Imagecache and folder/file write permissions.

I am currently using the Imagecache module. I noticed that when the imagecache folder is created, it and any/all subfolders are protected and cannot be given write permission. I try chmod at the prompt, I tried SSH, etc. Nothing. I just can't change the permissions to my own frigging folder! And when I delete images on the nodes that use imagefield (which itself us setup to utilize imagecache), they're deleted from my files folder...but not imagecache's folder! So when I re-upload altered versions of the same image files, with the same name, they can't overwrite the existing images in the imagecache folder, so the old ones forever show on the pages until I upload new images with new file names! Arrrghhhh!!