Queen of the Nile and Other Myths

Did you know that Cleopatra was bald and used wigs? Yep. She wasn’t even beautiful—hook nose and fleshy face. Her family’s origins weren’t from Egypt but from Greece. So much for Elizabeth Taylor and bangs. Here are more fun facts if you’re interested. http://www.egyptianmyths.net/cleomyth.htm

Also did you know that the Amazon warriors weren’t one breasted? Dang! Another busted myth. Before my mastectomy, I wanted to know if it was the right or left breast that the Amazons removed. Neither. None of the ancient vases show them with one breast. A man-made myth. Literally. They were fierce warriors, however. Here are two links to the fascinating history: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/amazon-women-there-any-truth-behind-myth-180950188/#EJDqEt0A6Sm74sPY.99n; and https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/10/141029-amazons-scythians-hunger-games-herodotus-ice-princess-tattoo-cannabis/

I’ve been experimenting with going without wigs (and obv. without one breast). Personally I like wigs, but after 2.5 years of wearing them, some days I just get tired of pretending I have hair. I have gone from being bald from Feb. 2017-August 2017, to re-growing hair after the last chemo. By October 2018, it was long enough to put up in a French twist. After my 2nd recurrence, I partially lost it again in Dec. 2018 with Abraxane and then finally lost it recently after my 7th A&C (dose dense doxorubicion). Depending on the type of chemo, the cooling caps can work. Nothing helps with A&C—so don’t waste your money. If you’re on Abraxane the caps might work. I lost a lot of hair but still had fuzz. But again you want your chemo to kill fast growing cells so you might ask your oncologist about the efficacy of cooling cap. If you poll women who’ve had breast cancer, losing hair is a big stressor—but I’m just trying to have fun with wigs and different looks. I don’t like the trouble of scarves although some can rock that look. I like hats in winter.

The bald adventure has been interesting. When I go to the grocery store or if people see me out running around, they stare and look away quickly. I get it. My 18-month-old grandson cried when he saw me without a wig. It shocked him. I guess it’s an evolutionary thing to be afraid of things that are different.

So what’s new this week? It’s always something, I tell ya. The docs decided that maybe proton therapy is the way to go for my breast cancer. It’s often not recommended for breast cancer because it’s hard on the skin and electron radiation is just as effective, but they are gathering data. If women are considering reconstruction, it’s better to go with electron radiation. But in my case, since my cancer is on my skin, docs want to hit it hard. I find it interesting that the proton facilities are often in the richest areas—Knoxville and Franklin and not everyone can get it. My medicare covers it though because it’s a medical necessity since this is my third recurrence. My wonderful radiologist Grant Clark worked with the proton therapy doc Wilkinson to tailor-make a plan for my third recurrence. On Monday I’ll have another ultrasound so docs can look at the area by my fourth rib that looked cancerous on the PET scan. If they see something in the soft tissue, doc will do another biopsy. If positive, they will give a big proton boost to that area. When they were doing the set up for my plan at Provision, they marked the fields with tattoos—using needles. They don’t do that at Thompson. I woke up the morning afterward the set-up and wondered why my side was achy until I put it together. My left side looks like a skin quilt and my body feels like a pin cushion.

I’m hanging in there. Blood work shows I’m anemic but white count shows I can stand more chemo. I meet with oncologist on Tues. to discuss next steps with chemo. Ran into a friend at cancer support community in my yoga class who has been metastatic (breast cancer) for months and has been hobbling around because she’s been on xeloda which does a number on your feet and hands—I know because I’ve been on it. She’s so upbeat, I was hoping she would be one of the lucky ones who has metastatic cancer for years. Her breast cancer was years ago and suddenly returned. However, after chatting about how wonderful my sister Bev is as radiation oncology nurse at Park West, she said, “We cried together. I had bad news today.” The cancer is now in her brain. This is the news we all fear. It’s now it the brain, the bones, or the lungs.

In the meantime, I’m having fun this summer when I have the energy. We’ve been on the boat more than any other time. My kids have visited often. Friends share our boating and swimming fun. Plus, I’ll continue writing off the top of my (bald) head. And wow, I so enjoy being Queen of the Nile as I float in a tube down the river.

12 weeks from chemo and I’ve had several hair cuts.

didn’t like curly look about 5 months from chemo, although stylist kept saying “spike it.” I said, “I’m not a spiker kind of girl. Think pixie.” So she straightened several times.

7 months from chemo.

Back in chemo chair December 2018 and I’ll go partially bald again with Abraxane and tecentrique.