Chemo & co

Chemotherapy is one of the main treatments used for Cancer and a scary word for many patients.

Actually, there are many types of chemo drugs used, several objectives (before surgery to reduce a tumor, post to reduce reoccurrence, palliative to soften the progression of Cancer), various protocols and different ways of administrating it. Medical oncologists generally follow international protocols depending on the exact diagnosis of each patient (area to treatment, cancer staging etc.).

What to expect? What about the side effects? Does it hurt?

Read More

Hair

When you say Cancer, hair loss comes quite fast in the conversation.

Brunette since 1974

I was born with hair. Dense brunette hairy baby. The Latino side of me I suppose.

I had a bowl seventies cut, then in the 80s a square with fringe, no fringe, long straight hair and later in my teens the wavy perm version of it (omg). I said yes to hubby with long straight hair in a bun and cut them shorter after each kid but it always on a square haircut base.

On April 15th 2018, on my post lumpectomy appointment the surgeon told me that I had to have chemo. Who knows maybe my hair won’t fall.

The oncologist would later tell me that it would be 8 dense dose chemo sessions (2 cycles of 4 sessions). All the 3 drugs used, being known for their aggressive effect on hair. I would be bald.

Read More