I seem to be obsessed with hair today.
In the theory that sometimes shorter hair doesn't fall out as fast, I had a couple of inches cut off my hair today. It is about chin length now. I am not sure if I like it. Which is ok, because I probably only have a couple of weeks to enjoy it.
Since the oncology nurse told me to count on losing my hair, I went to the cosmetology school today and looked at some wigs. Since the wigs there are donated (and free to chemo patients), the selection was very limited.
The wig thing today was depressing. I can't find anything that looks remotely like hair I would like - even on my worst hair days. So maybe the answer is hats. Ah well. It'll grow back sometime. I know I am going to cry when it falls out. And when I lose my eyelashes and eyebrows. The only possible compensation would be if I didn't have to shave my legs.
I am going to go enjoy my evening cup of hot cocoa. Since they told me to get in the habit of drinking lots of liquids for the chemotherapy, I bought cocoa, apple cider, and lots of sugar-free jello (I like to make it hot and drink it like a beverage before it sets. Weird, huh?)
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Friday, October 12, 2007
Preparing for Chemotherapy
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Breast Cancer
Since October is breast cancer awareness month, I thought I'd mention that I intend to be one of the survivors.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in mid-August. The lump was found during a mammogram - I can't stress the importance of that test! Because it was in both breasts, I had a bilateral mastectomy with sentinel node biopsies on September 19th, and tomorrow is my first visit with the oncologist. The good news is that the cancer had not reached my lymph nodes, and the margins were clear. For more information, the best site I have found is http://www.breastcancer.org/
The irony of breast cancer is that you do not feel bad until you begin treatment. I felt great and healthy. And other than sore and tired as I recover from surgery (to be expected), I still feel good.
The surgeon did not recommend genetic testing for first degree relatives, because there is no breast cancer history in my family. According to her, the BRAC gene is found only found in about 10% of the women tested. And most women with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.
These days, it seems that everyone knows someone with breast cancer. Although the cause is unknown, many of us want to know how to reduce our risk. To that end, I am including this web page link: http://www.breastcancer.org/risk
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in mid-August. The lump was found during a mammogram - I can't stress the importance of that test! Because it was in both breasts, I had a bilateral mastectomy with sentinel node biopsies on September 19th, and tomorrow is my first visit with the oncologist. The good news is that the cancer had not reached my lymph nodes, and the margins were clear. For more information, the best site I have found is http://www.breastcancer.org/
The irony of breast cancer is that you do not feel bad until you begin treatment. I felt great and healthy. And other than sore and tired as I recover from surgery (to be expected), I still feel good.
The surgeon did not recommend genetic testing for first degree relatives, because there is no breast cancer history in my family. According to her, the BRAC gene is found only found in about 10% of the women tested. And most women with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.
These days, it seems that everyone knows someone with breast cancer. Although the cause is unknown, many of us want to know how to reduce our risk. To that end, I am including this web page link: http://www.breastcancer.org/risk
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