Chemo Transit: Needle versus scalpel, and today's henna tattoo

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Needle versus scalpel, and today's henna tattoo

"Too many women with abnormal mammograms or other breast problems are undergoing surgical biopsies when they should be having needle biopsies, which are safer, less invasive and cheaper, new research shows."

No fooling. Even though I hated the needle-core biopsies, they were far easier on me than the few lumpectomies I had some years ago.

*******

Okay, maybe being bald isn't so bad...

Kree Arvanitas, a professional henna artist, did today's henna tattoo on my noggin, thanks to my friend Judy Smith.

Kree Arvbanitas, Jennifer Dice (doing the next tattoo so watching carefully) and Judy Smith.

Really lovely work. I'm impressed with how at ease Kree was, right from the start. It was obvious that she's been doing this since 1996.

A movie.

4 comments:

MiataGrrlFebruary 19, 2011 at 2:49 PM
I'm in awe! This is so gorgeous, Rebecca... and it looks like the artist used multiple colors, not just brown? Best dressed scalp in town!

- Tina
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Rebecca RoushFebruary 19, 2011 at 3:05 PM
She used glittery stuff that will come off when the crusty henna comes off and leaves my scalp temporarily dyed.
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SaraFebruary 19, 2011 at 3:26 PM
Rebecca, that's beautiful. I also confess to admiring you in several of the hats and last week's white wig, and just to admiring what you are doing here in general.
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UnknownFebruary 20, 2011 at 1:00 PM
OMG. She just set the bar really high. It looks great!
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A list of things I've learned

A sense of humor is imperative because cancer treatment is unnatural.
Cannibas works for all yucky symptoms, not just nausea.
Consider taking Glutamine powder for Taxol side effects.
Diagnosis is the hardest part. It can take weeks of appointments for the medical team to figure out how much cancer you have and where it is, how to remove it and what type of treatment to follow it up with.
During chemo/radiation treatment, ask for a "Nurse Navigator" to be your point person for everything.
Each time I had a dose of Taxol, I had menstrual cramps. I don't know why, and I stopped menstruating when I started chemo.
If a woman has the male pattern baldness gene, her hair on top of her head will grow slower than the sides.
If they give you steroids, sleep may be affected. Consider Melatonin, and if it doesn't work, sleeping pills.
If you're not normally a diplomatic, you may want to work on being one b/c people will say things you wish they hadn't.
Lymph nodes removed under an arm warrant physical therapy. Ask for a Physical Therapist who specializes in post-breast surgery treatment.
Mammogram-guided needle-core were invented by mysoginists.
Masks only work for 20 minutes, then they lose their ability to protect you.
Medical profession err on the side of worst case scenario, requiring the patient to be their own best advocate.
Read permission forms carefully (especially from third parties) to avoid added expenses. I wasn't paying attention a couple of times and got unexpected bills.
Turmeric, the spice/herb, may ease neuropathy.
When you wear a mask, strangers will think you're the one who's sick.