Feeling fuzzy

My hair has started to grow back! It's just fuzz now, but the oncologist thinks it's likely it will continue to grow, because many women on CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil) don't lose their hair. I hope she is right. I would dearly love to stop looking like someone I don't recognize.

I had my second round of CMF chemo today and met with my oncologist. She decided to reduce my chemo dosage by 10%, because my white-blood-cell count has fallen. It's just below the normal range; and we don't want it to go any lower and risk another bout of neutropenic fever. As nice as the folks are at the Providence ER, I am not eager for a second visit.

I will continue to have chemo every three weeks for a while. Another MRI down the road will determine if the tumors have decreased to the point where surgery is likely to be most successful. In dealing with breast tumors, getting "clean margins" is the goal. Unfortunately, about 30% of patients have to go back for a second surgery because some cancer cells get missed. 

The Wall Street Journal ran an article recently about a new tool, MarginProbe, which detects cancer cells lingering around the edges of tumors. Its use significantly improves surgical outcome. It is not in use here as of yet, and as usual the insurance companies do not want to pay for it—which makes no sense because its $1000 price tag is a fraction of what a second surgery costs. Frankly, I'd rather pay the $1000 myself than have to undergo a second surgery.

The chemical adventure continues

On January 23 I had my first infusion of the chemo "cocktail" my doctor switched me to, and have experienced no new side effects. In fact, side effects in general have been pretty subdued.

I have noticed, however,  that my eyebrows now seem to be departing for an unknown destination.

This whole hair-loss thing has been a lot more upsetting than I thought it might be. I have never spent a lot of time or energy on my hair, so it's not like I saw it as my "crowning glory." But gol-durn it, it helped keep my head warm! Now I have to always wear head scarves and/or a wig and even have to wear a cap at night. And catching sight of myself in the bathroom mirror is disconcerting. I have a small head and am a good 25 pounds overweight, so the effect is to see myself looking like a bowling pin. It is not an attractive sight.

And on the subject… I found out that Taxotere, the medication I decided against, is the subject of a lawsuit because it caused permanent hair loss.

Of course, I am hoping that the medications I am on will actually do something to further reduce the tumors. If I am not having horrible side effects, is the drug working?

Anyway, I will have three more infusions, three weeks apart, which puts me at the end of March when I will most likely be referred to a surgeon.