Thursday, January 29, 2015
Day 134. Taupe/purple "get ready with me" video.
I made another "get ready with me" video, this time with taupe and purple eyeshadow. I hope you guys like this kind of video, because they're fun for me to make! Don't mind me rocking out through most of it. ;) Let me know in the comment section if you'd like to see more of these videos! Hope you enjoy!
Monday, January 26, 2015
Day 131. Review and comparison of the Younique fiber mascara.
Hey all! You've probably heard of the Younique fiber lash mascara - it's everywhere online. I wanted to do a review of it from the perspective of someone losing their lashes from chemo, and I also put it to the test against my beloved Too Faced mascara. Hope you like it!
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Day 127. False eyelash application tutorial.
I put together a video showing how to apply false lashes, featuring Thrive Causemetics eyelashes. Enjoy!
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Day 125. For the warriors.
I started this blog not only to keep my friends and family updated during my journey, but also with hope that it would help someone who has recently been diagnosed with Hodgkin's. When I was first told that I have cancer, I found a couple of blogs during my Google searches, and they really helped give me an idea of what to expect. I'm hoping to return the favor, and that someone who has stumbled across my blog has had their journey become a little easier.
So this post is for you, new Hodgkin's warriors.
No one wants to become a member of the Lymphoma Club. It's a horrible, stupid club. But within this awful club are some pretty amazing people. I was fortunate enough to "meet" some fellow warriors online, through Instagram of all places. There's a whole hidden lymphoma society on there, and within that society are some of the most incredible, brave, and supportive people I've ever met. Search for lymphoma-related hashtags - #hodgkinslymphoma, #lymphoma, etc. - and you'll find pictures posted by fellow fighters and survivors. All I had to do was be a creeper and comment on some pictures explaining that I was recently diagnosed, and I immediately had a new group of supporters.
There's also a group on Facebook called "Lymphoma/Hodgkins" - if you type that into the search bar on Facebook, it should pop up. That group has been a godsend. There are thousands of people on there - fighters, survivors, family members. It's a great place to ask questions. No question is too stupid, or too embarrassing.
Don't be afraid to ask your oncologist questions, either. And don't be afraid to call the office if you need something. I've called mine COUNTLESS times, for all sorts of things. Joint pain, digestive issues, insomnia, fever. They're there to help you.
Chemo. It's not really as bad as you think. Obviously everyone reacts to it differently, but I imagined I was going to be deathly ill, hugging the toilet everyday. That's not the case. Yes, there is some nausea and other side effects, but they're manageable. I've found that what works best for me as far as the nausea goes is I take one of my anti-nausea meds as soon as they remove the tubes from my port after my chemo infusion. That way I'm not screwed if the ones they gave me at the beginning of the day wear off on the way home. I also go straight to bed when I get home, usually around 5pm. If I don't go straight to bed, I'll be up vomiting all evening. But I don't throw up at all if I just sleep it off. I've also learned that it's best to take your anti-nausea meds preventatively, even if you're not feeling nauseous. Because it's much more difficult to get rid of it once it's set in if you didn't take them.
One of the worst side effects I've dealt with is mouth sores. They're caused by the Adriamycin - the "red devil." I've found that sucking on ice cubes while that drug is being administered helps immensely. I start the ice cubes about 5 minutes before my chemo nurse starts the drug, and continue until a few minutes after it's done. For me, the ice prevents about 95% of the mouth sores. I may still get a few, especially at the back of my throat, but it's nothing compared to what I got before discovering the ice cube trick. Ask your oncologist for a prescription for Magic Mouthwash - it's a special mouthwash that has lidocaine in it, and is great to have on hand. If you have a sore mouth, saltwater rinses really help. I also like to drink milk when my mouth is sore, as it coats the mouth and throat. Dry mouth can also cause a sore mouth, so I'd recommend switching to Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash.
If you have a favorite food, don't eat it during chemo! There are certain foods I used to love that I now get sick at the sight of. Subway sandwiches? Yeah, I had them too many times during my chemo infusions, and I can't eat them now. I've also steered clear of certain foods in the days after chemo. Before all of this started, I ate low-carb foods and zero junk food. Because I want to continue to eat healthy after treatment, I don't want to be grossed out by those foods now, so I've been eating things that I don't mind if I get sick of. I've put on a few pounds, but to me it's worth it to not be completely grossed out by a salad.
Speaking of putting on a few pounds, don't be embarrassed by your appearance during your journey! It's not worth the extra stress. I used to care so much about what people thought of me, and this experience has taught me not to think that way. Now I don't hesitate to go to the store with no eyebrows and just a beanie on my head. If people want to make assumptions, so be it!
When my hair started to fall out, I shaved my head. I gave it just long enough to know that it was going to be too thin to keep whatever was left, and then made the leap to buzzing it. Shaving it was less traumatic than having it come out in clumps, and I'm glad I did it. It made the process a lot easier.
That being said, it still is really hard to go through your appearance changing so drastically. My eyebrows falling out has probably been the worst part of this whole experience. But there are ways to fill in your sparse or missing brows with makeup! I have a makeup tutorial a few posts back that shows one way to fill them in. Also, there's this amazing program put on by the American Cancer Society called "Look Good, Feel Better" that I'd recommend checking out. It's a makeup and skincare workshop, and they teach you the basic ways to use makeup during your chemo process. They have workshops all over the place - you can find ones near you at www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org.
A lot of the places that offer the LGFB program also offer free wigs and wig fittings to cancer patients. You may find that you don't wear a wig very often, but it's great to have one on hand just in case. If you choose to purchase one of a higher quality than the ones they offer during the LGFB program, check out www.wigsbypattispearls.com. Patti is a wig expert, and sells many different brands of wigs on her website. She frequently has sales on her site, and you can find wigs for a huge discount. I purchased a Jon Renau wig during her Black Friday sale for 40% off! Also check with your health insurance company to see if they cover the cost of a wig. I would have never thought that mine would, but decided to ask them one day when I was on the phone with them for something else. Come to find out they completely covered the cost of two wigs, with no price limit. I just had to get a prescription from my oncologist. Who'da thunk?!
Last but not least, keep your head up. Positivity is everything, and I truly believe that keeping a positive mindset makes the journey easier. Treatment is a long, grueling process, but you WILL get to the finish line. You will kick this thing. You're a warrior.
So this post is for you, new Hodgkin's warriors.
No one wants to become a member of the Lymphoma Club. It's a horrible, stupid club. But within this awful club are some pretty amazing people. I was fortunate enough to "meet" some fellow warriors online, through Instagram of all places. There's a whole hidden lymphoma society on there, and within that society are some of the most incredible, brave, and supportive people I've ever met. Search for lymphoma-related hashtags - #hodgkinslymphoma, #lymphoma, etc. - and you'll find pictures posted by fellow fighters and survivors. All I had to do was be a creeper and comment on some pictures explaining that I was recently diagnosed, and I immediately had a new group of supporters.
There's also a group on Facebook called "Lymphoma/Hodgkins" - if you type that into the search bar on Facebook, it should pop up. That group has been a godsend. There are thousands of people on there - fighters, survivors, family members. It's a great place to ask questions. No question is too stupid, or too embarrassing.
Don't be afraid to ask your oncologist questions, either. And don't be afraid to call the office if you need something. I've called mine COUNTLESS times, for all sorts of things. Joint pain, digestive issues, insomnia, fever. They're there to help you.
Chemo. It's not really as bad as you think. Obviously everyone reacts to it differently, but I imagined I was going to be deathly ill, hugging the toilet everyday. That's not the case. Yes, there is some nausea and other side effects, but they're manageable. I've found that what works best for me as far as the nausea goes is I take one of my anti-nausea meds as soon as they remove the tubes from my port after my chemo infusion. That way I'm not screwed if the ones they gave me at the beginning of the day wear off on the way home. I also go straight to bed when I get home, usually around 5pm. If I don't go straight to bed, I'll be up vomiting all evening. But I don't throw up at all if I just sleep it off. I've also learned that it's best to take your anti-nausea meds preventatively, even if you're not feeling nauseous. Because it's much more difficult to get rid of it once it's set in if you didn't take them.
One of the worst side effects I've dealt with is mouth sores. They're caused by the Adriamycin - the "red devil." I've found that sucking on ice cubes while that drug is being administered helps immensely. I start the ice cubes about 5 minutes before my chemo nurse starts the drug, and continue until a few minutes after it's done. For me, the ice prevents about 95% of the mouth sores. I may still get a few, especially at the back of my throat, but it's nothing compared to what I got before discovering the ice cube trick. Ask your oncologist for a prescription for Magic Mouthwash - it's a special mouthwash that has lidocaine in it, and is great to have on hand. If you have a sore mouth, saltwater rinses really help. I also like to drink milk when my mouth is sore, as it coats the mouth and throat. Dry mouth can also cause a sore mouth, so I'd recommend switching to Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash.
If you have a favorite food, don't eat it during chemo! There are certain foods I used to love that I now get sick at the sight of. Subway sandwiches? Yeah, I had them too many times during my chemo infusions, and I can't eat them now. I've also steered clear of certain foods in the days after chemo. Before all of this started, I ate low-carb foods and zero junk food. Because I want to continue to eat healthy after treatment, I don't want to be grossed out by those foods now, so I've been eating things that I don't mind if I get sick of. I've put on a few pounds, but to me it's worth it to not be completely grossed out by a salad.
Speaking of putting on a few pounds, don't be embarrassed by your appearance during your journey! It's not worth the extra stress. I used to care so much about what people thought of me, and this experience has taught me not to think that way. Now I don't hesitate to go to the store with no eyebrows and just a beanie on my head. If people want to make assumptions, so be it!
When my hair started to fall out, I shaved my head. I gave it just long enough to know that it was going to be too thin to keep whatever was left, and then made the leap to buzzing it. Shaving it was less traumatic than having it come out in clumps, and I'm glad I did it. It made the process a lot easier.
That being said, it still is really hard to go through your appearance changing so drastically. My eyebrows falling out has probably been the worst part of this whole experience. But there are ways to fill in your sparse or missing brows with makeup! I have a makeup tutorial a few posts back that shows one way to fill them in. Also, there's this amazing program put on by the American Cancer Society called "Look Good, Feel Better" that I'd recommend checking out. It's a makeup and skincare workshop, and they teach you the basic ways to use makeup during your chemo process. They have workshops all over the place - you can find ones near you at www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org.
A lot of the places that offer the LGFB program also offer free wigs and wig fittings to cancer patients. You may find that you don't wear a wig very often, but it's great to have one on hand just in case. If you choose to purchase one of a higher quality than the ones they offer during the LGFB program, check out www.wigsbypattispearls.com. Patti is a wig expert, and sells many different brands of wigs on her website. She frequently has sales on her site, and you can find wigs for a huge discount. I purchased a Jon Renau wig during her Black Friday sale for 40% off! Also check with your health insurance company to see if they cover the cost of a wig. I would have never thought that mine would, but decided to ask them one day when I was on the phone with them for something else. Come to find out they completely covered the cost of two wigs, with no price limit. I just had to get a prescription from my oncologist. Who'da thunk?!
Last but not least, keep your head up. Positivity is everything, and I truly believe that keeping a positive mindset makes the journey easier. Treatment is a long, grueling process, but you WILL get to the finish line. You will kick this thing. You're a warrior.
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Day 122. Seahawks eyeshadow tutorial.
With the NFC Championship game coming up tomorrow, I wanted to do something special for all my fellow Seahawks fans. Enjoy! Go Hawks! :)
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Day 119. Get ready with me video.
I filmed this quick "get ready with me video" before my appointment with my oncologist yesterday. Just a simple rose gold/orangey eyeshadow look. Enjoy!
Friday, January 9, 2015
Day 114. Makeup tutorial for chemo patients.
I've been obsessed with makeup since I was in high school. I love the idea of being able to play up the facial features you like, and camouflage the parts that you don't. I love collecting makeup and trying out different products. I love the joy of finding a holy grail product that works better than anything you've ever tried before. And I love the challenge of trying to find something that works even better than that.
I'm by no means a professional when it comes to makeup. Not even close. But I'd like to think that over the past decade I've learned a lot about cosmetics. And since starting chemotherapy, I've learned even more.
It's been a whole new experience figuring out ways to compensate for the eyebrows and eyelashes that are jumping ship, and it made me realize that it might be very difficult for someone who hasn't spent as much time obsessing over makeup as I have to deal with. That's why I decided to make this video.
It's a very simple look that I demonstrate in the video, but I wanted to do something that is very easy to replicate, no matter what skill level the viewer is at. It's also a look that's very easy to copy using drugstore products if you're on a budget. The video is insanely long, and you'll probably get really tired of my face if you watch it, but I didn't want to leave any details out.
I found the making of this video very challenging, self-confidence wise. It's not easy being nearly bald, no makeup on, feeling completely unfeminine, knowing that other people are going to be seeing you in that state. But if this video helps just one person going through chemotherapy learn something that helps them feel better about themselves, it was completely worth it.
I'm by no means a professional when it comes to makeup. Not even close. But I'd like to think that over the past decade I've learned a lot about cosmetics. And since starting chemotherapy, I've learned even more.
It's been a whole new experience figuring out ways to compensate for the eyebrows and eyelashes that are jumping ship, and it made me realize that it might be very difficult for someone who hasn't spent as much time obsessing over makeup as I have to deal with. That's why I decided to make this video.
It's a very simple look that I demonstrate in the video, but I wanted to do something that is very easy to replicate, no matter what skill level the viewer is at. It's also a look that's very easy to copy using drugstore products if you're on a budget. The video is insanely long, and you'll probably get really tired of my face if you watch it, but I didn't want to leave any details out.
I found the making of this video very challenging, self-confidence wise. It's not easy being nearly bald, no makeup on, feeling completely unfeminine, knowing that other people are going to be seeing you in that state. But if this video helps just one person going through chemotherapy learn something that helps them feel better about themselves, it was completely worth it.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Day 106. 2015 - the year I win.
Happy new year, everyone! 2015. A new year, not quite a new slate. But mark my words, this will be the year I beat cancer. This will be the year I win. 2015 will be incredible.
I'm officially halfway done with my chemo - I had my sixth treatment on Tuesday, and am feeling pretty good so far. I had my typical night of nausea after getting home from the oncologist's office, but I've learned that loading up on my anti-nausea meds and just going straight to bed once I get home is the best idea.
I'm still having issues with my port catheter. I met with Dr. Blau about it on Monday, and she fears it might be infected. The CT scan and ultrasound both came back clear, but it's still angry and red, and hurts quite a bit. So she put me on an extra antibiotic, and hopefully that clears everything up. The last thing I need is to have to have my port replaced!
Another thing that was discussed with Dr. Blau on Monday was the size of my right axilla lymph nodes that were on the ultrasound I had when trying to figure out what was going on with my catheter. Dr. Blau mentioned that those lymph nodes are 3.2cm, still way bigger than they should be. Keep in mind, the right axilla is where the majority of the cancer was when this all started, and where the 7cm node was taken from for the biopsy. Dr. Blau didn't seem too concerned though, and said that nodes in that area can always be cut out, and are much easier to remove that nodes in other locations. So we'll cross that road if we come to it in the end.
Oh, and Dr. Blau really liked my wig. :) I had the Jon Renau "Zara" on that I've been wearing so much, and she said it's one of the most realistic looking wigs she's ever seen. Coming from an oncologist who sees people in wigs all the time, that's quite the compliment! I've been really having fun wearing the blonde one, so I'm glad that I can pull it off! :)
I had a really great Christmas. As much as I miss work and my coworkers, it was really nice to be able to spend the holidays with a few of my family members. We just had a small Christmas at my parents' house with my brother, who came up from Oregon. We were supposed to go out to my uncle and aunt's lake house on Sunday, but one of my cousins was sick, so we bowed out. We ended up having dinner with my uncle and aunt and a different set of cousins last night instead. It's weird not knowing when your taste bud issues are going to flare up, and what's going to taste different. But thank goodness I was able to taste the pork chops my uncle and aunt served, because they were HEAVENLY. Things today are tasting more bland, but this morning I was able to eat frosted Mini Wheats for breakfast and taste them. It's all kind of a crapshoot, and totally trial and error. But you bet I'll take all of that over having mouth sores!!
My eyelashes are still holding on, but my eyebrows are getting thinner and thinner. Early next week, I'm going to film a tutorial on how to fill in your eyebrows when you still have some of them left, plus include some general makeup tips to consider when you're going through treatment. So keep an eye out for that next week sometime!
I'm still having a major case of cabin fever from staying at my parents' house. I'm hoping to get back to my place next week and just have some time to myself for a couple days. A girl can only take watching so many episodes of "Deadliest Catch" before she goes insane. ;)
I hope all you readers are doing well, and I wish you a fantastic 2015! :)
I'm officially halfway done with my chemo - I had my sixth treatment on Tuesday, and am feeling pretty good so far. I had my typical night of nausea after getting home from the oncologist's office, but I've learned that loading up on my anti-nausea meds and just going straight to bed once I get home is the best idea.
Had to have a little fun with my 6th chemo... ;)
I'm still having issues with my port catheter. I met with Dr. Blau about it on Monday, and she fears it might be infected. The CT scan and ultrasound both came back clear, but it's still angry and red, and hurts quite a bit. So she put me on an extra antibiotic, and hopefully that clears everything up. The last thing I need is to have to have my port replaced!
New horse pill added to the mix. And this isn't even all my daily meds!
Another thing that was discussed with Dr. Blau on Monday was the size of my right axilla lymph nodes that were on the ultrasound I had when trying to figure out what was going on with my catheter. Dr. Blau mentioned that those lymph nodes are 3.2cm, still way bigger than they should be. Keep in mind, the right axilla is where the majority of the cancer was when this all started, and where the 7cm node was taken from for the biopsy. Dr. Blau didn't seem too concerned though, and said that nodes in that area can always be cut out, and are much easier to remove that nodes in other locations. So we'll cross that road if we come to it in the end.
Oh, and Dr. Blau really liked my wig. :) I had the Jon Renau "Zara" on that I've been wearing so much, and she said it's one of the most realistic looking wigs she's ever seen. Coming from an oncologist who sees people in wigs all the time, that's quite the compliment! I've been really having fun wearing the blonde one, so I'm glad that I can pull it off! :)
I had a really great Christmas. As much as I miss work and my coworkers, it was really nice to be able to spend the holidays with a few of my family members. We just had a small Christmas at my parents' house with my brother, who came up from Oregon. We were supposed to go out to my uncle and aunt's lake house on Sunday, but one of my cousins was sick, so we bowed out. We ended up having dinner with my uncle and aunt and a different set of cousins last night instead. It's weird not knowing when your taste bud issues are going to flare up, and what's going to taste different. But thank goodness I was able to taste the pork chops my uncle and aunt served, because they were HEAVENLY. Things today are tasting more bland, but this morning I was able to eat frosted Mini Wheats for breakfast and taste them. It's all kind of a crapshoot, and totally trial and error. But you bet I'll take all of that over having mouth sores!!
My eyelashes are still holding on, but my eyebrows are getting thinner and thinner. Early next week, I'm going to film a tutorial on how to fill in your eyebrows when you still have some of them left, plus include some general makeup tips to consider when you're going through treatment. So keep an eye out for that next week sometime!
I'm still having a major case of cabin fever from staying at my parents' house. I'm hoping to get back to my place next week and just have some time to myself for a couple days. A girl can only take watching so many episodes of "Deadliest Catch" before she goes insane. ;)
I hope all you readers are doing well, and I wish you a fantastic 2015! :)
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