Thanks to all

JoanC
JoanC Member Posts: 231
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hello Everyone,
Thanks so very much for the welcoming posts. I live in Salem, Oregon and that picture was taken 2 days before Christmas 2008.....My sister had just given me the hat for Christmas.
My last Chemo was on Oct.6th 2008 and my hair is not growing very fast but I have been going out without a scarf or hat since late Nov. if weather is nice.....My husband said to hold my head high.....and I got to thinking about that....Maybe we could make people think more about cancer and get more research funding if they were uncomfortable when they saw our bare and bald heads. When I was first diagnosed with cancer some how I felt ashamed...don't know why just did.....weird how I felt like it was some how my fault...now I tell every woman I see and make them aware to take care of themselves. Sorry I am just rattling on......Again, I am so GLAD to have found you all!!!
I pray for each and everyone of us.
(((Hugs)))...of course they are Teal ones!!
~Joan

Comments

  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #2
    thanks
    Hi Joan, thanks for sharing a bit about yourself. I am one of the people you see out and about bald too or just in a bandana(weather permitting). I am glad you are being a voice for many, for some our gift to give is just that. Hugs from another voice in central MN. Bonnie
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #4
    Dear Joan
    My last treatment was Sept. 2, so I am about a month ahead of you.(hair wise) I had to stop a low dose of Taxol monthly, because my numbers started back up indicating that it was no longer working. I had done this for 11 months. Prior to that I had 9 doses of carbo/taxol and the surgery. I started the anti estrogen and now it is dropping my CA 125 as of December and I find out tomorrow about January.

    My hair is growing and getting thicker and I am going out without hat or wig a lot now. If the weather is cold I am more prone to pop on the wig. I did get it trimmed two weeks ago at the beauty shop and it looked better afterwards all evened up. Now, it is getting long enough to have a kick, not yet a full wave or curl. It is nice to have eyelashes and brows though. Not so nice on my cheeks!!!

    Sure glad you found us. Nice to have you. I will pray you have a long remission. (((Hugs))) Saundra
  • Lauracec
    Lauracec Member Posts: 101
    #5
    saundra said:

    Dear Joan
    My last treatment was Sept. 2, so I am about a month ahead of you.(hair wise) I had to stop a low dose of Taxol monthly, because my numbers started back up indicating that it was no longer working. I had done this for 11 months. Prior to that I had 9 doses of carbo/taxol and the surgery. I started the anti estrogen and now it is dropping my CA 125 as of December and I find out tomorrow about January.

    My hair is growing and getting thicker and I am going out without hat or wig a lot now. If the weather is cold I am more prone to pop on the wig. I did get it trimmed two weeks ago at the beauty shop and it looked better afterwards all evened up. Now, it is getting long enough to have a kick, not yet a full wave or curl. It is nice to have eyelashes and brows though. Not so nice on my cheeks!!!

    Sure glad you found us. Nice to have you. I will pray you have a long remission. (((Hugs))) Saundra

    last chemo
    Hi Joan, my last carbo/taxol was oct 7th so just a day off from you. I never wear hat or scarf now. it looks kinda silly but I had told myself when I could part it I would go out without cover. like Saundra said I am so happy to have eyebrows and eyelashes again. but not to happy about all the hair on my face. but I heard somepeople say it goes away on it's own so I am just going to be patient. so anyway welcome. Laura
  • ladyjogger31
    ladyjogger31 Member Posts: 289
    #6
    Welcome
    Hi Joan, welcome to this awesome group of Teal Warriors. I'm still in treatment,I'm stage 3c. I started my first chemo in 4/08 with 8 treatments of carbo/taxol and now I'm onto my 5th treatment of Doxil. My hair started to grow back in November and so didn't my eyelashes.With Doxil I didn't lose my hair.Please come to this board anytime , it's a great support group.
    Hugs and Prayers,
    Terry
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #7
    welcome
    Welcome Joan,

    I had my last chemo August 4, 2008. My hair has grown about 2 inches and is curly and black and white. It was straight and brown and white before. My eyebrows and eyelashes came in fast, but now that I have been on Hexalen it seems as if my eyelashes are disappearing again.

    This group is wonderful and is a great place to ask and say what you really want to about cancer. I am stage 3C and have been in remission as of November.

    Libby
  • JoanC
    JoanC Member Posts: 231
    #8
    BonnieR said:

    thanks
    Hi Joan, thanks for sharing a bit about yourself. I am one of the people you see out and about bald too or just in a bandana(weather permitting). I am glad you are being a voice for many, for some our gift to give is just that. Hugs from another voice in central MN. Bonnie

    how come no little figure next to my pic?
    Bonnie,
    There is a little figure next to your name and others but not next to mine ....did I do something wrong when I signed up? Glad to hear there are many of you going out without head covering...weather permitting. I am really enjoying reading everyones "About Me " page.
    I want to be a Teal Warrior and not be so scared all the time.
    Teal ((((Hugs))) Prayers and love, Joan
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #9
    JoanC said:

    how come no little figure next to my pic?
    Bonnie,
    There is a little figure next to your name and others but not next to mine ....did I do something wrong when I signed up? Glad to hear there are many of you going out without head covering...weather permitting. I am really enjoying reading everyones "About Me " page.
    I want to be a Teal Warrior and not be so scared all the time.
    Teal ((((Hugs))) Prayers and love, Joan

    same question
    Joan,

    I asked the same question the other day. The little icon shows up on your name and everyone elses when I look, but not on mine. It just doesn't show on our own when we look at it.

    Libby
  • kris43
    kris43 Member Posts: 275
    #10
    Welcome
    Joan - welcome to the site. I was diagnosed IIIC in July of 2007. Have been in remission since December 29, 2007 and thankful for every day. I never wore a wig - my friends had a scarf party for me and I had a scarf for every different outfit I could ever put together.It was a wonderful gift. I started going without my scarves in late February and it actually made the people at work feel better - somehow it was better to see me with just white fuzz then it was to see the scarf. I grew up blonde and my hair came back in pure white and as it grew it got darker in the back - but I finally started coloring it in October and now I feel more like my old self.

    You have found a wonderful spot to ask questions, give support and receive support. I don't know what I would have done without it.

    Take great care and keep posting away!
    Kris
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #11
    kris43 said:

    Welcome
    Joan - welcome to the site. I was diagnosed IIIC in July of 2007. Have been in remission since December 29, 2007 and thankful for every day. I never wore a wig - my friends had a scarf party for me and I had a scarf for every different outfit I could ever put together.It was a wonderful gift. I started going without my scarves in late February and it actually made the people at work feel better - somehow it was better to see me with just white fuzz then it was to see the scarf. I grew up blonde and my hair came back in pure white and as it grew it got darker in the back - but I finally started coloring it in October and now I feel more like my old self.

    You have found a wonderful spot to ask questions, give support and receive support. I don't know what I would have done without it.

    Take great care and keep posting away!
    Kris

    coloring
    Kris,

    You began coloring how long after chemo? My onc/gyn was against me coloring my hair during chemo. My last treatment was August 4th. But now I have had hexalen twice, once in October and just finished and will not start again until March. So I could probably color sometime in February.

    My hair is black and white. I still have a hard time going out without covering my hair. Never thought I was prideful, but there is something about all this white that makes me feel like I am standing out like a sore thumb!!

    I will be 53 next month and thought while I did not have any hair that when it began to grow back that I would be like Jamie Lee Curtis and just be natural. Why be embarrassed about how God has created me. And the Bible does say that white hair is a sign of wisdom. I just never knew I was so wise!!

    Guess we all have to make that call on coloring or not and when to stop or never to stop.

    Teal hugs and love,
    Libby
  • Dreamdove
    Dreamdove Member Posts: 175 Member
    #12
    LPack said:

    coloring
    Kris,

    You began coloring how long after chemo? My onc/gyn was against me coloring my hair during chemo. My last treatment was August 4th. But now I have had hexalen twice, once in October and just finished and will not start again until March. So I could probably color sometime in February.

    My hair is black and white. I still have a hard time going out without covering my hair. Never thought I was prideful, but there is something about all this white that makes me feel like I am standing out like a sore thumb!!

    I will be 53 next month and thought while I did not have any hair that when it began to grow back that I would be like Jamie Lee Curtis and just be natural. Why be embarrassed about how God has created me. And the Bible does say that white hair is a sign of wisdom. I just never knew I was so wise!!

    Guess we all have to make that call on coloring or not and when to stop or never to stop.

    Teal hugs and love,
    Libby

    Grey is beautiful
    Libby, I'm 53 and all natural! I don't color my hair (salt & pepper--ugh, what a way to describe hair color) and I feel fine. I don't spend alot of time fixing my hair. Just shampoo and often abit of conditioner, and let it dry naturally. No hairspray, mousse, wax, or silicone stuff. I suppose maybe some people think I'm older than I am because of my grey but I'm kind of like Jamie Lee Curtis. I don't have hangups about my age. My time is freedup, unlike my sister who spends 2 and a half hours getting for work and it's mostly time spent on hair. My hair is shiny, in good condition. Usually people with grey hair have dullness. Doesn't have to be that way. Alot of shampoos now (both drugstore and salon) are harsh and full of silicone. And blowdryers, curling irons, and flatirons strip hair of moisture. So there is an added bonus of being gentle with your hair and going natural. You may get compliments!
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #13
    Dreamdove said:

    Grey is beautiful
    Libby, I'm 53 and all natural! I don't color my hair (salt & pepper--ugh, what a way to describe hair color) and I feel fine. I don't spend alot of time fixing my hair. Just shampoo and often abit of conditioner, and let it dry naturally. No hairspray, mousse, wax, or silicone stuff. I suppose maybe some people think I'm older than I am because of my grey but I'm kind of like Jamie Lee Curtis. I don't have hangups about my age. My time is freedup, unlike my sister who spends 2 and a half hours getting for work and it's mostly time spent on hair. My hair is shiny, in good condition. Usually people with grey hair have dullness. Doesn't have to be that way. Alot of shampoos now (both drugstore and salon) are harsh and full of silicone. And blowdryers, curling irons, and flatirons strip hair of moisture. So there is an added bonus of being gentle with your hair and going natural. You may get compliments!

    hair
    You know last night I did go natural to our Bunco group and got lots of compliments (especially with the curls). And they all said I should leave it. So being the ornery person that I am, I said okay. How about each one of you stop coloring your hair for the next 2-3 months and then tell me how well you like my color!!

    We are all 53-63 years of age in our Bunco group and all color, or highlight their hair!!

    Thanks for the encouragement. I really like my hair better then my wig now, maybe because it is too tight with my hair in now, too!!!!


    Libby
  • kris43
    kris43 Member Posts: 275
    #14
    LPack said:

    hair
    You know last night I did go natural to our Bunco group and got lots of compliments (especially with the curls). And they all said I should leave it. So being the ornery person that I am, I said okay. How about each one of you stop coloring your hair for the next 2-3 months and then tell me how well you like my color!!

    We are all 53-63 years of age in our Bunco group and all color, or highlight their hair!!

    Thanks for the encouragement. I really like my hair better then my wig now, maybe because it is too tight with my hair in now, too!!!!


    Libby

    Hair
    Hi Libby -

    I had my last chemo December 29, 2007 and didn't start to color my hair until October of 2008. Everyone loved my new color - said it made my eyes pop - but every single time I looked in the mirror I could not SEE me. Does that make sense. No matter how thick, how beautiful, etc my hair was - it just didn't feel like it was mine. I was grateful I had hair again sure - but 43 and pure white was a little scary. I am now a dark brown/red head and the first day I came in to work the responses were you look so much younger now, it's great with your skin color, etc. I don't blow dry it, I don't put stuff in it, I don't curl it - it's stick straight. But I feel better and that's what is important.

    The thing that chemo and losing my hair really taught me is that I have no shame what so ever - I did my own thing with the scarves, went to work with patches of skull without hair - but when I think back to one year ago and remember I was doing that, I can't believe it was me.

    BTW - I color my own hair. It's L'Oreal and I'm worth it! lol

    Just as a little side note: I had IP chemo and continually had problems with my abdominal port. It got bad enough where I was wearing 2 lycra type tank tops to make up wearing a bra because the bra rubbed at just the wrong spot. I am not small chested. All of my girlfriends said, "oh, you can't tell." I was mortified. I told them to come to breakfast group without there bra's on then and they all said yes - but not one of them did it!! I don't think I would have done it for them either - but they were trying to make me feel better and I love them for that.

    Take care!
    Kris
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #15
    kris43 said:

    Hair
    Hi Libby -

    I had my last chemo December 29, 2007 and didn't start to color my hair until October of 2008. Everyone loved my new color - said it made my eyes pop - but every single time I looked in the mirror I could not SEE me. Does that make sense. No matter how thick, how beautiful, etc my hair was - it just didn't feel like it was mine. I was grateful I had hair again sure - but 43 and pure white was a little scary. I am now a dark brown/red head and the first day I came in to work the responses were you look so much younger now, it's great with your skin color, etc. I don't blow dry it, I don't put stuff in it, I don't curl it - it's stick straight. But I feel better and that's what is important.

    The thing that chemo and losing my hair really taught me is that I have no shame what so ever - I did my own thing with the scarves, went to work with patches of skull without hair - but when I think back to one year ago and remember I was doing that, I can't believe it was me.

    BTW - I color my own hair. It's L'Oreal and I'm worth it! lol

    Just as a little side note: I had IP chemo and continually had problems with my abdominal port. It got bad enough where I was wearing 2 lycra type tank tops to make up wearing a bra because the bra rubbed at just the wrong spot. I am not small chested. All of my girlfriends said, "oh, you can't tell." I was mortified. I told them to come to breakfast group without there bra's on then and they all said yes - but not one of them did it!! I don't think I would have done it for them either - but they were trying to make me feel better and I love them for that.

    Take care!
    Kris

    hair
    Thanks Kris,

    I am going to color my hair even though I don't mind my look now - I really think I will feel better if I can get it back to where it was.

    Thanks again,
    Libby
  • JanQ
    JanQ Member Posts: 236
    #16
    LPack said:

    hair
    Thanks Kris,

    I am going to color my hair even though I don't mind my look now - I really think I will feel better if I can get it back to where it was.

    Thanks again,
    Libby

    Hair
    Our crowning glory! I hate to loose my hair. I have gone though that 3 times and the first was the worst but I still hate it. When I look in the mirror with out eyelashes or brows it makes me look like I am sick... explain that one. From reading Libby's post it sounds like I will get to keep my hair on Hexalen....Keep us posted. I hope everyone is having a wonderful day, I would love to have some of that beautiful snow!
  • JanQ
    JanQ Member Posts: 236
    #17
    BonnieR said:

    thanks
    Hi Joan, thanks for sharing a bit about yourself. I am one of the people you see out and about bald too or just in a bandana(weather permitting). I am glad you are being a voice for many, for some our gift to give is just that. Hugs from another voice in central MN. Bonnie

    Bonnie
    I love your picture, you just look so precious, no wonder you are such an inspriation it just shines though!
    Love, Jan

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