Chemotherapy

I bought natural looking false lashes prior to chemo and still haven't worn them - I finished chemo in January. For me, chemo was such a tough thing to go through that I honestly didn't care about lashes or brows once I had started. I bought lots of different kinds of hats and have worn those, not least because it was winter. I only lost my lashes and brows with docetaxel, I didn't lose them on FEC. They're just starting to grow back now.

I found losing my hair the least difficult side effect to deal with. It's not sore and you know it's going to happen so not a surprise. I cut my hair off ahead of chemo and donated it then shaved my head. That made me feel more in control and glad I did it. After that, losing the hair was no problem at all.

Good luck with your chemo. I would recommend keeping a diary of symptoms, it really helps looking back to see what you felt on any given day in previous cycles.

Thank you very much for this information. Take care. 

A warm welcome Habba, I am not sure if it has been discussed with you but I used the cold cap which worked to keep my head hair? My eyebrows thinned but I still had some and I kept my eye lashes. I know everyone is different. My best suggestion is to see what you need first as you may spend the money then not need them? I bought an expensive wig and silk head coverings but they are all still in their boxes.  If you are used to internet shopping then you could perhaps order things as you need them? 
I ordered an Anastasia eyebrow pencil which I used a few times to fill in my thinner brows and had looked into magnetic eyelashes (I don’t think you need eyelashes to make them stick?) but didn’t buy any.  I bought silk pillow covers which I did use. As I said, I didn’t need most of the things I spent a fortune buying in advance! It’s up to you though if it would take the pressure off you and give you peace of mind. 
I did use a warm fleecy blanket for chemo as got cold with the cold cap, drank plenty of water (kept it by my bed to sip through the night) and kept a note of my side effects to the drugs so that I could report back to the consultant (as suggested by Beatthebreast) as you do get “chemo brain”!! 

Please let me know if you want any more details  

Warm hugs,

Bekky xxx

Hi Bekky and thank you so much for this information. I'm so glad to hear that the cold cap worked for you!!! I'm going to try it! How did you treat your hair in-between? What cocktail did you get and for how long? Any advice is appreciated. Did you take anything to build up your immune system and protect your stomach?

Warm wishes,

Habba

Hi Habba. Not a problem at all. It helps to hear other’s stories as the whole experience is scary enough. Please click on my name for full details to not completely bore you! I had a wide excision to remove the tumour (in left breast which only became aware of after my young son bumped into me), surrounding tissue and one lymph node removed. I then had 3 x EC, 1 x Docetaxel (three weekly sessions) and 6 x weekly Paclitaxol. Thereafter, 2 weeks of daily radiotherapy and have now had 2 x Zoladex implants (will have to have these every 28 days), daily Exemestane tablets and I’ve to have infusions every 6 months to strengthen bones and try to reduce the risk of recurrence (yet to experience this delight!). 

After the conditioner was applied to my scalp in copious amounts at my chemo session, I would leave it and not touch it (no combing or washing) for two days. I would then wash it in the bath in luke warm water with Simple shampoo and conditioner and then whilst still wet, run a wide tooth comb through it then let it dry naturally. I would only wash it once or twice a week in the same manner. A lot of hair did come out but my friends and family whilst Facetiming me etc. assure me that they have not noticed a difference. People assume I haven’t had chemo! Strangely now people expect me to go back to normal quickly as I don’t look any different as how I feel inside is not reflected outwardly. I cannot complain though. 
I would love to say that I ate well and did yoga etc. but I was just wanting to get through it! I ate what I felt like and did put on weight but don’t be hard on yourself as your taste may go weird with the drugs and you eat what you need to get by. One thing I would say is drink as much water as possible. Always have water by your side. It becomes your very best friend! You will probably get more thirsty than you have ever before!!

I was told that I was ok to take extra vitamin D as was getting treatment over winter but check with your specialist what you can and cannot take as some supplements etc can react in strange ways with your meds! One thing I was told not to take was probiotics as this interacts with chemo in a negative way apparently. I was also advised by my Macmillan nurse to eat like I was pregnant (no live cultures, raw food, cook everything well, wash everything before eating (e.g. fruit) and I couldn’t go far wrong.

Please ask me anything you want and I will let you know what my experiences were. 
I wish you the best of luck,

Bekky

xxx

Hi lovely, 

try https://lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk

I think they provide free kit sent to your home if I don’t remember wrong and can help you with make up and etc to disguise it all 

good luck x 

Bekky, you are so encouraging lovely strong ladythus had been so helpful! I was advised like you not to take anything while having the chemo. Bless you lovely and good luck Habba

Habba, you will get through this and come out the other side. Just take a day at a time and any help offered remembering to be kind to yourself. I am someone who is a bit of a wimp when it comes to pain etc (said from start wanted epidural for birth etc.) so if I can get through it, anybody can! Hopefully as you emerge from this, things will be opening up again so you can get proper support and some normality. 
Good luck and ask away if you have any questions. 
Bekky xxx

Hi There i started chemo a week ago and feel so nauseas all the time do you have any tips.  also tried the cold cap but had bad migraines and not sure weather to follow through with it as it is just for my vanity i guess did you find you had headaches with chemo badly as well ?

Hi cozy, I didn't even try the cold cap as I used to get bad migraines and headaches and didn't want them alongside other side effects. I found losing my hair absolutely fine, I had shaved it off ahead of time and wasn't that bothered when it came out. It's growing back now, I just started going outside without a hat last week including attending radiotherapy. It felt great!

I didn't get any headaches during chemo but I have done a huge amount of things to reduce daily chronic headaches I used to get and have been relatively headache free for years now.

I vomited for 24 hours following my 1st chemo and had to be hospitalised. After that they gave me stronger anti sickness tablets and I was just mildly nauseous for a week for the next 2 cycles of FEC.

When I switched to docetaxel, I didn't get any nausea but I did get bad muscle and joint pain and felt much worse generally! Others find the get on worse with FEC.