Astetic treatments after Chemo

This is a hard part of the recovery journey and it would be easy to give you platitudes.

3 years post ending my treatment I still struggle with the changes in how I look. 

My hairdresser was amazing and I found having a good cut therapeutic. I had helped with my makeup both from Boots and the Bobby Brown counter in John Lewis.

Breast Cancer Now and Future Dreams offer workshops to look at this area.

Guy's did a Survivorship in Action Course.  8 weeks and very helpful.

In conclusion explore lots of options.  Something will work for you.

All the very best

I’m one week post chemo (tomorrow) and have already asked if I can have Botox! The email I received from the oncology secretary said it’s not recommended if it can increase the risk of infection and bleeding. I presume that means for as long as it is in your system. You mention 6 months but that’s no where in the email I received, no timescale was given so I’d say you are fine to go ahead now. 

PS what do you mean 2% increase in odds?

It’s so hard when you don’t recognise yourself in the mirror, I can completely understand why you’d want to look at making yourself feel better asap.

I think everything is personal, what risk is acceptable to you for what gain. There is obviously a reason why they say six months. I’d ask what the worse outcome could be and if you think you can handle that if it were to happen, then the benefit outweighs the risk for you. 

I’m holding out on dying my hair until it’s all out of my system but I had spent cash on premier skin care and make up in the meantime. 

re Herceptin and Tamoxifen… honestly both were easy compared to chemo. For Herceptin take care of your gut health and the tamoxifen evens out quickly. It’s much easier that the Anastrozole. I know it’s only small gains for each treatment but once you start layering them on top of each other, it makes a difference. 

Keep going, you’ll get there x 

I asked the BC nurse & oncologist they said it is recommended to wait 6 months post final chemo but sone people don't. I  guess its personal choice. I was also told that practitioners should not administer before this.

I was given percentage stats in terms of being alive in 10 years to help me understand treatment. Lumpectomy only would have been 87% chemo was an additional 3-4%  and radiotherapy 2% I do have a follow up meeting to discuss this in more detail before I decide if I will take Tamoxifen for 5 years. it was alot to take in at the time.

Ah I see. All trusts must be different as no one has mentioned 6 months to me. 

I see what you mean. I asked my oncologist how much chemo reduces the risk of recurrence and she said they didn’t have that data. Again all trusts are so different! 

Have you taken tamoxifen before?

The first time I took it for five years 17%. It seriously messed with my joints and I was in a semi permanent fog. The second time they said it would help by 1.5% . So I didn't take it. I've got BC again this time it's not hormone dependent it's triple negative so I doubt Tamoxifen is on offer. I anticipate bilateral mastectomy. Three times down this is enough. 

You can start it and see how you get on. Nobody says you have to keep taking it. You have a choice. I

2% is not alot. I didn't realise until I had a breakdown at the end of five years that there were long lasting side effects. There are consequences though every time we make a choice about anything.

To be honest this reads very badly but I'm just a bit frazzled at the moment. I'm trying not to waffle.

Oh my goodness I'm so sorry to here this darling  its fine to vent  its so hard the 1st time I can only imagine how you must feel. I will send a prayer & all my healing energy your way. I feel really shallow going on about how I look! I think its more about how I feel to be honest and im scrapping around to find something to make it better! X

Please do not apologise. You have every right to want to look good. I've bought myself a nice navy tracksuit and a hot pink scarf so I look good while having chemo. I've spent hours looking at headgear because I wear my hair very short and a wig would have to be pretty good for me to get away with it. I've already made enquiries about microblading my eyebrows. I've always dressed for the occasion, my clothes and make up are sometimes like armour I put on for battle. So I understand exactly where you are coming from. 

I have acryilic nails, I will only remove them when someone actually says to me I can't wear them. My granddaughter has just gone to sleep playing with them,as she's always done from being a baby. Like you I will pay for good skincare. 

I just wanted to point out treatment is not set in concrete. We can change our minds. You've been through a lot and you have time to take stock.

Thank you for your positive energy. Every little helps