| In the previous articles, I discussed how I found out | | | | having them. |
| about the breast cancer and my mastectomy. Now, I | | | | I equate the moods to those of steroid rage. I was |
| start the chemotherapy and what no one told me | | | | mad at so many people. I was mean and I really do |
| would happen. | | | | not know why. My only guess is that the hormones |
| Choosing Chemo | | | | were so off that it made me a bit crazy. After it |
| I had no idea that you had to choose your own | | | | was over, I felt horrible about some of the things I |
| therapy. It seems that you are given several choices | | | | said and did. I even apologized to my friends and |
| and you go from there. I chose the shortest round | | | | family. |
| possible. I did not want to go through chemo and I | | | | I especially apologized to my husband, who I |
| wanted it all to end. | | | | repeatedly asked for a divorce. He, however, was |
| The Day the Hair Revolted | | | | great about it. When I asked him to leave, he would |
| We all know that you lose your hair during chemo. | | | | just say, "You can't even get a glass of water. I am |
| What no one told me was how fast it would go. I | | | | not going anywhere." I really do love him and glad he |
| learned from other breast cancer survivors that it is | | | | didn't leave. |
| about three weeks later you lose your hair. For me, it | | | | The Final Surgery |
| was three weeks to the day. | | | | My last surgery came months after I finished chemo. |
| One day, I got in the shower with all my hair and got | | | | It was to take out the expanders and put in saline |
| out with none. It was like all my hair planned it out, | | | | implants. I must say, I did get to customize my |
| waited for the right moment, and then decided to | | | | breast to the exact size I wanted. I went a little |
| jump ship on the same day. It really was that fast. | | | | smaller than I was but I really like them now. |
| Before shower hair, after shower no hair. | | | | Again, I was flat on my back for a long time. Again, I |
| In a few days, I lost everything, all my eyebrows, | | | | could not move my arms and my husband had to do |
| eyelashes, and even the hair on my arms and legs. | | | | it all. Frankly, I am not sure how he did so much with |
| For months, I did not have to shave since I did not | | | | no help. We lived on an island during the whole thing |
| have one stitch of hair anywhere on my body. | | | | and our family was thousands of miles away. It was |
| Side Effects Feel Like Pregnancy | | | | just the two of us and he did so much and took so |
| During this whole time, my best friend was pregnant. | | | | much abuse. I cannot imagine how he did it. |
| It seemed we had the same symptoms. We both | | | | The Recovery |
| got nauseas over smells. We both had intense | | | | In my final article, I will discuss how things went after |
| cravings for food. We both got tired. We even both | | | | the final surgery, the follow-ups and what life is like |
| had very odd mood swings. In fact, I had the mood | | | | now. |
| swings for so long that I didn't even know I was | | | | |