Hi Kate,
Today I have lost the top half of one of my toe nails. This is despite wearing a nail strengthener underneath a black varnish, with a hardener top coat throughout the whole of my chemo. (day 9 of cycle 3 of tax). I am gutted. I had no idea until I removed the black varnish this afternoon. It just peeled off. It doesn’t hurt. I will be devastated if it happens to my beautiful finger nails, my pride and joy. I hope you have better luck with yours.
Linda xxx
Linda, how awful for you, I’ve heard about the trouble with nails but thought it was quite rare that they fell off. So sorry this has happened to you. I’ve had lovely nails but since the start of chemo I have bitten them all off. I havnt bitten my nails since I was 17, but it’s become a bad habit which I know I shouldn’t do as I’m leaving myself open to infection.
hello Fleurgirl, welcome to the group Xx
thanks fir the tips on wig tape etc.
Linda my nails are my pride and joy as well, I was more upset at the thought of losing them than I was my hair. my nails have become very brittle and have started to peel and crack despite using nail envy, strengthener everyday and wearing nail varnish. I have resigned myself to having them all cut short next week. May have to try a set of acrylics until chemo has finished as I was at school the last time I had short nails
Kim x
hi
I agree with kate, the nail hardener has definately helped, i dont think my nails have ever been this strong and healthy looking, until the discoloured bits today. I did break one on the hoover and you could see that it was dry and brittle underneath, like lola says.
Looks like we’re all going to become nail technicians over the next couple of weeks,
why dark nail varnish, any particular reason? ive got green.
angie xx
Hi all
welcome Fleurgirl! join us with a shaven head- it’s the latest fashion. Seriously it hasn’t bothered me half as much as I thought it would and it’s actually quite interesting to find out what you look like bald! I have stubble regrowing all over, but it’s grey and very sparse. what’s there grows quick though which gives me hope for after chemo.
Lori, kate and angie glad next cycle has gone and wishing you all minimal s/es. Kate love the new picture.
Judy so glad you’re painting again.
Nails- I’ve always had crap nails so my hopes weren’t high but strangely they’ve grown beautifully since starting chemo. Epirubicin doesn’t seem to have affected them, don’t know what CMF will do. I’ve got the constantly dripping nose and my eyes are very sore- I’m wondering if this is indicating that my eyelashes are about to drop out. they haven’t yet- I’ve been using Talika.
We all seem to see oncologists at different times. I have 2, one for chemo and one for radio. I see the chemo one 2 days before each cycle, when I have blood test, and to decide what drugs we’re trying this time for side effects. don’t know if this is just because I’ve been so sick or is routine. Had blood test today, got results 15 mins later, then I take them to the onc. It was ok so all on for Friday, cycle 3. Nurse told me if white cells were not ok they’d still have me in on Friday because they probably would be by then, and they’d just test it again on the day, like you Lori.
hope you all sleep tonight, steroids or not!
love Mel xx
AmberD- we’re going to see Rod Stewart on the 20th June at NEC, can’t wait!!
Mel, my eyes are really sore, they have been for the last few days, they seem to be a bit puffy on my eyelids ared very red looking, and a bit itchy. I wondered if it was hay fever. I took some tray fever/ antihistamine and they feel much better today. My eyelashes havnt dropped out but they do seem shorter and thinner.
FEC-T Cycle 4 (Taxotere) Day 1 cont;
Morning all,
Not a great deal to report from day 1, got to sleep ok wakened twice thru the night but that is getting normal for me did not wake again until 9am.
Not sure if we are all prescribed the same steroids as I dont seem to get the same hyper reaction from them as some of you ladies get…which sounds good for me on that account, last day on them today so fingers crossed.
The only discomfort has been occasional waves of indegestion/nausea but its passed relatively quickly.
They have advised that bone pain can be a biggy on this one, usually kicking in around day 3 and lasting up yo 5 days…so we will see!!
Moira hope your tootsies have stopped aching after pounding the streets of London - sounds like you crammed plenty in, good for you hope your having a rest now!
kim hope you are all organised for Wedding on Friday and have a great day…sure all will be ok re wig/hat - have a great time!
Re Oncologist was informed I was scheduled to see him cycle 5 (not sure of relevance there but looks like i will have an apointment next visit)
Re Nails I too have been on the OPI nail envy for over a year and my nails have responded well to it so i am just continuing with that and OPI nail oil. So far so good although i have to say my toe nails have little black discolouration on 3 so time to polish these…out of sight out of mind!!
Kate, Angie hope your se’s are minimal this time round.
Welcome to the group Fluergirl
Nurse due in at lunchtime with post chemo injection.
Apart from that looks like a day for pottering catching up with jobs around house as its a pretty miserable day here in my part of Northumberland!
Best wishes to all for a good day!
Love Lori x
fec 3 day 2
morning girls,
i appear to be lacking s/e’s at the moment, except the usual slime mouth dry lip thing. Slept normal, feel ok, a lttle bit worried waiting to crash? maybe not this time?
Nice sunny day, not at work, whats not to like !
have a good day angels
angie xx
morning angels welcome fleurgirl.i read all the posts and want to comment to eveybody individualy but you have to forgive me as by the time i start typing my brain cant keep up with who said what but here goes,amber i am so jealous i adore rod stewart lucky you,kate glad you had a fab time on your cruise,happy belated birthday lori hope yours was as good as mine,pauline i to have always considered myself a strong in control woman but this chemo is really a biggie suppose we just have to remember its helping to save our lives,linda sorry about your nail i too have beautiful nails so will be very upset if i lose any,angiepops hope the crashh doesnt happen its my 3rd fec on tuesday so will be watching your posts to see how it goes maisiecake you going to see rod stewart too fab,kim have a fab time at the wedding,everybody else hope yuo are all feeling well and se free at the moment love to you all,barb xx
FEC cycle 3 day4
Afternoon ladies,lovely catching up on all your news, would love to reply individually but chemo head is back.
So far everything is good, as anti sickness pills changed and now I am like sleeping beauty…though I do feel sleep is the best medicine.
Im like many of you ladies, drippy nose, eyes either weeping or very dry ,particularly first thing in the morning. Today have woken with really sore throat, but temp is ok.
Good luck all, must go back to sleeeeeeeeep x
Do we have a Rod Stewart fan club here, Maisiecakes and Barb! We’re going on Oct 5th at the new Hydro in Glasgow, have you got his new album it’s really good.
All s/e gone for me now so it’s nice to have normal time to enjoy before Tax, been a beautiful sunny day here
Lori glad it’s going well so far.
Maisiecakes Iam using Talika as well, eyebrows a bit thinner but still there
Linda, sorry to hear about your nail, I’ve painted my nails black from the start in preparation for Tax. Spoke to my Onc the other day about it and he reckons it doesn’t really have much impact but I will continue with it just in case.
Minimal s/e to everyone, sleep well xx
OK Angels, What’s with Rod Stewart??? I’m seeing him as well on the 23rd at Sheffield Arena! My children all bought me tickets for different ‘crooners’ for Christmas - long before BC decided to get in the way. So I’ve also got Robbie Williams in Manchester and Michael Buble at the O2. Bucket list almost complete!
Angie, day 2 and you’re feeling fine! Great news. Hope it continues! Same goes for you Lori. If you can deal with what you’ve had so far let’s just hope the bone pain can be kept at bay with paracetamol - I heard the chemo nurses advising a lady who was having her first tax today
Kim, Fake tan!!! I’d end up with orange streaks. Roll on this nice weekend we’ve been promised - perfect for the wedding. Yes, if you’ve got a nice shiny bit of head then wig or t"t tape will work well. My OH keeps telling me off for adjusting my wig in the Morcambe and Wise fashion “can you see the join?” and yes, when it’s windy I do hold on to it!
Welcome Fleurgirl, don’t worry about losing your hair. You’re two chemo treatments closer to it growing back and it gives you something else as a distraction from chemo and s/es!
As for nails - I haven’t seen mine since pre chemo. Got acrylics which I have filled every three weeks just before infusion day. At the mo, they are a lovely classy dark red. Probably disgusting underneath! Chemo nurse told me this morning that it’s the Cyclophosphamide that causes a drippy nose so 
for all you coming off C and 
for all just about to start and 
for the few of us who have it all the way through!
Oh, and by the way, that’s number three out of the way. Wasn’t too bad and feeling ok. Won’t class it as half way until day 14 - the end of low immunity.
Good Night in every way,
Moira xxx
Moira, I’m jealous to death, Michael buble, you lucky thing you! glad you’ve not feeling too bad yet after number three. I’ve got number three tomorrow and I will not miss the drippy nose after this one.
Hope all you angels manage to sleep well tonight, sweet dreams judy xxx
Moira, you have good taste, Iam seeing Robbie on June 25th at Hampden. I’ve seen them both many times but its the bucket list thing isn’t it. Chemo 3 another box ticked, well done xxx
Good luck for tomorrow Judy xx
evening girls,
good luck judy for tommorow,
day 2 and still feeling ok, this is very strange, maybe its the steroids and i’ll crash on saturday when i’m supposed to be back at work!
nite all, sweet dreams
angie xx
Moira - I’m very jealous 
lucky you Robbie, Michael and Rod ! I saw Rod at Elland Road a couple of years ago, he was brilliant. Glad it went ok today…not so good about us keeping the drippy noses 
Judy - Good luck for tomorrow.
Angie and Lori glad you are both feeling fine, will ibuprofen help with the bone pain? I know anti-inflammatory tablets help with arthritic pain, may be worth asking the chemo nurses.
Thanks for the advice re wig tape, I bought some today and will use it tomorrow. I’m like you Moira, always adjusting my wig and I keep patting it!!!
hope you all have a good night’s sleep especially those of you on steroids
Kim x
Kim, I was there at Elland Road, standing very near the front and loving it. Amber, I haven’t seen Robbie before but I’m certainly looking forward to it - I’ll sing all the way through, loudly and badly! Then I’ll have to go and see Take That and I’ll probably be in tears (of joy) for most of it. Judy, I just love Michael Buble. Saw him a couple of years ago at Sheffield. He’s too big now for Sheffield so going with son’s girlfriend who is 29 and a massive fan - and knows her way around the O2.
Best of luck for tomorrow, Judy. Hopefully your s/es will now start to lessen. Keep on doing whatever it is you are doing, Angie. Enjoy the good days,
Moira xxx
Fec T cycle 3, day 8
Morning ladies, just a quick post, have caught up with all your news - lots going on and sounds like many AAAs having some fun which is great! Belated birthday wishes to Lori & Barb.
Day 8 and I seem to have had it all so far this cycle - sick at both ends for a couple days - I’ll say no more…hot and cold flushes as well - don’t know how many times the blanket has gone on/off …then just the ususal mouth stuff. I def feel like there is a cummulative affect now as I more or less sailed through 1& 2 - it had to happen I suppose. Anyway, 1 week on so hopefully I will start to pick up now
Re Onc - haven’t seen her since 2 weels before chemo started!
Nails - I get mine ‘done’ - have had Gel nails for years and haven’t noticed any changes so far. Still got lashes and brows (thanks Talika) but they are thinning a bit…
The sun is shining here in Glasgow so might move my sorry ass into the garden for an hour and read my book before it dissappears 8)
Hope you all have a lovely weekend,
Pauline xx
hi all,
wow Pauline , poor thing, ive been the opposite this time, i’m a bit worried that i seem to have that taste thing but almost nothing else, isnt this poison strange. I’ll probably crash tommorow because ive told them i’ll be back in work!!
ive just been to my local support group, first time, such a wonderful place, its really made my day. Spoke to a lovely lady called Gwen who at 76 is just 5years clear, had a cuppa and a lovely talk. Got therapy rooms for nails, massage etc, quiet rooms for one to one chats, i’m most impressed. Going to see the nail girl, prepare for the s/e’s of docetaxol.
Just thought i’d share that with you all, i was so delighted. 
angie xx