*** May BC Chemo Club 2020 ***

. thanks for the tip about the steri-strips for my nails, that's a very good idea.  Never bought them, suppose I can get some online.  I don't know how, but my nails seem to have grown the worst of the bad bits out in a matter of a few days, so am keeping them crossed (ha ha) that I won't need the sterile-strips after all.  I'm still using the Evonail, but not every day and I never used it every day, perhaps I should have done so a few weeks back.  Luckily, I finished my chemo several months ago, so open wounds are not too worrying, though I'm still receiving Herceptin injections.  I had another one yesterday, so pains in my shins back in the night again, doh.  Oncologist suggested I take paracetamol regularly once the pain starts, so will do this, even though I tend to try ignoring it and carrying on regardless, same as when I've got a migraine and I've had one of those every day for the last couple of weeks, but never mind eh?  There are worse things to worry about and boy, am I a worrier.  Having said that and constantly worrying over hubby, he is doing very well so far, with his journey to beat cancer.  He was told it is terminal, but he remains positive he can beat it and you never know, as he beat the odds before, when he was a small boy and had a brain tumour, so here's hoping.

good luck to all the newbies receiving chemo this month, if you need support, this is the place to come.  Happy VE Day everyone.

Hi Dab, good luck with everything.  Good advice to get hair cut shorter as I wasn't prepared for how painful it was even though I had a chin length bob cut. It didn't last long though. I've just got a wig from headscarves by chiara which I really recommend. They are a fraction of the price of the one I got through the hospital and you can tie them up. My first one kept swinging in my face all the time x

Thanks Cheeboe, 

I will have a look on the site x

It's two weeks tomorrow since my first AC session, and my hair's falling out right on cue.

The first week was a mixture of learning when to take all the different drugs, figuring out the injections, coping with nausea, etc. I managed some exercise  the following week, which had seemed impossible just two days earlier, but this week I tried to do HIIT again and was out of breath, dizzy and a bit refluxy.

I'm hoping I'll have a good week before it all starts again next Thursday.

Any tips for treating my head as my hair comes out? I have a bamboo sleeping cap and some snazzy daytime turbans.

Main issue for me was that my scalp would get very dry after my hair fell out. I was told to use coconut oil or Shea butter. I found the smell of coconut oil was too strong so used the Shea butter every night which seemed to work. Good luck for the rest of your AC sessions, the first one was the worst for me, the next ones were a lot more manageable!

I use aveeno dry scalp shampoo which helped. X

hello there, thought I'd reply about your hair loss.  It does get sore to begin with, but it soon goes, sadly along with the hair though. It's best to have it cut as short as you can rather than shaved, as shaving makes it prickly.  I know the hairdressers are shut, so just get sharp scissors or a shaver, but not too short on the razor.  I bought aloe Vera shampoo and conditioner from Holland and Barrett which seems good, but to begin with, I got Ego QV stuff on prescription from my doctor, recommended by the nurses.  It's Australian and very expensive, but you should be able to get it on prescription and it's brilliant.  You use it for hair, head, body, everywhere, especially good for when you've post operation scars too, as it doesn't upset them.  Highly recommended.  It moisturises too.  I us d a bamboo beanie at night through the cold winter and hats outdoors, but later I got fed up with them, so just went without.  Never wore my wig from hospital either, it kept going into my face, same as you said yours did and my own hair originally was waist length, though I had a shorter wig.

The side effects are horrible, but they do go eventually.  Just remember not to try eating any of your favourite foods, as I found that the taste alters and then you feel sick and it puts you off that food for life!  I had a dairy free cheese sandwich on my way home from the first chemotherapy session and I was so violently sick once I got home that I can't even speak about cheese now.   Keep on fighting, you're getting there.  Good luck.

Hi there, don't know if you've read the personal post yet, but I don't mind you messaging me.  Take a look.  Hope all is well with you and your family?  Stay safe.

Hi Cheeboe - No, still waiting for op. They offered it to me, but I sought advice and I was told (for inflammatory breast cancer) I need more than two chemos. I have been taking Letrozole while waiting to re-start. Hopefully later this month, beginning of next. No problems so far. Hope all OK. xx

Hey all, 

I'm catching up on all the messages. Waiting for my appointment, chemo jot started but starting to familiarise myself with all these tips. 

Belstar, hang in there girl, all this covid stuff has got in the way for so many, but atleast we are past the peak and I'm certain things for us will get back to some sort of normality when it comes to treatment.

The nail tip sounds great, how long do you leave the steri strips on for?

Also does anyone know anything about black nail polish? I heard Victoria Derbyshire kept her nails by using it during chemo.

Xxxx