Sorry ladies, but I need to get a few things off my chest..........
I started back to work on Monday - yeah! I am working in the same government office but with a different contracting company so I know many of the folks and many of them know about my cancer battle.
One of our engineers came in to welcome me back and preceeded to tell me the story of his friend who had a different blood cancer, but also went through a stem cell transplant. The story went like this........
"she had a transplant with stems from her brother. She was in remission for 3 years but then it came back hard. She had another transplant using her brother's stem cells and immediately went into remission - awesome! Then, the cancer came back and she died..."
That is how my morning started out... Are you kidding me. As it is, any ache I have sends me into a complete panic. Thank God for my husband - he completely keeps me grounded.... When I told him the story he totally wanted to jack the guy up.... I know he was coming from a good place but ugh!
Second vent - I wear a wig. An expensive wig ($2k). It itches. It itches the cr@p out of my head. THere is a stocking cap I should wear under it but it is just too hot. I can't take it. Sweat just pores off of me. I know go to the bathroom every hour or so, take off the wig and itch my head. Oh sweet release.
Final vent, which may be TMI - the drugs they put me on when I was first diagnosed put me into early menopause. Fabulous. Once I was in remission it was like spring time for my ovaries, and they started to think they might be able to work again. Then I did chemo and apparently that shocked me back into menopause - most likely permanently. Fabulous. On top of cancer I get to go through menopause TWICE........
OK, vent over. I am feeling great and am so excited to be back at work and feel like I am "living again"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You may now continue with your Nesting!
Re: Need to Vent
That's so fantastic that you're back and work though!
firstly, that guy is an asshat! i give you credit for not smacking him upside the head. he certainly deserved it.
BOO to the itchy, hot wig and menopause, but YAY that you are back to work and continuing to kick cancer's @ss!!
what she said....
Two of my work colleagues (both women) lost their hair during chemo and radiation treatments and ... rocked the bald. Sometimes they wore hats, sometimes not. I know it's a matter of personal style and preference, but would not wearing the wig be an option for you? (since the asshat will always be an asshat, and since menopause will always suck...)
Kick ass, MrsH - you can do it!
"What is a week-end?"
Sometimes people need to learn when to be quiet rather than share a story
No one should have to go through menopause TWICE! Once sounds bad enough.
Yay for being back at work!!!
I hope the cooler weather is making you feel a little better. No one should have to go through menopause twice!
Come on. What is WRONG with people? If only they would think before they speak sometime. What a dumba$$.
Sorry your head is itchy. I agree with Pam about rockin the bald - though probably after spending $2K on anything, you want to get some use out of it.
You are doing so amazingly well and have been an inspiration to me, and to so many others on the board. Don't let ignorant idiots get you down...
sometimes good intentions need a filter! what a strange story to tell a cancer survivor!
hang in there!
Your coworker - I'm sure he was just trying to "relate" to your situation, but why the hell tell that particular story? How very very strange. And borderline rude.
Your wig - the itching sounds awful, I'm so sorry!
Menopause - Twice? TWICE? Good grief.
Hang in there lady, you are a Wonder Woman. So glad you're back at work and so glad you're doing well - you are amazing!!
Vent away! I would have kicked that coworker in the nuts.
And sorry about your poor ovaries. And your hot, itchy head. Just reading that makes me want to go dunk mine in the sink.
So glad to hear you're feeling well and are back at work. We've all been thinking about you and hoping for the best - such great news to hear you're doing well!
TTC #2: BFP 12/17/11, m/c 1/7/12 and D&C 1/12/12
baby blog/cooking blog

Yay for getting back to "normal" life! Boo for idiot coworkers! And triple boo for menopause multiple times!
My cousin lost her hair during chemo and had the same complaints you did about the wig. She ended up wearing it only to special occasions, and wearing scarves on her head the rest of the time (nice, silky scarves). It looked awesome. Maybe as it gets hotter you could do that, or rock the bald if you're comfortable with that. I say just do whatever you're comfortable with, regardless of what others might think, even if it includes kicking idiot coworkers in the balls.
Dude. You are kicking cancer's ass. Don't let your co-worker bring you down.
I'm sorry about early menopause and the itchy wig. When my MIL was going through chemo she only wore a wig for special occasions (like gala dinners, leaving the house didn't count) - she'd wear a scarf or something for running errands or her usual meetings for stuff.
Do what makes you comfortable. And if that means rocking the bald - go for it!
We make the rockin' world go 'round.
You are doing so amazing, and I'm sorry you have to deal with ridiculous stories like that. Someone really needed to kick him during that story, because I'm sure he thought he was being super helpful and inspiring. Oy.
So sorry you have to deal with the wig... and I vote for rocking the bald, too
No way you should have to fight cancer, WIN, and STILL be super uncomfortable. The menopause (twice!!) is bad enough!
Hang in there, I think you are doing an incredible job!!
* blog * first baby blog * baby 2.0 blog * twitter *
that guy totally needs sensitivity training!
Sorry you have to deal with that and the itching and the menopause. UGH!
But Happy you are kicking a$$ and back to your normal life
congrats!
Holy $hitballs- What an idiot! I hope that someone overheard him telling you the story and ripped him a new one.
Baby248 - ETA 1/10/13
so glad you are back at work; I hope your hair grows back soon! stay away from the moron!
Planning Bio
That's what I was thinking! Congrats to you for being back at work and doing well, stupid co-worker and other issues aside!!
My Food Blog
Glad to hear you are back at work!
Your co-worker really needs to think before he opens his mouth - a much more appropriate thing to say would have been "I know cancer can be a tough battle; glad to see you back."
Sorry about the menopause & the wig. My mom also hated her wig, and while she wasn't comfortable with just going bald, she did generally just wear a scarf and a hat, and only wore the wig when she really felt she needed to. Hope you can find a solution you're comfortable with!