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February 18, 2005
Popping Cancer Update: It seems that I have cancer.
Last night I woke up at around 1:30 a.m. drenched in sweat. The sheets were drippy and so was I, head to toe. If you identified this as a sign of recurrent disease, proceed to paragraph two.
Sure enough, this morning my hair started falling out in handy clumps. It would appear, my friends, that this has not all been some elaborate practical joke at my expense.
Maybe this time around I'll go with skullcaps instead of bandanas. Then again, last time around, Bonnie's mom made me some bandanas that were pretty sweet. I think a black skullcap would be appropriate for church, though.
Hair. Everywhere.
For some folks, losing their hair is a traumatic part of the cancer experience. It is a sort of visual confirmation AND it sets them apart from others leading normal lives in an undeniable way. Again, however a cancer patient reacts to cancer is appropriate. Let them feel how they feel.
I mostly don't care about my hair. My theory is along the lines of "anything that hides a face this pretty cannot be a good thing in the long run."
What I don't like is the initial day or three of tossing out hair clumps. Stuff gets everywhere.
It could be worse, I guess. Chemotherapy could make you lose fingers, or I could be watching SportsCenter and my head could just roll off. As side effects go, this is the least important to me.
Posted by Dan at February 18, 2005 08:18 AM
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Comments
I guess this means you need to do a new Googlebattle with folkbum? folkbum going bald vs. Daniel Champion going bald.
The entertainment never stops here at Popping Culture!
Posted by: Doug at February 18, 2005 09:26 AM
That head-rolling-off thing? I hate when that happens.
Posted by: Ara at February 18, 2005 10:47 AM
Tough about the hair...that stuff is itchy falling into your shirt and all...but hey, you get cook nicknames like Slick...and Mr. Clean... milk it!
Posted by: jo at February 18, 2005 11:22 AM
Ara,
Spontaneous decapitation is always unsettling.
Actually, I don't miss my hair. I still have it, in a bag.
Posted by: Dan at February 18, 2005 11:45 AM
In a BAG, Dan? Eeewww, gross!! ;)
Posted by: Gail at February 18, 2005 02:07 PM
Besides, take it from me: hair is overrated.
Posted by: Ara at February 18, 2005 02:26 PM
Gail,
I thought I'd wash it and pass out locks of it to the lucky few.
Posted by: Dan at February 18, 2005 03:27 PM
Hey, pass the hair down this way. Makes excellent stuffing for cat toys.
Posted by: Kimm at February 18, 2005 04:18 PM
A short list of signs that pointed to the diagnosis being part of a elaborate vicious practical joke:
-- A "nurse" is overcome by an uncontrollable laughing fit when presented with urine.
-- First notable side effect of "chemo" enough urination to easily fill a 2 min quick cut montage of bathroom trips (potty humor - gets 'em every time)
-- Now that you think about it "Dr." Krishnan's name does vaguely resemble Ashton Kutcher's
...
Damn hairy reality.
Posted by: Pete at February 19, 2005 07:43 PM
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