Liz's Makeup Tips and Update

Do you ever feel like you look a little ghostly? Do you start at your own reflection in the mirror? Do small children cry out at your pale visage?

Freaky!

Well, fear not, I'm hear to help you out so your eyes will pop!

Step One: put some makeup on, dude. Eyeliner & under-eye concealer, especially, can do wonders.

Getting there . . . .

Step Two: We can't all be blessed with Brooke-Shields-style eyebrows. Some of us got it, some of us don't, and some of us had it & will have it again, but in the meantime don't. If you fall into one of the last two groups, then you'll want to apply eyebrow pencil or powder.

Better yet!

Step Three: Put on those falsies!

Wrong:

Go get a glass of milk, crank the 9th Sympony, & try again.

Right:

Flutter, flutter!

Step Four: Put on your best wig & go out for a rockin' good time!

Rock and roll!

Further updates:
I met with my surgeon & I have various scans & poking & prodding over the next couple of weeks. Surgery is scheduled for May 27th - outpatient! Well, assuming we go ahead with the lumpectomy as planned. I met with the plastic surgeon yesterday & I'm more confused than ever. First off, he said I had perfect breasts. A plastic surgeon told me that! That's right, fellows, you missed out on a set of perfect boobs - symmetrical & perky! BUT (and isn't there always a but?), he said for this reason, reconstruction after a lumpectomy (if needed) is more difficult than if the boobs were saggy or flat. So with reconstruction, the nipple could ride up, and then he'd have to graft it lower, so it would be level with the other one; attendant with this is possible lack of sensation. And of course, depending on how much tissue is taken out, I could wind up with different size boobs. The plastic surgeon, (being a plastic surgeon), would prefer I just get a mastectomy, so he can start from scratch. Which would mean a lot more surgery than I was prepared for. Also would mean making a nipple from scratch, too (although I've heard there are nipple-saving mastectomies). On the other hand, there's the fact that mammograms post-lumpectomy are harder to read, because of the scar tissue (with a mastectomy I wouldn't need mammograms on that side, anymore). Also, there's the tummy tuck that comes with reconstruction . . . . I don't know. I was happy with the path I chose, but now I'm confused all over again. And there's always the possibility of having the lumpectomy, and the margins not being clear, and winding up with a mastectomy anyway. So I don't know. I have a lot to think about before the 27th.

Long Time, No See!

I realized I haven't been on here in awhile! I've been busy trying to get my pictures organized on Shutterfly. It's sort of organized, and I've set up a whole site (who knew you could do that!) over thar. So far I've posted my pictures from the Liz Needs a Lid party. The first bunch are the entries from the Locks O' Liz contest - many thanks to Seth for working his Photoshopping (er, or whatever photo editing program he uses) magic on my still-behaired-head to make me look like this guy (remember him?). I spent a lot of time putting in smart & witty captions for the photos, and you can't see them when you look at the pictures in slideshow mode. If you click on the first picture, then you can see it & also you can advance to the next picture. Anyways, in case you can't read the captions next to the teeny pictures in the first picture, they are (top to bottom, left side first): "Jah no dread!", "I pity the wool!", "Tried to make me go to chemo, I said no, no, no!", "I'm gonna git you sucka!", Harrycanoe, and Tyler, too!", "Oh! Me so hairy!" The last of those is the winner of the contest for best interpretation - Brooke managed to make me look both skinny (thank you!) and either terroristy or like Abe Lincoln.

The next group of pictures are most of the gifts I got. I have to say, everyone, I am completely overwhelmed by everyone's generosity. All the hats & scarves & wigs! I really have a great group of friends. But I already knew that - this was just confirmation!

And special thanks to Candy for hosting & putting out a fabulous spread! I really really appreciate it. Everything was fantastic - here's to the hostess with the mostess! And here's to many more (non-disease-themed) parties at her awesome pad! Thanks again, Candy, you're the best!

Coming up: Thursday is chemo #3. Wish me luck! I'm still getting my period, apparently. How annoying! That was one of the things I was looking forward to. The other thing was that I was sort of hoping to lose my appetite - at least a little bit! Ah well, I guess be careful what you wish for!