What gives you strength?

I find my strength in my family, though it is not always so easy at it seems…  I think sometimes we have the romantic cavalier image of what we wish we could say on this topic.  I will just say that when the rubber meets the road, I would do anything to make sure my kids have their Dad.  If that means beating cancer, so be it….  If that ever means further surgery or chemo or other treatment, so be it….  Whatever it takes….  -Randy

My strength comes from my family and friends-even though I know they always “don’t understand” they always try too! And I also think that my  medical team and PT team have been a huge pillar of supprt!  they can read my ups and downs just as well as my family funny that doctors know me so well!!! I think strength needs to come in many forms and the more forms of it that I can find the better off I am going to be! -Cari

I get strength through my family, boyfriend and friends, through God and prayer, through my artwork, writing and inspirational speaking and helping others. -Rachel

I find my strength in my family, friends, and unknown supporters.  Also, just as importantly, I find strength in life and the little things…. -Kevin

I gather strength when I see my daughter in the morning. I gather strength when my husband gives me a hug and says “I love you baldy”. I gather strength when I see the sunset. I gather strength when my daughter has a belly laugh with me. I try not to take one breath for granted. I’m not done with this world yet. -Rene

Read more of our responses to this question here.

I wish I had known when I was diagnosed that…

I wished I had known about the emotions that you go through and that it is normal to go up and down and all around.

I wish I had realized I shouldn’t push people close to me away just because they don’t understand.

I wish I had known that this disease stays with you long after the treatment is over. It’s a daily thing, in the mind, in the body.

These are just a few of the insightful thoughts that have been shared in this discussion at the ABC Café.

How did you deal with hair loss?

My head was shaved on Christmas eve. We went to my parents immediately after and my nephew who was 2 had the funniest look on his face.  You could tell he was trying to figure out what in the heck had happened to my hair and why no one else seemed to be upset about it.  He would stare…. then look at Conner like “dude, what happened to your Mom’s hair?” -Tara

My hair was also coming out in chuncks all over the house. I found that disgusting.  So I asked a friend of mine to go out to lunch with me and then we went to a walk in beauty parlor and I had the girl just shave my hair off.  I did not have any real issues with losing my hair as I knew I would and felt like I needed my energy to fight the chemo instead of mourning the loss of my hair.  I know most people had huge issues with losing their hair.  I just did not.  But, it might help you if you have a friend go with you to have it shaved off and make an outing of it.  What bothered me most was not having any eyebrows and I wasn’t very good at drawing them on!  Anyway, it will come back and it’s interesting to see how it does come back – curly, darker, lighter, etc.  Just think of it as a temporary condition. - Cathy

I CRIED at every THOUGHT of losing my hair!!!!  But actually once it was gone I was glad it was gone!–I was so sick could barely move-was lucky if I could shower and if I would have had my long think curly tangly hair that would have been miserable!  By the time it fell out I was already to sick to notice or care–Its funny because I look back on pictures that I have and I say WOW I really was bald–I didn’t really think it–I knew I was but it never really sank in-not sure if that makes any sense! NOW I can say I sure appreciate my hair so much no. -Cari

During my first visit with my oncoogist I was told that TOTAL hair loss would occur in the first two to three weeks.  I made the decision that as soon as the clumps started to fall I would just cut it all off.  And that’s what we did, on Easter Sunday last year.  I cried as we clippered it off and actually kept the hair in a plastic bag for awhile.  That lasted until the cats discovered the bag, tore into it and started carrying hair clumps around.  I laughed so hard my sides hurt and then I just threw it all away.  I opted out on wigs….they kind of looked like road kill to me….and only wear hats when its cold or to protect from the sun  (I actually got freckles on my head this summer LOL).  I’m so use to it now that when I look at pics where I have hair, they look funny to me. - Jeanne

I was so sad about that!  When it started to fall out, my husband shaved it all off at once.  That was so weird.  Then, when my eyelashes, eyebrows and everything started to fall off ugh.  the eyelashes weree really traumatizing for me.  I’d go through days were it was all just fine…when it would bother me most was when i wanted to feel like a GIRL…pretty and such.  That’s when it would kill me, that I looked like some alien and no matter what I did, i didn’t look pretty.  I did have a favorite hat to sleep in ( the head becomes so sensitive) and a favorite hat for daily wear…unless it was hot out then I’d go bare! I hated wigs because they itched my head.  The regrowth of it is pretty rough too because I have curly hair…so for months, I looked like a sheep! -Mariana

Read more of our responses here.