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Mommy's head feels like a peach!

5/18/2012

I have what's called "chemo fuzz." My hair is growing in, although not as thick as before and not exactly the same color. Last night, Rachel rubbed her hand over my head and said, "Michael, come quick! Mommy's head feels like a peach!"

Yup, I have true peach fuzz. It's soft to the touch. It's black and white and reddish/blond! My hair won't truly grow back until post-chemo, but this is a start. We'll see then as to its true color and whether it will have the same texture or body as before.

Also, if you notice, my bald head is beginning to get a wee bit tanned! It's no longer as stark a contrast with the color of my face. I wear a hat whenever I go out here in northwest China as we live at a mile high altitude and the sun can be quite harsh. However, in Hong Kong, it's just way too hot to wear a hat! I put a bit of sunscreen on my head and go from there.

I'll post a better picture later. I got new glasses yesterday and I want you to see them . . . but I just woke up and I'm vain enough to say that I don't look my best right now! :)

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And then there were none!

3/1/2012

4 Comments

It didn't take long! My hair was falling out fast and furious . . . and bare patches of skin were beginning to make their appearance, making me look as if I had some weird scalp problem. However, the worst part of the deal was the fact that hair was EVERYWHERE in the apartment! I was afraid my family would choke on hairs in their food, so yesterday, I went to a nearby hair salon.

I whipped my "chemo-cap" (seen above) off my head and said, "I would like you to shave my head."

The lady stared at my head rather askance. I'm sure I'm the first foreign woman she's ever had to make that request! "I can see your hair looks bad, but why do you want me to shave your head?"

"See this?" I reached up and pulled out a hunk of my hair . . . it didn't hurt to do so. "I have breast cancer and I'm receiving chemotherapy. The drugs are making my hair fall out and it's really a lot of trouble right now."

There were several other people in the shop, one of whom I knew by acquaintance. I smiled at her and chatted a minute with her. There was a bevy of activity and everyone left among cheery goodbyes.

I sat down in the chair and the lady placed a cape around my shoulders. "So, your hair is falling out. Why is that?"

I repeated what I said about chemotherapy and this time, in the absence of other people, she understood what I was saying. She wished me well in my treatments and proceeded to shave my head. She was quick and had a light touch. It took her about five minutes or so and I happily paid her the eight yuan . . . about $1.25 US.

I went home and took a shower to get rid of all the loose hairs. Rachel wanted to touch my head to see how it felt (like sandpaper), but Michael kept his distance from it. It's going to take a bit of time for them to get used to it. Believe it or not, I'll need to "de-fuzz" my head with duct tape in order to get rid of the stubble over the next week or so. The next photo should see me with an absolute "Kojak" look!

In the meantime? People say I look more Chinese than ever! On top of that, I got a decent night's sleep since there were no more hairs to irritate my follicles. No more headache!

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A little less, a little more

2/28/2012

7 Comments

After losing so much hair in one day (not counting the mess that was in the shower drain as well), I decided to take a pair of scissors and just whack away at my hair. Even though I had shortened it already, the weight of it was really hurting my scalp. I had no thought to style . . . just to lightening the load. Not bad, eh? Tossed a wee bit of gel in it to remove the "pouf." We'll see how long this remains in.

I also went back to the hospital today for another blood check. I went mid-afternoon and there were very few people there. I was able to speak with the senior technician and tell him a bit more about my situation. He asked if I took any medicine to increase my numbers and I told him that I didn't (although, I guess the shot I took the day after chemo helps with that). He did the test and gave me the results almost immediately (he had no one else in the queue). The numbers were great! Even better than my pre-chemo numbers! Both he and I were relieved.

God is good . . . all the time! I am so incredibly grateful. This will keep my chemo cycle on schedule for next week.

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Mommy's head feels like a peach!

And then there were none!

A little less, a little more

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