**DECEMBER 2021 - MARCH 2022 BREAST CANCER CHEMO**

Oh wow thank you for sending the pics, really helpful,I know I'll be told all about it but it's better to hear it from someone who has actual experience,sorry about all the questions I just wanted a heads up x

Hi Animal

I know it’s all scary but it isn’t too bad. EC is the Red Devil. It will cause your hair to fall out which is upsetting but it does grow back. When I had the paclitaxle mine started growing back so at most I was 5 weeks with no hair. Not everyone’s nails fall out. Keep them short and don’t put gel polish on. Get some cuticle oil and moisturise and you should be fine. They’ll be a little brittle but don’t fret. 
they’ll give you a mouthwash and lots of tablets for the main side effects. 
If you need a chat I’m always here.

xxx

Hi Kas 79,thanks for the advice,so no nail polish at all?not that I glam myself up but I'd read somewhere applying nail polish protects?I was petrified pre surgery because I'd read people's blogs etc,I seriously thought I'd either end up with an elephant arm or one I could never use again,and although there's days I still have discomfort I'm back using it fully as before,I'd worked myself up into a right state!is your hair coming back grey?this is something that's playing on my mind,I wouldn't mind going back to short hair if it was my natural colour, anyway there's nothing I can do about it and I'm going into this with a positive mind and hey we are still alive eh x

I've had gel nails on throughout my chemo, my friend does it for me and I alternate between navy, dark green and black. My nails, so far have been fine.

I put cuticle oil on them 3-4 times a day, wear gloves when I'm washing up and use hand cream too.

Ive heard nurses say keep nail varnish on and some say don't put anything on so I'm not sure anyone really knows. 

I've got dark green on my toe nails too.

Yup nose bleeds happen but they should stop happening straight after chemo treatment has finished. 
xxx

You can wear water based normal nail polish. But they say remove it after 3 days with acetone free remover and have a couple of days polish free before reapplying. You can see the white lines under your nails which is the metals in the chemo. This causes them to be brittle and weak so if you don’t want them to fall off take care of them.

Everyone is different with hair. Before I was dark brown with a grey streak. Now I’m full grey with dark trying to grow back. Everyone says it suits me lol. I’ll probably dye it but have to wait a few more months before I can. I’ve embraced it even though I said I’d hate being grey lol At 42 it’s a bummer but hey ho. Chemo is strange it effects the cells in weird and wonderful ways but it’s doing it’s job and killing the Larrys! 

xxx

If it works than do it. It’s just advice I got from my oncologist and what I’ve read online. I think cos the gel is harsher and you’ll need acetone to remove it just can damage the nail. Cuticle oil is the best though. Still got my nails yippee

xxx

Yeah my arm is still being a knobby. Surgeon says it’ll be sore and numb in places for a while so if she was happy then I am. I’m using Ouch cream which is easing the pain so all good. I can use my arm fully apart from lifting. Just want to make sure everything is healed before I start weight lifting lol  

xxx

Yes that's right as long as it's doing what it should be, we'll just have to cross each bridge as we come to it x Thanks for the advice x