HAIR IN REVIEW

Good morning. It seems like there are many new visitors to Sue's Boob Blog, which is a wonderful thing. The page views are soaring. I thought, since the only significant cancer-related news is Thumb Number Two, I would pull some photos from years past as a way of illustrating the journey. By the way, I did ask B if she would come with me to the orthopedist's office when I get the next cortizone shot and she said she would. I feel better about it already. This morning, my left thumb looks a bit like a pickle, you know, like a baby dill. That whole side of my hand is now stiff. I must say, that the De Quervain's in both wrists is much better. Who on earth knows why. That big lump that I squished back into my right wrist has yet to return. Now each wrist just has a little pea-sized bump. Onto the review. First a Hair Retrospective. Above is me, last fall. I look about the same today, with several more gray hairs.

SIDENOTE: I've decided I'm going to start a peer lead breast cancer support group. We all need one. I'm going to call the local women's resource center and talk to them about holding it there. We would meet once a month, have a check-in, then do crafts or create art, or something other than talk about cancer in a formal way. We'd talk about it casually or not at all, but we'd have the solidarity of the group behind us. Then, mid way through the month, those who want to will meet for an outing, like a hike or walk, or bowling, or a beer, etc. We need this. We need community for support in this life after cancer treatment. If you have any ideas for a catchy group name, let me know. Thanks. I'll keep you posted on the progress. Onto the hair...

HAIR RETROSPECTIVE
You'll see that my hair is vastly different now than it was when it first returned following treatment. That hair actually Hurt. It was so curly, it hurt my scalp. Wow, I just published this post and looked through all the pictures. Powerful. It still feels surreal, like it happened to someone else. I'm glad I included a variety - some funny, some not. That's how it was. Sometimes funny, sometimes not. In my case I think the humor outweighed the exhaustion, stress, and fear. I made the best of it. What else could I do? When you're given chocolate cake, you eat chocolate cake! Seeing the pictures of me nearly bald is unsettling. I look so bare and vulnerable. I remember that I didn't really care all that much how I appeared in public. I only wore a wig in public once. Mainly I wrapped my head in pretty scarves. It was winter, so I also wore lots of hats. But I remember not wearing anything too. I manage a store that sells things from Tibet, Nepal, and India, so people thought I was a nun.

Timeline:
August 30, 2008 ... Diagnosis
September 24, 2008 ... Surgery, Partial Mastectomy
Early November ... Cut Off Ponytail Party
November 2, 2008 ... Keeping Abreast Fundraiser
November 19, 2008 ... First Chemo of Four, One Every Three Weeks, Cytoxan and Taxotere
November 23, 2008 ... Head Shaving Pizza Party
December 10, 2008 ... Second Chemo - Allergic Reaction to Taxotere - started going into anaphelactic shock, couldn't get anyone's attention. Terrifying. I finally got someone's attention, they got a nurse, and the medical team rushed in with liquid benedryl.
December 17, 2009 ... Second Try of Second Chemo, this time with an additional premed of liquid benedryl. Love that benadryl!
January 7, 2009 ... Third Chemo
January 10-20, 2009 ... Ten-Day Vipassana Meditation Retreat
January 28, 2009 ... Last Chemo (and the graduation diploma, and candy)