Thank you so much for all your positive thoughts, prayers, encouragement. This support group means alot to me, when I need to vent, etc. you seem to understand. I feel heard, cared for, listened to. The doc did go into detail about the progression; there are some new 'spots' in a couple new places, in a lung, a liver, a rib. They are small but they are new. In other places on my spine, it has gotten smaller but there are these 'new' areas that are of concern. The treatment I have been on since January, has ceased treatment, time to try something else. I have gone thru about 5 other treatments. Doc suggested Taxol once a week with Dexamethasone (before treatment) and another drug. Tentatively it will be three weeks on once a week, 1.5 hrs per treatment for three weeks, one week off. I want to wait, until I can afford to buy a wig, figure out if I can afford to use a sculp cooling machine that helps with hair loss.Tentatively treatment will start Oct. 19. I have been working, need to try to continue to work but may need to adjust schedule. I have alot on my mind. There is a buyer for my dad's house, but it is moving slow, I wish this part was taken care of; needed expenses will be taken out of dad's house to pay off bills. I know I am getting off topic, couldn't help it (smile). Anyway, this gets you up to date with me. Thank you again for your concerns, etc. and no I am not giving up, even if I at times, feel alittle weary.
Hugs to all
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SusieIM
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Wishing you all the best as you start your new treatment. I also hope and pray that the sale of your Dad’s house pushes through without a hitch so it’s one less thing off your mind. Keep the faith🙏
Hi Susie,
Thanks for the update. I hope your new treatment goes well for you. It's good that your oncologist has a new plan in place for you. Let's hope the sale of your dad's house also goes through without any issues, as I'm sure that has been stressful for you.
🙏❤️🙏 praying the new treatment is successful & the finances work out. Have you considered going on disability & asking for financial assistance from the cancer center? I know they help lots of people with the cancer treatment/drug costs. ❤️🙏❤️
Best wishes for your new treatment. An Aunt had a wig made after she lost her hair through treatment and it looked so real. I loved it.
Best wishes
Cheryl
Hugs right back at you, SusieIM...
I'm so sorry about the progression and how you're feeling, although I think that either you're prone to understatement "...feeling a 'little' (?!?) weary or you're a true stoic/superwoman!
Re: the treatment, I've been very encouraged here to read several accounts about how well the Taxol and similar work after the other treatments have "failed". So I hope that's the case for you...
Regarding the expenses...Have you considered not getting a wig? I didn't get one when I was bald and was very happy with my decision. Wore scarves and, frankly, felt pretty fabulous. Next time I'm bald, I'm thinking I'll just "own it", walk around bald, at least in the summer...
Re: the scalp cooling machine, I think I read here on the board recently that someone did something with ice packs in a cooler...maybe this works just as well? I don't recall the specifics, but you might find something online...
But, again, and mostly, just wanted to say that I'm sorry about the news and am hopeful that your new treatment will work...
I did 2 sessions of scalp cooling it keeps some of your hair so you don’t look bald.
I ended up so depressed from the meds and steroids that the experience of getting chemo the actual cap cooling (the facility I went to was able to accommodate) made the whole thing more unbearable. I ended up having a breakdown stopping treatments after 2 sessions. Had to pull myself out of it and continued treatment with an Anastrosole and final reconstruction. 1yr after diagnosis became MBC. Lesson learned take all the chemo. If you’re tough enough to wear the cap do it but next go round I think I’ll embrace baldness. Everything hit me like a ton of bricks very different perspective almost 3 years after and done with hormone treatment and on A&E. Praying for a drug that will give me 5-10years.
I'm so incredibly sorry for what you've been through, my gosh! While your experience was very different from mine, I can understand and empathize with it, I know it's a lot to deal with.
And I agree re: embracing baldness, like there's so much sociatal (wd?) stuff about hair, but what does it matter, really? Plus, I've always felt that being bald makes us look like visitors from a distant future...how cool is that?
A final note, I also hope that the meds will give you (and me!) another 5-10 years. I know I've been lucky so far, almost 6 years in, but I now take 8 years (which would put me at 60 years old, if my math is right) as a given (almost? fingers crossed?) and 10 or even 15 years as do-able..
I’m so sorry you’ve had such a rough time. Bad enough to have cancer but the emotional turmoil can be oppressive on top of it. I am sending my sincere support
The American Cancer Society has free wigs, hats, and scarves if you live near one. They are all new and there is no qualifying or paperwork. If you don't live near one call and see if a volunteer can bring you some. Best wishes. Blessings Hannah
About wigs As hdhonda notes, the American Cancer Society will be so happy to supply you with wigs. If you live in the USA and cannot get to the ACS or from the hospital, I will be happy to send a couple of wigs to you. I bought one at great expense that I didn't wear. Someone passed along a cheaper but better looking wig which I did wear upon occasion. I wore it to a formal dinner dance. It fell off me while I was dancing. My partner picked it up, handed it to me, I put it on and we continued dancing. My big thing was not losing all my hair but losing my eyelashes. Please let me know if you need my wigs.
Meanwhile, I am sending you some bear hugs and some air kisses. Please smile, now. It will make you feel better. I promise.
Check to see if your insurance will cover a wig. Apparently my insurance does although I have not need to go that route yet. Good luck with selling dads house etc.
You’ve sure got a lot on your plate right now. I’m sorry you have to deal with all of this. Please know that we send you a warm virtual hug
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