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Andrea Barnett Budin · 07-30-2007, 04:12 PM

I've been STABLE since '99, still on Vitamin H ev 3 wks... The metastatic chemo (Taxotere) made me bald again, and I lost eyebrows and eyelashes, again. BUT, I never got my eyebrows back at all. I have about 16 eyelashes on my upper left eye, 9 on my upper right eye, 6 on my lower left eye, 10 on my lower right eye. No kidding.

I had the longest, fullest lashes that everyone asked if they were mine. No not long and surely not lush. And I actually used to get compliments on the shape of my eyebrows. I have learned to create them, but would love to have them back. I keep telling myself it is a small price to pay for being STABLE, which I am eternally grateful for.

Still, I'm a bit envious of those who got back what they lost. (I also have a poor hairline, no widow's peak anymore, more like a receding hairline, or a high forehead. I'd often wear my hair back with a headband, but hesitate now as it's weird looking.) I used to have such thick hair, every hairdresser in NY and Florida used to complain it took forever to dry. Now my hair around my face is so thin, I can't even make *bangs*, which were Audrey Hepburn lush. Bummer. I AIN'T COMPLAINING, just reporting...
Love to you all. Wishing you ALL hair *AND* NED...! ANDI

07-30-2007, 04:12 PM	#15
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	I'm A Bit Envious I've been STABLE since '99, still on Vitamin H ev 3 wks... The metastatic chemo (Taxotere) made me bald again, and I lost eyebrows and eyelashes, again. BUT, I never got my eyebrows back at all. I have about 16 eyelashes on my upper left eye, 9 on my upper right eye, 6 on my lower left eye, 10 on my lower right eye. No kidding. I had the longest, fullest lashes that everyone asked if they were mine. No not long and surely not lush. And I actually used to get compliments on the shape of my eyebrows. I have learned to create them, but would love to have them back. I keep telling myself it is a small price to pay for being STABLE, which I am eternally grateful for. Still, I'm a bit envious of those who got back what they lost. (I also have a poor hairline, no widow's peak anymore, more like a receding hairline, or a high forehead. I'd often wear my hair back with a headband, but hesitate now as it's weird looking.) I used to have such thick hair, every hairdresser in NY and Florida used to complain it took forever to dry. Now my hair around my face is so thin, I can't even make bangs, which were Audrey Hepburn lush. Bummer. I AIN'T COMPLAINING, just reporting... Love to you all. Wishing you ALL hair AND NED...! ANDI __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...