Thursday, July 26, 2012

on the left

Way back in January, when I had my mammogram and they biopsied the lump on the right, they also saw some small spots on the left.
Spots are normal, especially if they're small, so nobody was concerned about it.
My surgeon wanted a second look, just to be sure, so I went back over and had another scan done on the left side. Again, nothing to worry about.
Given my family history, and the fact that I was about to start cancer treatment, they decided we should have another look in about six months.

Monday was the day.

(It's cute how careful and kind all the technicians are when they know you're not there for your average every-day annual scan.)

Because this was specifically to check up on previous images, they had to be sure to position me exactly as they had before. They also had the images from January up on the screen to compare it to in real time.

They made me wait while they discussed what they could see.

Everything looks just like it did before. No changes.

The images were sent to my surgeon so she could have a look as well. She agrees with the folks at UVRMC - nothing has changed.

We'll take another look in six months. Can't be too careful about stuff like this.

I am so grateful to have so many excellent care-givers on my team.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

like art, but not

As a preparation for my final radiation treatments, this morning the docs and techs took turns drawing on my chest.
ain't it perty?

Saturday, July 14, 2012

*wink*

My lashes had been thinning a bit over the last month or so.
As of about two weeks ago, they were pretty much gone, so I started wearing false lashes (just the drugstore variety, nothing too expensive).*
Since I had absolutely no clue how to go about putting these things on, I searched the web for some basic lash-application tutorials. Nerdygirlmakeup was my favorite.

Andrea 53 lash
I sorta thrashed my first pair (getting off the old adhesive isn't the easiest thing I've ever done) and my second didn't fair much better. When I went back for a third set, they were all out of the usual kind in the style I wanted, but they had a set of the "self adhesive" variety. These come with a strip of adhesive already on the lash, and another in a little groove in the package. The adhesive is different from the kind you apply yourself, in that it remains a bit sticky instead of drying after a few minutes.
I loved how easy they were to put on (and reposition), but then I spent a good portion of the day unsticking the bangs of the brunette wig from my lashes. If that wasn't enough, every time I sneezed, (and it was a sneezy sort of day) my eyelids would stick shut, and I'd have to pry them apart. By the end of the day, I wasn't sure if I'd use that second strip. Ever.
Thankfully, they can be glued on in the usual way as well, or I'd have tossed them.

I've gotten skilled enough with the glue that it's no longer a thick messy line (or glopped onto the lashes), and I can get them both on within about 5 minutes.

However, unless there is some trick with the glue I haven't learned yet (possible) it seems that your average strip lash is not meant to be worn for an entire day. Most days, I end up touching up the glue about halfway through the day. At first, I'd take them off, reapply glue, and put them back on. Now I just get a little glue on a toothpick, run it under the loose portions of the lash strip, and stick that bit back on my eyelid. Probably not the recommended method, as I suppose I could accidentally poke myself in the eye (with a sharp stick), but I'm careful. Promise.

As I've gotten used to these fussy little bits of pretty, I've started to have a little fun with them, try new styles. At first, I was going for "realistic, but better". Now, I'm happy to try the more dramatic lengths.
Andrea 45 lash

I would never have applied enough mascara to get this effect with my own lashes (mostly because it all has to come off at some point), but I have to admit, I like the look. Enough that I will probably continue to use false lashes whenever the mood suits.

(notice the lack of lower lashes. sad, isn't it? not much I can do about that)


Side note: If you look closely at the second photo, you might notice that my eyebrows are filling back in. I still brush on a little brow powder so they don't look sparse (the hairs are about half their usual length), but now I don't have to guess at where my brows should be. I was just starting to get the hang of penciling them on, and now I don't need to so much.

*for anyone thinking, "why don't you just get those 'permanent' ones they can do at a salon?" Those kind are glued to your existing lashes. Of which I have very few. Also, there is a risk of infection for those of us with compromised immune systems, and infections, at any stage of cancer treatment, are bad news. Even if they're nowhere near the treatment areas. Point of fact: they don't recommend wearing any false lashes due to risk of infection. I just choose to live dangerously in the interest of not frightening strangers. (You're welcome.)