Hair today, gone tomorrow...

It seems that my hunch was right, and that sore scalp was indeed a hint that my hair was about to fall out. It has not been dramatic, but more like a cat in Spring - heavy shedding. My appointment with the "Look Good, Feel Better" program has been moved to this Thursday, and the timing couldn't be better.

Yesterday my three men went with me for blood work at Princess Margaret, and then to see Dr. M. She was unhappy that I have been taking sleeping pills (afraid that I will develop a dependency), and wants me to try other methods of getting to sleep (appointment to see a psycho social practitioner). I did not take my pill last night, but tried melatonin instead - resulting in a sleepless night. I think that I dozed off for about two hours around daybreak, but am a bit wasted this morning. I'll hope for the best tonight because I know that sleeping is going to be an issue for the first few days of this next treatment (while I am taking the steroids). Dr. M. has pronounced me fit to resume chemo on Wednesday, so I'll be taking the roller coaster again, and hope that the chemicals do their job. She is reducing the paclitaxel by 20% because I am still experiencing tingling in my feet and legs from last chemo, and that is not good because of the danger of permanent nerve damage. She pronounced herself pleased with my body's response to this first chemo (fluid retention slowdown) and is "quietly optimistic". For right now, that is good enough for me.

Eric is going to cut my hair later today with his electric clippers that he brought with him from Lisbon. Yesterday's attempt failed because North American current was too weak to make them work effectively. Eric said that he could see the blades opening and closing, and I could imagine them pulling my hair out instead of cutting it. We found a transformer last night, so should be good to go this afternoon. I'll be putting to good use the hats and scarves that good friends have given me, and by Thursday, with my new makeup skills, should be able to make myself presentable.