Forum Discussion

Parkrunner's avatar
Parkrunner
Member
13 years ago

Just getting started

For someone who has 2 blogs outside of this BC life, I've been strangely reluctant to start writing here. I've been 'lurking' for a month or more now, but it's time to put pen to paper (so to speak).

I had a lumpectomy & axillary clearance on 31 October, of the 24 lymph nodes only one was cancerous, so I'm happy about that (as are my doctors!). I'm 6 days into my second of 4 x 2 weekly AC and will then have 12 weekly Taxol to follow up.

So far, so good. While I feel unwell, I am coping pretty well with the AC - I just keep taking the meds they give me (Emend, Dex, Nexium, Maxillon, panadol, nuelasta.... The list goes on & on doesn't it?).

This week is hair loss week, I've found that while I am prepared for the hair loss I wasn't prepared for the actual fact of clumps of it coming out under the shower and found that quite distressing. My partner ran #3 clippers over it for me yesterday & I'll get him to shave it completely by the end of the week. It feels good to be proactively removing my hair instead of just watching it come out in drifts!

I like coming on here & reading your stories (and comments on other peoples stories) and find the very positive atmosphere very uplifting - I could wish the site was a little easier to navigate though! I am blessed with very supportive friends and family -we have had dinner delivered to our door 3 nights a week since just after my surgery & 15 friends showed up in 40 degree heat to help us unpack after moving house last weekend. Humbling in the extreme.

The other thing I'm very grateful for is our public health system - for all it's failings it has come up trumps for me (and a number of others I know who have been through this).

Bright blessings fellow club members!

Clare

11 Replies

  • LouiseTurner's avatar
    LouiseTurner
    Member
    13 years ago
    Hi Clare, I'm a teacher too but thought that being around the classroom would be to hazardous in terms of picking up infections. It's good your first part of treatment (worst part) is during holidays in that respect. If you feel well enough to continue working through treatment then you are quite amazing I think. I found losing my hair was manageable with scarves etc. people responded really well, we're very kind and helpful. I'm now through AC and 5 sessions into 12 taxol. I have a wig now for parties etc which is completely different to my original hair. So that's a laugh for people which is fun, but for me it feels really nice to have hair on. For those who know me it's fine, but those who don't are none the wiser. It took me a while to get to this stage, and I still feel a bit weird about wearing fake hair. Worse than losing head hair though is the eyebrows and lashes. These were completely gone when taxol started. Now I look like a sick cancer patient and hate it. And after wearing long hair again and feeling pretty and feminine, I now really hate being bald and am really tired of this whole cancer thing. BUT.....I found a great blog about how to draw on brows and how to put on false lashes. http://eyelineher.blogspot.com/ so I do that and feel better again. I think it's the eyebrows....as soon as I put those on I look loads better. It's great you are coping so well with the chemo, I hope it stays that way for you. Cheers Louie
  • LouiseTurner's avatar
    LouiseTurner
    Member
    13 years ago
    Hi Clare, I'm a teacher too but thought that being around the classroom would be to hazardous in terms of picking up infections. It's good your first part of treatment (worst part) is during holidays in that respect. If you feel well enough to continue working through treatment then you are quite amazing I think. I found losing my hair was manageable with scarves etc. people responded really well, we're very kind and helpful. I'm now through AC and 5 sessions into 12 taxol. I have a wig now for parties etc which is completely different to my original hair. So that's a laugh for people which is fun, but for me it feels really nice to have hair on. For those who know me it's fine, but those who don't are none the wiser. It took me a while to get to this stage, and I still feel a bit weird about wearing fake hair. Worse than losing head hair though is the eyebrows and lashes. These were completely gone when taxol started. Now I look like a sick cancer patient and hate it. And after wearing long hair again and feeling pretty and feminine, I now really hate being bald and am really tired of this whole cancer thing. BUT.....I found a great blog about how to draw on brows and how to put on false lashes. http://eyelineher.blogspot.com/ so I do that and feel better again. I think it's the eyebrows....as soon as I put those on I look loads better. It's great you are coping so well with the chemo, I hope it stays that way for you. Cheers Louie
  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Hi Clare,

    I just wanted to jump in and say welcome to the online network. I hope you are finding your way around the site a little bit better??? There are some areas of the site which we know are a little confusing (we're working with our developers to see how we can improve this) but for now you might find the best place to start is the site's Help page and Q&A page. The Help page will also give you the link to the All Posts page as well.

    Feel free to call me any time and I would be happy to answer any questions you have.

    ~Daina 

  • Parkrunner's avatar
    Parkrunner
    Member
    13 years ago
    Thanks Tonya, I ordered some headgear from Headcovers after reading one of your comments on someone else's post. Lovely people, great customer service when there was a slight problem, delivered in a week & all wrapped up nicely in white tissue - small effort in presentation made big difference to customer!
  • Parkrunner's avatar
    Parkrunner
    Member
    13 years ago
    Lovely welcoming messages, thank you :) Struggling this week as I have a sore throat & feeling the bone pain from both neulasta & a slight fever but otherwise coping well with the actual chemo. Clare
  • Di68's avatar
    Di68
    Member
    13 years ago

    I think i really worried the first time i had chemo and lost my hair i wouldnt go out without a wig, and they were hot and i really didnt like them. This time round  i was very proactive shaved my hair as soon as the hair started coming out in clumps. I wore beanies when it was cooler and caps when it was warmer. I didnt care when it was only just coming back and i wasnt covering it up. I just put my make up on to make me feel good and out i went. I kinda like the bald look lol

  • Di68's avatar
    Di68
    Member
    13 years ago

    I think i really worried the first time i had chemo and lost my hair i wouldnt go out without a wig, and they were hot and i really didnt like them. This time round  i was very proactive shaved my hair as soon as the hair started coming out in clumps. I wore beanies when it was cooler and caps when it was warmer. I didnt care when it was only just coming back and i wasnt covering it up. I just put my make up on to make me feel good and out i went. I kinda like the bald look lol

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    13 years ago

    Welcome to this network but sorry about your bc diagnosis. Some women embrace being bald but I sure didn't. The thing is,you are bald long after chemo stops but peolpe still think you are sick and you want to scream"I'm fine now"!!! It's hard covering your head in summer- wigs are too hot and itchy. I wore soft cotton bandanas and caps and then headbands as soon as some hair came through. I ordered from www.headcovers.com - cheap and delivered to your door from U.S.A. Hope chemo isn't too hard on you and blog back here anytime for info and support or just to vent-I think it helps.

                                                 Tonya xx

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    13 years ago

    Welcome to this network but sorry about your bc diagnosis. Some women embrace being bald but I sure didn't. The thing is,you are bald long after chemo stops but peolpe still think you are sick and you want to scream"I'm fine now"!!! It's hard covering your head in summer- wigs are too hot and itchy. I wore soft cotton bandanas and caps and then headbands as soon as some hair came through. I ordered from www.headcovers.com - cheap and delivered to your door from U.S.A. Hope chemo isn't too hard on you and blog back here anytime for info and support or just to vent-I think it helps.

                                                 Tonya xx

  • annie2's avatar
    annie2
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hi ya.I had 4 AC and !@ Taxol as well good luck with it all.Its quite daunting and you may have a few upsets every now and again.Ask the nurses if you end up with any weird and wonderful side effects.They are amazing and are totally there for you.

    The hair thing i think was the worst for me.I could no longer hide the fact i was sick and had cancer.Every time i looked in the mirror was a constant reminder of the big C i never got used to it.When all your hair falls out you have to stand out in the rain.I loved it such a weird and wonderful feeling.One pleasure i got out of being bald!!!

    I too went public and i couldnt fault the treatment i recieved.And besides the meds it was free!!Least i didnt have to worry on the financial front! I met so many wonderful people and their partners during chemo.It was very humbling that others going through the same actually remembered me and found time to see how i was and vice versa!

    Glad you blogged i to am not very computer savvy and it took me a while to get around the site.I still find things i didnt know were there.Good luck with it all and i hope you continue well on your path.Yes take all the meds they give you.I did and coped quite well.

    Cheers Annie xx