Get a buzz job before your first chemotherapy treatment

My oncologist told me that I would start losing my hair approximately 2.5 weeks after my first chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer and that I should get my head shaved before that time because it would be less traumatic than watching my hair fall out in big clumps. Since I was starting a new job the day after my first chemo treatment, I decided to get my head shaved right away. I certainly didn’t want to be with a customer when a clump of hair dropped onto my shoulder. How would I explain that?

So I went to my hairdresser (the same one who cut my hair and dyed it red) and told her I was ready for my first buzz job. The transformation from fiery redhead to GI Jane was interesting, to say the least. I watched as my new red ringlets dropped on the floor all around me. Where did all that hair come from? She swept it up into a pile while I stared at myself in the mirror. The most interesting part of the process was seeing myself bald (well, almost bald). She hadn’t shaved my head completely, so stubble remained. Other than looking like a boy, it wasn’t that bad. I could handle it, besides I had my new sexy straight wigs. I always wanted straight hair and now I could have it.

My advice to breast cancer patients is to have your head shaved and wear a wig or go completely bald and wear large hoop earrings. Forget wearing head scarves and turbans unless you want to look like you're undergoing chemotherapy. If you shave your head, you'll just look trendy or hip, in fact you might even want to get a tattoo. When you wear a wig, if it's a natural-looking one, people will just think that you've changed your hairstyle.

Try a new radical hairstyle before you start chemotherapy

When I found out that I was definitely going to lose my hair because of the chemotherapy cocktail that I would be given, I decided that I wanted a new hairstyle --- something radical that I would be afraid to try under normal circumstances. I scheduled an appointment with a hairstylist and told her that I wanted her to cut my hair short and dye it red.

It may seem silly, since I would be losing all of my red hair in just a few weeks. Actually there was no better time because what if I didn't like my new do? Not to worry! I wouldn't have it very long.

My hairstylest performed her magic and after the initial shock wore off I found that I really did like my new short curly red hair, in fact I loved it! It wasn’t auburn or strawberry blond, burgundy or chestnut with red highlights. It was pure red, bright and warm red-red. I couldn't wait to show it off. It gave me something to look forward to, for a change.

My advice to other breast cancer patients who are facing chemotherapy:
If you have ever wondered what you would look like in a different hairstyle or hair color, now is the time find out. What have you got to lose besides your hair?

Don't cancel your health insurance yet

For three years I didn't have health insurance. I had decided that since my already-extremely-high premiums were increasing substantially on an annual basis and because I was such a healthy person, paying for health insurance seemed like a waste of my money, money that could be spent elsewhere. Toward the end of the three years I decided that maybe I should get some health insurance because I wasn't getting any younger and I hadn't had a checkup in three years, even though I didn't have any ailments or known health issues at the time I signed up.

I decided to go with Kaiser Permanente because that's what I had before and I was very satisfied with their medical care and their well-organized patient record keeping practices. After my previous experience with a private insurance company and OHSU's unorganized (understatement) record keeping and patient scheduling, Kaiser was a dream. At the same time I applied for Kaiser Insurance I also applied for AARP's indemnity health insurance policy because it was reasonable and it would help reimburse me for any Kaiser co-pays and other expenses. Both policies were approved and activated at the same time.

Buying the two policies turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. Opting not to include prescription benefit coverage turned out to be one of the worst, other than the decision to go without health insurance for three years. Yes, my premiums are still expensive and continue to increase annually, but the cost is worth every penny that I pay.

Soon after my insurance policies were activated I made an appointment for a general checkup which included blood tests, urine test, pap smear and a mammogram.