I saw the conversations on "chemo brain" and I figured some of you might appreciate this story that was on NPR.

Another Side Effect Of Chemotherapy: 'Chemo Brain'
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012...py-chemo-brain

Emailed it to my boss. His sister passed away from breast cancer and he has been great support to me. :) Its frustrating not to have the same retention to things as I did before. I know its has to be frustrating to my co-workers at times. One co-worker and I laugh about me talking in fragmented sentences now. lol

I hope he reads the comments people have left on the article's page. The personal stories people have described will hopefully make it more real to him.

funny!!! I pointed a few out to him.

Speaking of chemo brain. I was going to post something in another thread and by the time I clicked on post reply, it was gone. I completely forgot what I was going to post. Didn't even have a clue. LMAO

question for the cancer patients?
 

so my friend is going through her chemo for stage 1 breast cancer right now and has started to loose her pretty thick long brown hair . it seems silly to care so much about your hair but its part of what makes her feel sexy and beautiful. so to my quesiton which is this . is it irrational of me to shave my head in support of her when she looses all her hair ? i told her of my plan and it amazed her and made her laugh . hair can always grow back but friends that support you through thick and thin are forever . always goodlilfemme

Ha ha ha---welcome to my world. Jeano

Goodlilfemme, it is a very loving and sweet thing to shave your hair in support of your friend. A friend of mine was diagnosed a year after me and lives in a different state. All of her friends in her area went to a local beauty shop with her and they all had their heads shaved. She said it was a supprisingly joyous and moving experience. You are a very special person to consider this. I have to admit that I didn't shave my hair since I had just grown mine back from the chemo--a little selfish of me I guess. Jeano

Hello goodlilfemme, a wonderful gesture. :)
I had friends offer and say they were shaving their heads. I didn't want anyone to. Those with long hair, I suggested a short haircut and donating their hair for wigs if they felt strongly about it. Maybe, I wanted to stay in denial as much as I could.
BUT at the same time, a friend who is going through chemo for stomach cancer, loves that everyone is shaving heads for her.at

The things that meant the most during chemo/radiation: people stopping by for hugs, a woman from work mowing my lawn in her heels (I laughed for days), a friend bringing me fried rice in several flavors one day when I was having a meltdown, people coming over and walking my dog, assorted bad hats made for me, a beautiful knit blanket a friend made, the WORST rice pudding made by a kitchen challenged friend, phone calls to say 'I love you' right I needed it.

I hid it from everyone that I had cancer. The people who had to know, knew. Outside of my partner and family, the only other people that knew were my best friend and work people. I was happy that my neighbors cut my grass and I was very thankful when the EMT across the street saw me in the hallway of the ER when I had an obstruction after surgery and intervened...

I am just not good with people ... what is the word...supporting me?

It is interesting how we can all be so different.

I was told about this thread by a beautiful person that I consider to be a friend. She knows who she is and I thank her. I have subscribed to the thread and will sit and read it when I can. But I wanted to post something.

Back in 2001 I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer on July 4th. By October 9th I had undergone more than a few surgeries that the surgeon hoped would allow me to keep my breasts to no avail. It took me until May of 2008 to finally face my scars through someone else's eyes and thus accept them unashamedly. It was a long hard journey.

Then in November of 2010, my partner was told she had a soccer ball sized tumour. I was there looking after her home and her while she was in hospital and afterwards. Then in 2011 when they decided to remove the tumour, I was there again. I did not feel I could have been anywhere else. I would have traded places with her if I could have. But of course that isn't possible.

Last year, again on July 4th I was told I have cancer for a second time and on Monday the 7th of Jan. 2013, I will undergo intensive and invasive surgery. No, it is not breast cancer again. But it has been said that it could possibly be a secondary cancer caused by it. I now have anal cancer which has and after the surgery will continue to change my life in many ways.

I was not afraid when I was told I had breast cancer, I really didn't have time to be. But this time I am scared and I don't care if anyone says "Damn, a Butch that admits they are scared." It is a fact of life, I want to live, I want to beat this horrid cancer but I know from Monday my life will be different and there will be no going back.

I'll post again after I have fully read the thread.

Thanks for posting and for reading.

I had colon cancer. I am very sorry you are dealing with this. Please write as much and as often as you like. We are a supportive group here.

I am sending white light and healing energy to you and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers on Monday. Jeano, cancer survivor and butch who has also been "scared as hell"

Gratitude .....
 

Congratulations! I have a CAT scan next Tuesday and really need to call about a colonoscopy.

The CAT scan is more the important test, however, for detection. Any recurrence I may get would most likely be in my lungs, rather than my colon. Assuming it is from the primary.

Aryon, you have already been through so much. I won't pretend to know what you or anyone else that has dealt with their own cancer, has gone through.

What I do know is that stark terror, that pit, deep inside, when one hears those words: "It's cancer".

Mine was thyroid cancer. Highly curable, if caught early. I did have my thyroid removed and received a high dose radioactive iodine treatment.

The radioactive iodine needed to be repeated again the following year, as there were still some remaining (or new) spots that were found on a follow-up scan.

I continue to have full body scans with contrast, periodically, to ensure there are no new areas.

Even though I have been fortunate, I think all of us have some degree of underlying anxiety and do share some of the same thoughts running through our minds: "What if it comes back?"

I hope that if mine resurfaces, I will face it as bravely and as head-on, as you are now facing yours (and as many of the posters in this thread have).

I send my prayers, positive thoughts and truly best hopes to you over the ocean, for what you are dealing with now.

Thank you, to everyone, for sharing so honestly and openly on this thread.

It was hard for me to hide D cup to flat chest and hair to shoulder blades to bald lol I didn't wear wigs and I won't wear falsies, since they are heavy and uncomfortable. I am also very open. I lack boundaries. :sunglass:

Aryon,

This human was scared, too. You have support here. This thread and the boards and chat rooms on csn.cancer.org were great support for me. Please, let us know how you are doing.

Hugs, Deb

Buddy it's ok to be afraid. Most people would be. I know you are gonna make it through this fine and beat it. I just feel you are. You won before, you will win again.