Her hair loss has been so bad, she finally agreed to go get a wig. She has always had the thickest, fullest head of hair with no gray and now it's gone.

She hasn't gotten out of bed in a week.

I was working Saturday to make up for Tuesday's chemo time and she texted me at 6:AM to go find a wig shop.

I found one open up by the hospital.

She went into the shop bawling and left smiling. Took her right in with no appointment and waived the consultation fee. They were understanding, kind and treated her with dignity. I could tell it wasn't the owner's first rodeo.

Oh and wigs aren't $100. Nowhere near.

We're talking around $3000 for make her smile again quality. It was human hair and not synthetic.

I hope nobody here ever has to go through this, but if you do and she wants the $3000 wig, you sell whatever you have and get it for her.

Since my GF's cancer, she's let her hair grow in hopes of donating it for women like Tabitha. It's so long now that it's become a problem to wash, and she's still growing it!

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:

I hope nobody here ever has to go through this, but if you do and she wants the $3000 wig, you sell whatever you have and get it for her.

I agree. When my wife's long auburn hair fell out - well you know the feeling.
She didn't want a wig and since I am (almost) bald I suggested matching do rags.
She laughed and said that is OK. She wore many different do rags that made her feel special.

One son-in-law even shaved his head to show support.

PC

Mine actually just donated hers to one of those specialty places that helps cancer patients. Apparently Northside’s Womens’s Center doesn’t do that anymore.

When it grows back you will be tempted to run your hand over the peach fuzz. And it may grow back different. Thicker, thinner, greasy or dry.

She yelled at us for rubbing the peach fuzz. But we did get her to smile.

She's 7 in and it's taking its toll.

Today she was on this side of the ward with this staring her in the face.

Eyes on the prize Tabs, eyes on the prize.

She'll ring that bell.

And you will be the wind in her sails.

I know you. You know Tabitha..

Any updates on how she’s doing?

Well, she has one more round of the Taxol and 16 weeks at once every three weeks of Herceptin left.

Then on May 30th she gets the final reconstruction and symmetry adjustment.


Her psych adjusted her meds, so she's doing well there. We ate dinner on the front porch with Pippin this afternoon.

Her numbers have been stable. Superhero stable.

She is finally wearing her wig after she accepted it and asked me to shave her head completely. Hardest day of my life and I've gone through some pretty shitty days. This one rang the bell.

However, she looks happy when she looks in the mirror now. She called herself a monster before. I had to assure her she was nothing like my ex-wife.

I’ve worked with Taxol in research pharm. From what I’ve seen, it can be truly brutal.
I’m so glad she believes in her own beauty again. What she’s surviving now defies any frivolous superficial beauty standards.

My best to you both.

There's some folks in that ward that aren't going to survive even with the chemo. There's a 22 year old in there that his sister is giving blood to keep him alive.

Cannot truly understand how loosing your hair to chemo/radiation can make someone feel...I can say that because of all the times in the military and the high and tight /buzz cuts felt but you always knew that it would grow back in a short period of time.....Now over the last 20 yrs have grown the hair and made donations to "locks of love" so the hair could be made into wigs for people suffering from hair loss due to cancer treatments.... At these donations I would recieve a very nice professional haircut for ............... drill sgt.

I hope she does well. It is certainly not a great time for her or you. I actually think it was harder on my wife than it was for me so you have my best wishes. Make sure you take care of you because you need to be on your A game for her and the caregiver sometimes gets lost in the C game. Prayers to your family.

quote:

Cannot truly understand how loosing your hair to chemo/radiation can make someone feel

^^^^^^^^^^^
Well if you had cancer you would. Losing hair for a woman is a really big deal. It is also a reminder of having cancer. Cancer changes you.

Tabitha did really well today on number 12.

The counselor stopped by and said she can tell a big difference with her new medication. The nurses all came by and complimented her on her wig. Made her feel so good about herself.

Now she goes every three weeks for the Kanjinti (Herceptin) for 18 weeks.

We ate dinner outside on the porch while Pippin ate out of her plate.



It was a good day.

Love the red locks! And what a healthy bird Pippin is! Can’t get my own kid to eat broccoli, dang it. I’m showing him this for motivation.

Well, we are in the hospital tonight for emergency gallbladder removal surgery.

Ah, shit. I’m sorry. Hoping the surgery goes well.

Saying some prayers…

They have done all they can to save the gallbladder.

It comes out tomorrow morning at 7:00AM. The oncologist had to come by and approve the surgery. Her chemo has been delayed one week.

It was septic and I have had zero sleep for 30+ hours.

She had me go home and sleep and take care of Roxy and Pippin. I'll be back at 4:00 AM to get her ready for the surgery.

Stay strong brother. It is difficult on the care givers but we need you and love you all the more for it.

My wife has been there with me on my cancer journey and has seen more and done more for me than I ever wanted anyone to do. We have been together for 40 years this summer and I love and respect her more now than ever before.