this BC. It is just such a relief to have one round behind me and now I can get back to doing the thing I truly love — making recycled bags![…]
I start the next leg of my pink journey tomorrow. For anyone not familiar with my pink journey, you can read all the posts here. Early in the morning, I am having a port put into my upper right arm. From there I go to my first chemo treatment. My treatment plan is chemo 4 cycles — 3 weeks apart with Taxotere, Cytoxan, and Herceptin for 1 year. The Herceptin is because I am HER2 positive. I have some pre-meds for anxiety and nausea so I guess the Lord willing, I’m ready to go to battle against this foe. I would appreciate prayers for courage and strength as I begin this next leg in my journey. Thanks everyone in advance for your support and prayers,
Cindy[…]
Doctor called last night after finally receiving the pathology reports following my surgery on Tuesday. The wait was almost unbearable but the news is wonderful. The lymph nodes are negative for cancer and so were the margins taken around the tumor. Hallelujah!
I’m sore from the incisions of surgery but this news has lifted my spirits and I’m feeling so much better now. Thank you again to everyone for your powerful prayers and good thoughts for my recovery.[…]
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