Good Day Hair Style Fashionistas,
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Early week getting thinner at temples
and around hairline
but sufficient for quick trips in public. |
After the unexpected and shocking commencement of my loss of hair last Thursday (13th June), I carefully nursed the precious strands through the weekend and into the early days of the following week. On the Monday and Tuesday I could still get around town with a head of hair that, whilst it looked thin, lifeless and dull (and a stiff Melbourne wind could have whizzed it away in seconds) it still wasn't publicly shocking - unless you are a hypercritical Virgo, such as myself and to mine it looked like a travesty of a 'do' and the hair police would be on reasonable grounds to sentence me to house arrest for 12 months until it improved.
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Thinning at the crown like Prince Charles!!! Pun intended!
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But by Wednesday morning of this week, (19th June) it was just plain sad.
I cannot express how utterly depressing it was to look at it in the mirror and to have to continously be picking it up from the floor, from my collar where it would fall and gather like some hairy and tickly scarf. I would also have to pick it out from down my back where lots would have fallen down and inside my shirt. It would hang mid suspended from the remaining in tact hair J&Just waiting to drop, or fall across and stick to my face. My scalp was terribly tender as my once lovely shiny hair just gave up the ghost. I couldnt even try on the wigs to show Siobhan over previous nights for fear of most of coming out before some appointments and the big shave off.
I had to also head out that afternoon firstly to the Peter Mac Familial Genetic Cancer Centre and then to the Medical Oncologist. The genetic Counsellor took me through the possiblilities of me having the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutation but I have only a very low percentage of that, so thats very good news. It has to be more than 10% probability risk to get a government paid test at $3000 - $4000 and I am below that so am happy with those odds.
My family history suggests I have some genetic drivers for a higher than usual risk of breast cancer but work, whilst currently underway, has yet to identify what those drivers are to what the genes are. It is apparent given the number of breast cancers in my mother's family that we all probably share some common drivers in some genes but that my mum and I had more of those 'drivers' than the other female members who have had cancer or DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ). As the only direct line mother to daughter, as opposed to other cousins who have a grandmother to grand-daughter line, I am a slightly higher risk. A very interesting field though, I would have to say.
Then I had to head to see the rogueish Irishman that is my medical oncologist. I showed him my "medical blog" called "Toxic Tome of a Sick Chick" which details what he requires in terms of actual descriptive side effects of the treatment and I have opted for this rather than hand write a daily journal. For any of you who has ever had to decipher my handwritten notes, instructions, postcards, letters or white board words of wisdom, you will fully appreciate this thoughtful gesture on my part. Anyway, he can log in and check my progress as I go rather than wait for my scheduled appointment. I think I saw I wry smile on his face at either my efficiency or my pretencious blog titles!!! Lisa, my delightlyfully helpful Breast Nurse was her reassuring self and heads to Ireland in a few weeks, the lucky thing !!! I am most jealous as that is a destination Siobhan and I are planning for in our next holiday - a touring holiday of the UK. All good with that appoitment as well and I had doned a cap as I still has hair jutting out the sides and back so it looked passable. But by evening when the cap came off - I had very noticable bald spots.
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By Wednesday evening I was soooo ready to have the whole lot shaved off.
Not a pretty sight at all
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I had originally intended for Siobhan and I to host a weekend afternoon get together for all the wonderful supportive friends who were available to have a bevie and a nibble as we shaved off my hair. For no other reason than to have a laugh and anyone who wanted to try their hand at clippering under the surpervision of Pauline (I am not entirely stupid peoples!!) could do so. I didnt want the loss of my hair to be a sad little affair with just Siobhan and I in the bathroom clippering and crying over spilt hair!!! But the toxic capabilities of FEC outsmarted me, before the idea could become a reality.
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Getting ready to start at the back
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So we asked my two oldest friends Pauline and Tony to clipper and take pics and then have a lovely dinner and some nice wine.We also tried to film it on video but we got the whole record v pause indicators confused so we have only a start and finish for your entertainment!! I met Tony and Pauline back when I was 18 years old and we have remained friends all this time, something I am so privileged to still have. Together with my lovely supportive Siobhan and Pauline's husband Rob, and Baldie at the end of the table, a lovely happy night was had. I hate to sound all therapy and journal-like here peoples, but my acceptance and comfort with this new look was so based upon it beginning with a positive rather than negative or sad process. I highly recommend it as a coping strategy.
So Pauline began the clipping process with Siobhan on camera, Tony taking pics and Rob throwing in smart arse comments from the side line. Clearly that man has learnt nothing from being a regular golfing gallery member!!!!!!
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It is a weird sensation indeed
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With the back completed Pauline moved to the sides and the front and decided to revisit her creative side with her idea of transtional styles before heading for the Sinead O'Connor look!!!
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A formal 'Up Do' of the Comb Over
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The Kevin Bartlett Comb Over !!
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Finally my personal transition fave.......a style popular with the Third Reich!!!!
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Hitlers moustache has made its way onto my noggin!!
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So having had her fun, she commenced taking the last remants off with the clippers.
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No turning back now
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Side profile
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Bald as the proverbial........
We left the process there and didnt shave the stubble off, as dinner was nearly ready. Siobhan offered to do that after Chemo on the Thursday but it may wait until the weekend. We have a short video of live action but I will post that a bit later. |
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 And finally good friends, the blessed advantage of make-up, good lighting and a blurry photo. In my mind's eye, if I can believe I look like this when not wearing a wig, then I will be ok........
Second chemo cycle is next so stay tuned ...
Keep your heads warm .......Kelly xxxxx
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