Is Bald Really Beautiful?

EbertMnJ wrote:
> hello allie,  My name is Jeri and I was diagnosed 5/06
had chemo, then 
> mastectomy, and starting my next round of chemo.
> to answer your question: YES bald is beautiful,  I
decided against a 
> wig and went with scarves and "dewrags" and
bandanas.
> I work in an animal hospital and found great bandanas
with paw prints 
> and bones on them.  at home I go au natural.
> my hair started coming back and now I don't wear any
thing it's too 
> hot.  Yes people will look, but I proudly stand up
> and if any one asks I tell them that I don't just have
breast cancer 
> but IBC and it's worse than a lump.
> I have found with this disease than you lose modesty
first, then the 
> hair, and in my case both breasts but you NEVER lose
> dignity.
>
> Good luck, I'll be praying and thinking of you, this
site is very good
> Jeri
>
> Arlene Griffith wrote:
>> Hello everyone:  My name is Allie,  I was diagnosed
with ibc in Oct.  
>> I noticed the ususal symptoms....a red rash on my
breast, a fullness, 
>> enlargement of the breast , inverted nipple,
itching and tenderness.  
>> Initially my dr. prescribed antibiotics as he
suspected infection, 
>> but at the same time he also ordered a mammagram
within 72 hours.  It 
>> was the mammogram and subsequent ultra-sound that
showed the cancer.  
>> I was told the same day of mammogram and ultra
sound that I had 
>> cancer...but I was also scheduled for biopsy two
days later which 
>> "officially" diagnosed me.
>>
>> I feel very lucky in that my surgeon is an
Associate Professor of 
>> Surgery at Dartmouth Medical School and she is so
on top of things.  
>> Although the biopsy and follow-up tests did not
define my cancer as 
>> ibc...she believed it was and proceeded to treat it
as such.  In less 
>> than a month of the mammagram, I had my first chemo
treatment.  I am 
>> scheduled for the 2nd one this week.
>>
>> I was sick for one week following the 1st
chemo....contracted a virus 
>> on top of it...but once that passed I felt as good
as new.  It's been 
>> difficult for me to accept the reality of
this....it often feels as 
>> though it is happening to someone else....but this
week has been a 
>> difficult one.  I started losing my hair a few days
ago....and that 
>> has been a big dose of reality for me.   It's
strange...I don't feel 
>> bad about losing a breast....but losing my hair is
something else.  I 
>> never thought I was so vain...but I guess I am.  I
can't find a scarf 
>> or hat or turban, or anything that makes me feel
good...at least not 
>> yet. I got frustrated and cut my hair short the
other day....but I'm 
>> still "shedding" big time.  I'm trying to
get up the courage to just 
>> shave it all off and get it over with...but as yet
haven't been able 
>> to do that.
>>
>> Anyways...my course of treatment is as follows:   4
sessions of  
>> chemo...every 3 weeks...then 12 weeks of taxol and
herceptin.  
>> Surgery will follow, then 40 weeks of taxol and
herceptin.  Radiation 
>> may or may not be required.
>>
>> One thing I am concerned about, of course, is what
stage I'm at..and 
>> my chances of survival.  My dr. is reluctant to
give me an 
>> answer..and wants to wait until the masectomy.  Is
that the norm?  I 
>> wish he could be more definative....I read much
info on the 
>> internet...and it terrifies me.
>>
>>  I have a wonderful support system in
place....family, friends, and 
>> my boyfriend...the love of my life - Phil.  I am
indeed a very lucky 
>> woman....and I am staying as positive as I can.   I
have my "down" 
>> days.. but not many of them.
>>
>>  I just wanted to introduce myself....and tell you
how good it feels 
>> to know you are all here.  This is a wonderful
site....and I feel 
>> privileged to be amongst so many special
"angels".   God Bless,  Allie
>>
>>
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>>
>

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