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Cooperlola


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As far as I know wigs are covered either by the 100% cover that covers the illness or by the top-up insurance. Second time round my friend had one made very very similar to her own colour and style . Will get more details re insurance situation...

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[I] I heard of someone who had the chemo and they placed a very cold cover on her head during the treatment which prevented hair loss. Sorry I don't know any more detail than that. I am not sure whether this is available everywhere but could be worth asking.

A friend of mine had a lovely wig when she lost her hair and everyone thought the style suited her so well and was better than her real one.[;-)]

Edit: I think the cold head covering person may have been a patient at The Royal Marsden hospital

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I am told, only told, mark you, that being a slap head can be very very sexy indeed, so before hiding under a hedge, Coops, think of the silver lining that there might be in this!!!![:$] Or, perhaps you could wear a billboard advertising an ostrich farm. Even better, get Shaka Zulu to send you one of those great headdresses and slip it on when the man comes to read the meter. 

Just being useful and exploring options you understand?.

Hope all goes well now my dear CoopsieDebsie![kiss]

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Hi, Coops, just popped in to read the latest.

On the subject of wigs - did you know that very Orthodox Jews consider that a married woman's hair is too sexy to be seen by men other than her husband and very close male relatives and thus a scheitl must be worn in public? I picture you in a huge, frizzy Afro.

Try to keep your chin up and I look forward to your continuing your regular reports on the real French health service. 

John

 

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If you can do something about it go on and do that and don't waste energy worrying. If you can't do anything about it then worrying isn't going to make it better.

Very true - something my father used to say!

 I know someone who used a cold cap too - it worked in her case so maybe worth asking about......

According to the Tevor Sorbie web site the wigs that are not rel har are better but you shold find a hairdresser who knows what they are doing to cut it for you as they often have up to 40% too much hair and need thinning ! Perhaps your specialist nurse would help.

 

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Coops, we have been following your progress and along with everyone else wish you the very best luck in the world. You have had enough and deserve a break, BIG TIME!

I have no wish to try to promote quacks and I don't think that this guy is one. He is an American doctor who has a lot of ideas about a lot of things and I have no idea as to how he keeps up with them, but I have had a look at his site and searched on cancer and come up with this http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/11/20/winning-the-war-on-cancer.aspx

He believes in what he says and is not a fan of the drugs companies. I can't vouch for any of it, but it may help and worth a read?

Good luck lass,

John and Frances.

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I know that it's good advice, folks, but have you ever met anybody who actually managed not to worry about stuff they couldn't do anything about?  If so then they're tougher than me.

I have to have a boob MRI now because I have cysts which the radiologist was quite happy about in April but now they want to investigate further.  Blimey, it never stops - with luck the radiolog was right and I won't have to lose those as well.[:-))]

Back to hospital on Tuesday for that and then on to meet my chemo nurse, then it's overnight this time next week for an op' to put the PAC in.  I have spent the day answering the phone whilst I set up all these appointments including changing their minds several times about what I need and what I don't - honestly I thought I'd spent July having every test known to man but it seems that they can still find more for me.  You cannot fault them for thoroughness and as Mr C says, they are trying to save my life so fair enough, but it is a bit trying.  I just want to loaf around in peace for a bit in the hope that this "oozing" stops.

Forgive me for moaning - it has been a cr*p day.

 

On a practical note - has anybody managed to get any response out of Cancer Support France?  I've e-mailed them and tried to join the forum but don't get any reply.  Is Mrs B about anywhere?

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Of course you are worried. Who wouldn't be in your situation? Just remember you can always have a good moan here on the forum and we will all understand.  I am sure with your courage you will come through this and it will all seem like a bad dream.
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I've contacted CSF in the past on: 05 45 89 30 05
cancersupportfrance@orange, but haven't tried the forum. Very helpful, I found.

Good luck with the boob MRI - it's reassuring to know they are being so thorough!

It's been a cr*p day; tomorrow is another day - and maybe just as cr*p, but you've dealt with lots of stuff before - I should think you qualify for an Msc or even a doctorate in stuff by now! Anyway, I don't think you were moaning - I'm sure you could moan a lot better than that without much effort!  [:D]

 
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[quote user="gardengirl "]

 I should think you qualify for an Msc or even a doctorate in stuff by now! Anyway, I don't think you were moaning - I'm sure you could moan a lot better than that without much effort!  [:D]

 

[/quote]I never went to Uni' as I was too desperate to leave home (and grow my hair as long as I liked!) so an MSc in stuff sounds perfect, GG.

You're right, I could moan for Britain and France both if I set my mind to it.[:)]

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[quote user="Jonzjob"]Coops, we have been following your progress and along with everyone else wish you the very best luck in the world. You have had enough and deserve a break, BIG TIME!

I have no wish to try to promote quacks and I don't think that this guy is one. He is an American doctor who has a lot of ideas about a lot of things and I have no idea as to how he keeps up with them, but I have had a look at his site and searched on cancer and come up with this http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/11/20/winning-the-war-on-cancer.aspx

He believes in what he says and is not a fan of the drugs companies. I can't vouch for any of it, but it may help and worth a read?

Good luck lass,
John and Frances.
[/quote]

There are so many of these it's a wonder we have any cancers to treat as they cure so many people the word spreads so quickly that chemo is under threat from these small independent establishments. No it isn't because dead people don't sue. Whilst I do agree bicarb has it's uses and isn't used enough because it has never been clinically trialled because no one has enough money to carry out the trial other than big drug companies and they wouldn't make a bean out of doing so. World wide there are so many hospitals, research institutes, Universities etc with funding from cancer charities everywhere that they would have definitely have tried it. Cancers are not one kind, there are very many and they also mutate into other form which is why it is so hard to treat some and also why there are so many different cocktails of drugs available.

I have lost count of how many of these articles I have read and discussed with several oncologists, they already have me down as a maverick, chemo kills your white blood cells so leaving you open to infections. One of the most common is mouth ulcers and oral thrush. The advice is don't use over the counter mouth washes as they contain alcohol which further dries out the mucous lining of the mouth making it worse. The hospital provided me with their own clinically approved mouth wash, what did it contain? Alcohol! the NHS is being ripped off by these drug companies! did it do any good? no made it feel worse. After a day and a half I stopped using it and brushed my mouth, tongue etc with bicarb, ok the taste isn't great but a day and half later it stopped and was fully cured after 3 days, the oncologist was amazed!

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Coops,

Can only add my best wishes to those already said - you are a tough old cookie (in the nicest possible way), so I know you'll come our on top eventually.

I do know someone involved in Cancer Support France, but in the Languedoc - so possibly not that much help ....

And regarding your hair, though I know you don't want to loose it if possible - you might like this - my niece, in her late teens, when she found out that her eventually-to-be sister-in-law would loose her hair with the treatment for her hodkins lymphoma (and she did), went out and shaved off her own hair, and managed to raise over £500 for a charity whose name I have now forgotten.  More cheerful news still, the chemo was supposed to make her sterile  (she was early 20's then) and now she is the mother of a bouncy 4yr old (naturally - not IV) with another on the way ...... so, never, never loose hope ..... and keep looking on the bright side as you always do.

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[quote user="cooperlola"]

I have to have a boob MRI now because I have cysts which the radiologist was quite happy about in April but now they want to investigate further.  Blimey, it never stops - with luck the radiolog was right and  (1) I won't have to lose those as well.[:-))]

On a practical note - (2) has anybody managed to get any response out of Cancer Support France?  I've e-mailed them and tried to join the forum but don't get any reply.  Is Mrs B about anywhere?[/quote]

(1) I know that you said this in jest but actually few people in France lose their boobs due to cancer surgery.  These days, they really try to leave you as much of the breast as they can, if it is possible.  The French pioneered this and so you are in safe hands in France.  So one thing less to worry about (and that is if the cysts are a problem).  (For the very few who lose them, they give you falsies.)

(2) Yes, but as they are manned by volunteers and it is August, the response would be slow.  The Forum does not have heavy traffic, which is such a shame as it is a good place to post concerns.  However, I have found that one of the mods does try to reply.

The waiting and uncertainty is a bad time.  Once treatment is under way, somehow things are easier.  Courage, mon amie.

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I think that the Forum via the University of Life should award you a 'Higher' in The 'Ins and outs of Hospital Investigations' and therefore the ultimate right to moan, complain, get your ear off, chew a chair leg and any other euphemism you care to mention regarding the crap situation so far... which will shortly be sorted to your satisfaction. Keep on chucking the toys out the pram Debs, it will do you good! xxx
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Teapot old chap, you did make me laugh.  I have a friend who is an importer of green tea.  When she started her business a dozen or so years ago, it was truly eye-opening to read the list of things this stuff supposedly either warded off or cured altogether.  I'm a total cynic when it comes to alternative therapies and medicines but willl certainly give the bicarb a go if that's one of the things I suffer from - no harm,imo, in giving stuff a go if it doesn't intefere with prescribed treatments.  It's certainly on the shopping list of side-effect possibilities which I have been given.[:-))]

Gem, your words are very reassuring.  Actually  the radiologist is so very thorough that I'd be pretty amazed if he has missed much.  It just seems like one more thing to pile on my - as yet still hairy - head.

I wonder if I should chop my hair off and get it made into a wig????

I'm off to see my gp today to sort out the ALD stuff.  Given that Mr C is retired and at home, is it reasonable for me to expect a  VSL to take me to chemo sessions or would he be expected to drive me?  I've been told I won' feel well enough to take myself, and as the sessions are 4 hours long it does seem totally piggy to make him spend his retirement in hospital too!  These are the sorts of questions I'd hoped to CSF but my e-mails and forum log in still have borne no fruit.  I'll try that number, Gem, but meanwhile, if anybody on here can help?

Love and thanks to all, as per.  You really to help to keep my spirits up by giving me somebody to sound off to other than the long suffering Mr C and this large orange heap of fur that is upside-down on my bed as I try to type with the netbook propped on his stomach.[:D]

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Good fortune today Coops, overnight for the PAC line??? out patience at St Thomas, watched it on the monitor, very clever work by a women doctor who did know left from right [:)].

Chemo is accumulative in the side effects so it builds up cycle by cycle, I re read your post and it's for the Lady areas, is that where you'll go bald? is a wig really necessary [:-))][:D]

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[quote user="Keni"]I think that the Forum via the University of Life should award you a 'Higher' in The 'Ins and outs of Hospital Investigations' and therefore the ultimate right to moan, complain, get your ear off, chew a chair leg and any other euphemism you care to mention regarding the crap situation so far... which will shortly be sorted to your satisfaction. Keep on chucking the toys out the pram Debs, it will do you good! xxx[/quote]I think it should be a PhD[:D] Anyway just remember we are all rooting for you. I am sure this is another battle you are going to win. Best wishes to you both
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Crikey, Teapot, it never occured to me that the wig prescription was for my naughty bits...[:D]

The PAC thing is as yet undecided - I should hear today whether they want me overnight or not - the anaesthetist is going to have a good look at my file and then decide.  I suspect with all this bleeding and the allergy problems I am monitored more closely than some. The very idea of watching an operation - not least one on myself - turns my stomach.  No thanks very much - I can't even watch any bloody stuff on the TV - CSI for instance, which I tried to watch once, makes me want to vomit.[+o(]

Signed,

Coops PhD (Stuff)

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"Given that Mr C is retired and at home, is it reasonable for me to

expect a  VSL to take me to chemo sessions or would he be expected to

drive me?  I've been told I won' feel well enough to take myself, and as

the sessions are 4 hours long it does seem totally piggy to make him

spend his retirement in hospital too!  These are the sorts of questions

I'd hoped to CSF but my e-mails and forum log in still have borne no

fruit.  I'll try that number, Gem, but meanwhile, if anybody on here can

help?"

Coops, a friend of mine living in the Charente was in a similar situation. Her husband did not have to drive her to Bordeaux for the chemo sessions she was collected and driven there each time in one of those white taxi ambulance vehicles.

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[quote user="cooperlola"]

............You really to help to keep my spirits up by giving me somebody to sound off to other than the long suffering Mr C and this large orange heap of fur that is upside-down on my bed as I try to type with the netbook propped on his stomach.[:D]

[/quote]

[:-))]  I got quite a shock for a moment - I thought you were referring to Mr C as having orange fur on his stomach - toooo much information!![;-)]

Very best wishes to you; being such a positive and remarkable lady I'm sure everything will get sorted out positively very soon. Best wishes to Mr C too, as the partners often feel so helpless in these situations, and I know he's been there for you all the way.

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