Navelbine and Herceptin

[Mary Anne in TX]

Hello All
I have now had 3 treatments with Navelbine and Herception (5 more to go!) and am doing really well on it. Having done the Taxotere and Adriamycin first and then Taxol, Carboplatin and Herceptin; this really seems great! And I do love having my hair grow! It started back growing with the Taxol, etc. and has continued. But the best part is that my eyebrows and eyelashes are also now growing back!!! What is it about eyelashes and eyebrows???? I feel like I have a face again!
They did another tumor test last Friday when I was there for treatment. The first one done when I started this series had gone up, but I'm believing this one will drop! They have been pretty true for me so far, but who knows!
I feel great and am learning to deal with short rests to gather more energy. I don't mind being tired when I feel so good. I get lots done!
I walk my dogs every morning for 30 minutes and that really seems to help too.
It's nice not to think about cancer all the time anymore.
Just 10 months to go with the rest of the Nav/Her, radiation, Her/?. Even if it has to change, I love having a goal to look forward to completing!
Best wishes and thanks for being there,
Mary Anne

[tousled1]

Mary Ann,

Glad to hear things are going so well. I must admit it is great when your hair begins to grow back. Mine is now about an inch long and poker straight. I had natural curly hair as a kid and as I grew up the curly part went away but I had a lot of natural body to it. The eyebrows and eyelashes are another thing. They grew back but every so often I seem to be loosing the eyelashes --not completely but just some. I never realized what an important role eyelashes played until I lost mine. I couldn't go out without sunglasses on -- seemed everything go in my eyes. The human body is an amazing thing. Hope things continue to improve for you.

[Mary Anne in TX]

Hi Kate!
Eyelashes have become one of the true educators for me about me during this cancer thing! Didn't know how much it meant to me to look nice and "fit in" until those ol' eyelashes and eyebrows started falling out! I'm really lucky to live in a small coastal town of about 8000 casual, slow moving folks! I've spent most of my time in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio (where I go for treatment each time). It has been so much easier to "fit in" in my little town and at the treatment center. I'm sort of getting back in charge of all that now in my mind. I realized that when I was diagnosed with cancer and that I wasn't "in charge" of my outcome, I also gave up my "power". I've really done a lot of talking to myself or what I call eyelash therapy to get that since of personal power back again. Getting back my power & focusing on relationships has been so very healing to me, and allowed me to "get on with life" while I do battle with those little onry cancer cells!
Thanks a million for your reply.
Good health & peaceful days,
mary anne

[tousled1]

Mary Anne,

I'm sure you're beautiful with or without eyelashes and eyebrows. I have learned not to sweat the small stuff. If it's out of my control then I don't worry about it. You'll be fine and the lashes and eyebrows will grow back. Just think, without the eyebrows you no longer have to have them waxed or pluck them. And you'll save money on mascara too.

[geraldine]

Hi Mary Anne,
I'm glad that you are responding so well to your treatment and having that goal in mind will help the nxt 10 mths fly past.

I remember, at the time of losing my hair(all over), that worse than losing the hair on my head, was losing my eyebrows and eyelashes. They are a very feminine part of us and they are also our features. I looked like Uncle Fester from the Adams Family, Not Kidding...!!!
My hair grew back in so tight/curly (eventually straightened) and thick, but my eyelashes and brows never quite got back to their fullness.

With the price we pay to look good, we should have saved a fortune while on chemo!!
No hairdressers, no mascara, no shaving or waxing..(God I miss that last bit) Its a pity the hair from the neck down came back at all.. The first person to invent a drug to that affect, will be a billionaire overnight.

Anyway, its good you can get on with your life, just dont overdo it. Will watch for your future posts on your progress.

God Bless
Geraldine