I spent the week reading some really great books that my dad got me...
Cancer Vixen: A True Story by Marisa Acocella Marchetto.
"The groundbreaking graphic memoir that has inspired breast cancer patients to fight back—and do it with style."
The review states: “What happens when a shoe-crazy, lipstick-obsessed, wine-swilling, pasta-slurping, fashion-fanatic, about-to-get-married big-city girl cartoonist with a fabulous life finds . . . a lump in her breast?” That’s the question that sets this powerful, funny, and poignant graphic memoir in motion. In vivid color and with a taboo-breaking sense of humor, Marisa Acocella Marchetto tells the story of her eleven-month, ultimately triumphant bout with breast cancer—from diagnosis to cure, and every challenging step in between.
Uplift: Secrets from the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors by Barbara Delinsky.
Secrets of Survival: Every breast cancer survivor is a hero and has learned some of the secrets of survival. Family, friends, and coworkers who are supportive also bring some wisdom to the fight. UPLIFT is a wonderful collection that lives up to its subtitle: “Secrets from the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors.”
Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book, 5th Edition (A Merloyd Lawrence Book by Susan M. Love MD(Author), Karen Lindsey (Contributor)
"Any woman facing a diagnosis, decisions about treatment, or concerns about prevention will find in Dr. Love’s book the information, guidance, and reassurance she needs."
Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book has long been the bible for the newly diagnosed. In this completely revised fifth edition, it also becomes a guide for those at risk of getting breast cancer, survivors interested in the consequences of their treatment, and anyone who wants to understand the new research about how the local environment influences the manifestations and treatments of many different kinds of breast cancer. Major advances being made in genetic research today mean that prevention and treatment can work not only to get rid of mutated cells (through chemo or surgery), but also to change the environment around the cells (through hormone therapy, exercise, and stress reduction). Among other promising developments discussed are advances in imaging, recognition of breast density as a risk factor, and a section focused on “personalized medicine” to help determine what kind of cancer you have and how best to treat it.
I woke up Friday knowing my days with my hair were numbered. I was hoping I'd make it to my next treatment but as I was getting ready to be a "lady who lunches", it was coming out in multiple pieces. I was slightly late for lunch, needing a moment to collect myself and glue my hair to my head with hairspray. It took me until lunch to realize the terrible pain in my achilles, that was making it difficult to walk, was gone. I was happy about my foot, not so happy about my hair. By Saturday, more was coming out, so I knew it was time for the buzz. I am very lucky that my hairdresser is my very good friend. She was on high alert for a midnight run to the salon. Last night, we went for it. A bag of cookies in tow, along with my 3 wigs, we did it! I'm glad it's finished, I was tired of worrying about it. I got up this morning put on my "dream hair" wig. When Kane looked at me, he didn't even do a double look, just carried on his way. Lukas got up, hugged me, and said, " Mom, your hair sure is growing." I then told Lukas and Kane how L.F helped get some new hair because some medicine I was taking was causing me to lose my hair. So from now on I'd be wearing a wig. Lukas said, "Good. I like your long hair better." And, we continued on with regular morning of lego and Ben 10 guys before getting ready for daycare. There's more to tell Lukas as the days go by, that I'm finding difficult to tell him. I've rehearsed it's a million times in my head but can't seem to spit it out. The wig thing didn't even phase him, which reminds me how resilient kids can be. I'm sure he'll have questions later today which might lead into the rest of the discussion we need to have soon. www.breastcancer.org has great suggestions on how to tell young people which we've taken our script from for telling the boys. It's difficult yet for me to say aloud to myself that I have cancer, let alone to the most important people in my life - my boys. But I also know, it's important to teach them to not be scared of the C word and be confident that I, and his harem of care givers, will be there no matter what.
I thought pics of my hair should be included, so people aren't shocked when they see me....
Special thanks to my friend K.D. for sharing her wigs with me, and all my cheer leaders who knew I was going for my buzz cut and were sending messages of encouragement!!
My friend R.K made me a wordle on www.wordle.net. These are her words.... "So, you can take this for what it's worth... I made a word cloud through "wordle" by pasting it in your blog page address. It pulled all the most common words you've written so far and turned them into a beautiful shape. I think it's an interesting way to stay conscious of the words we're saying, writing, and thinking. I really do believe that we project our thoughts and they become our reality (I know I need to get better at this!). So, if we all want you healthy, healing, and happy we should thinking more of these things ourselves! Your words (unsurprisingly) are VERY positive."
http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/6122241/For_CK
ooh la la...beautiful as ever chan!
ReplyDeleteLooking good Chantel. Can you get LK a wig too?
ReplyDeleteYou look stunning Chantel. With any hairstyle you are beautiful- but I lOVE the long hair.
ReplyDelete