Today will be my second round of chemo. I am fortunate enough to be able to do it at Feather River Hospital much closer than Stanford! For the past three days my hair has been coming out like crazy. It's not falling out in large chunks, but I'm like a dog shedding her winter coat. My hair is super thin now, so tonight we will be cutting it all off. I am open to any and all suggestions on how to wrap my bald head! :)
Since I had such a rough reaction to the chemo this last time the doctor has given me an anti-nausea patch. We will also be injecting fluids in through IV as well as more nausea meds. Last time I was unable to keep down any liquids and the thought of taking pills made me sick. My biggest fear I have for today is "anticipatory nausea", where just the thought of chemo makes me ill even before it's injected.
My port is healing up nicely I have about a one inch scar where they surgically implanted it. The port is under my skin and that is where all the injections will be pushed through rather than my veins. I originally didn't want to have a port, but my new oncologist thought it was a good idea to prevent any damage to my veins.
By the way the chemo is doing everything it is supposed to, my tumor is completely down. My boob feels like a boob! If I didn't know I had cancer I would think nothing is wrong, no more hard spot! My lymph nodes have shrunk tremendously as well! That's just one round...I look forward to seeing what 7 more will do!
Thanks everyone for the continued support I have been receiving lots of inspiring words which has kept me strong through this process!
Samantha
You're amazing!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSoo glad to hear the chemo is working!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Following your story, your attitude is so inspirational :)
Sending prayers your way, you're going to kick this cancers butt! Hope your 2nd round went better with the nausea...
ReplyDeleteFind a clinic that will be able to inject intravenous vitamin C. This has CURED many cancers, but is ignored by the criminally negligent medical profession because of pressure from the FDA and big Pharma. All info in the book "PRIMAL PANACEA" by Thomas E Levy, M.D.. Available direct from publisher for $29.95, MedFoxPubs.com, ($40 from Amazon). Vitamin C cures things like just about any viral infection like AIDS, hepatitis, malaria polio, shingles, tuberculosis, mushroom poisoning, pneumonia, and a total of 56 others, references quoted. Very best wishes to you and yours
ReplyDeleteI will definitely look into it and ask! Thank you for the suggestion!
DeleteSamantha
Hi Sam, my name is Jennifer and I read your story today in the ChicoEr. While I'm now closer to those women in groups you can't relate to (39) I was 27 when re-diagnosed with stage 4 Carcinoid Cancer. I was first diagnosed at age 12. I live here in Chico and would love to chat further with you. I completely understand the inability to relate even to others with cancer because they usually are so much older than you are. If you're interested at all my email is jsugrin at yahoo dot com.
ReplyDeleteAs I was growing up, my mom had this wonderful, huge, red, beehive hairdo. As rambunctious kids, my sisters and I used to sit in the back seat of the car and drop pennies into her well hairsprayed hair. At night when she would pull her bobby pins out, all the pennies would clink accross the floor. We would giggle and giggle over it. Needless to say, her hair was such a big part of who she was and a wonderful memory of ours. Later in life when she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, we were all devastated.
ReplyDeleteAs she began her chemo, her hair fell out pretty fast and it was heartbreaking. She took it like a champ and tried a few god awful wigs and hated them. She tried a cute hat, but when she took it off, seeing her own patchy red hair, began to drive her into a deep depression.
I came over to visit her one night and brought my clippers with me. She looked at the clippers and then looked at me with a smirk and shrugged her shoulders in acceptance.
As I shaved her head, I was overcome with emotion. That red beehive had been reduced to strands of fragile red patches. After I finished, she rubbed her hand accross her bald head and smiled. This was the beggining of her fight. I don't know if it was because she missed that red hair or simply because she was not going to let cancer win.
She has been in remission now for five years with no sign of the cancer and that beautiful red hair came back in wavey white. I couldn't imagine my life without her. This is my little story of Mom, her big red hair and cancer.
I love this story! I can completely relate to having my hair being such a big part of me and then having my mother shave it completely off. I had blonde hair, but we joke that it will come back curly and red! :) It's great to hear your mom is a survivor, I refuse to let cancer win myself!
DeleteSamantha
I just read your story in the Chico ER. I would like to send a little comment your way and let you know you are very strong and admirable! I think your blog is a great idea to connect with others. You are a fighter and a strong woman! Sending strength and positivity your way! Your attitude and fight is amazing and inspirational!
ReplyDeleteHi, Sam. I'm so sorry to hear you've joined this lousy club. If you haven't already found it, please check out breastcancer.org and the discussion boards. There's a young BC survivors forum where you'll be able to connect with other young women who are fighting, too.
ReplyDeleteWishing you ease and strength as you progress through this journey back to good health.
Sam, you are one courageous woman! So inspiring and clear about your mission to educate. Thank you! My oldest son was diagnosed with a brain tumor 2 years ago. I understand some of the experience you are living. He is healthy and back to living his 29 year-old life in SF. Keep the vision you have for yourself and never loose sight of it. Blessings, light and love to you.
ReplyDelete