I used a special silicone type of clear varnish, along with 2 coats of very dark nail polish. I was ok with my nails, I had beautiful nails in fact and managed to keep them all - I say with bated breath in case they decide to fall off now!
Good luck to those having tax xx and everyone else
I had a fabulous day at look good, feel better, people there were so lovely, learnt a few tricks for when eyebrows and lashes leave me later this week!! And came home with a wonderful goody bag full of lots of lovely expensive make up and perfume! A realy lovely treat. Two of my girlfriends came with me so after we went shopping for a short while then went for a lovely italian dinner! Feel really great, hardly slept a wink last night and expect tonight to be the same with steroids. don’t think I’ll clean out anymore cupboards tonight though!! so Far, I feel much better than the Fec but it is on;ly day 2. Had lots of hot flushes today and been quite red in the face, but don’t feel poorly! finger nail on right forefinger just bginning to hurt as I type? ache in knee disappeared as soon as it arrived, but we shall see. Expecting to feel a bit ropey tomorrow as steroids finish.
Still a scarey place to be just waiting for symptons to kick in, met a girl at look good today who has also had 3 FEC/3 TAX and 3 and half weeks later her eyelashes have already grown back, her hair been growing back throught TAX but her eyebrows nowhere to be seen! But still I found it quite encouraging about her lashes and hair, 2 out of 3 aint bad!!! Her nails weren’t good though but she didn’t know about black nail polish trick, so we shall wait and see again!
Good luck Pat and Wendy with your TAX this week!
Jo X
I also went to a Look good feel better session yesterday and you’re right Jo, it was fab! Mine was in Bristol and we also got a huge bag of freebies, including the perfume (sarah Jessica Parker’s ‘Lovely’ in our bags).Hubby was really please with my new look , which gave me a bit of a boost…we also had a hand and nail massage by the Red Cross volunteers, so my nails looked lovely too.Popped into Ikea and had a mooch round, after having lunch with my daughter, who took me to the session. Like you, I was thoroughly pooped all night and had a rotten sleep due to my steroids,(chemo #2 on Monday), but i really enjoyed myself yesterday!
It sounds like you are all doing really well.
I am 3 weeks post chemo now and feeling better each day. My eyebrows are growing through, eye lashes don’t appear to be doing much, but I am fair so it’s hard to tell. My nails are fine, still painted dark plum. One is threatening to lift at the base, but so far so good. The only problem I have is watery eyes - they will not stop and it is really annoying.
I used the cold cap so still have hair but my ‘thin patches’ are filling in with small fine hairs and I have hairs on my legs once again! Never thought I would welcome that day!!!
The steroids were the worst part of the treatment for me…red face, hot flushes, ravenous 24/7 - they really do mess you up for a while don’t they.
Good luck everyone - I will be watching your thread to see how you get on.
Hi all,
Great to hear you are all getting on so well, and enjoyed the look good feel better sessions too. Pheebster, I’m a bit ahead of you as I finished my tax mid December: my watery eyes have completely gone, and just this week it occurred to me that I could start wearing eyeliner again without it running and making me look like a panda! Just hang on, and you’ll soon be there too!
Julie
x
I’m really glad you’re all doing well, its good news to me as I see my onc tomorrow and get the plan and will know what I’m up for! The look good seesions sound really good - how did you find out about them? Mary x
Hi All,
Jo hope you are feeling well, the beauty session sounds great, mine is April so I look forward to it. It’s great that you are able to post as it’s giving me confidence that the Tax is do-able. Pheebster and Julie, glad you’re both doing well, thanx to you too for posting as it makes such a difference to hear the positives and not just the negatives - I was absolutely terrified about having the Tax a few weeks ago but do feel calmer about it after the posts on here. I know everyone reacts differently, so many of us on FEC had totally different experiences which proves the point. Now I just want to get started so that the last one is in sight. You find out about the Look Good Feel Better sessions from the oncology dept at the hospital that’s treating you. Your BCN will know who you contact and the sessions rund once a month I think, they are usually very popular so you may have to go on a waiting list, which I’ve done. Even if your treatment is complete, you are still eligible to attend one - I think they last approx 2 hrs, about 12 women in each group and you get a bag of goodies, full size products which the beauty therapists then shop you how to use to best effect. I think it’s great that Jo could actually attend and enjoy it the day after a chemo session! All the best to everyone, and I’ll check in later, love and hugs, Pat X
thanks for that Pat - will check tomorrow when I see onc, mary x
Feeling fed up today as my bloods are low,have to have another test on Friday day of first TAX I really don’t want treatment delayed again as I have had 2 cycles of chemo out of 4 delayed already well 2 out of 3 really as you can’t count the first one. I am going to ask if I can have injections for next time. Anyone else had many delays?
pp
x
Hi pp, sorry about your bloods, hopefully they’ll be up again for Friday. I was lucky on the FEC and didn’t have any delays, on the Tax they’re giving me an injection on Friday to help with white cell count, is this the injection you mean? I have heard of other ladies whose counts were down and they had either an injection (don’t know what of) or blood transfusion. Delays must be unbearable, we go thru the chemo, suffer the SE and then build ourselves to the next one, it all takes it’s toll. So have you been given steroids to take day before? I took 8 today and have to do that for the next 2 days also. Wishing you well and hope it’s all systems go for Friday, I’m sure it’ll be okay. Everyone else, hope you’re doing well, Jo, how’s you? love and hugs Pat x
I have to give myself an injection the day after each chemo, to boost my white cells.I’m on TAC and don’t feel too bad, except today i have developed terrible heartburn…hospital told me to try Gaviscon, and i’ve had one dose, not much good so far! yueeeekkkk
The only time my bloods were low was for 2nd lot of FEC, then they gave me injection in tummy on the day so chemo still went ahead, then my husband had to give me injection at the same time every day for next four days! Have to say though it was the worst FEC ever and I was pretty poorly all the way thru and I actually put it down to the fact that bloods were low to start so struggled to cope, but then again, missing a chemo when you’re mentally prepared must be worse, beg for that injection.
Felt fine again this morning Pat, actually slept really well last night which i was surprised at as had last day of steroids. Still feeling hot flushes but have been really well most of the day, went to physio at hospital, then major food shop then lots of cooking to stock up freezer for when I go down again! Had a bit of a kip this evening and now eyes a bit sore again and finger and toe nails throbbing, but so far so good!
Good luck tomorrow!
Jo X
Hi Pat
Yes I mean the injection to help with the white blood count. No I have not been given any steroids to take the day before!!! I queried this today when I got the blood result and was told they can give me an injection before chemo. Bit concerned as everyone else seems to have the tablets to take the day before. Good luck for tomorrow!
Jo - Glad you are still feeling well today - gives me hope!
love
pp
x
Narnia…ask for omeprazole for the heartburn. it worked for me.
I also had gcsf injections for 8 days beginning 5th day after kimo. The one-off injection hasn’t been approved at my PCT but I know others who have had it.
I was given them following my 2nd FEC as my bloods kept coming back border-line. You can have the District Nurse come round and give them to you. I work for a Dr so used to pop into work to get mine done but they definitely help.
I didn’t have any kimo’s delayed by the way…these injections really do work
Hi All, Just a quick message as am knackered and hope steroids won’t keep me awake. Chemo went fine, although delayed so instead of an hour we spent 3 hrs waiting most of the time. Still, got chatting to a lovely lady and her mum so wasn’t too bad. Tax went thru fine, no allergic reaction so will see what next one brings. Felt fine, hardly any nausea at all - bonus! District nurse coming tomorrow to give injection, and I have painkillers and heatpads at the ready. I tried the cool mittens and foot coolers, not uncomfortable really, and sucked loads of ice to see if it helps with SE, worth a go. All in glad pleased at how it went, now just waiting to see what happens next! Again, thanx for all the support, especially those ladies that are post-chemo and told their experiences which weren’t horror stories, it did help me thru today. Jo, hope you’re still doing well. Narnia Pheebsters right, ask for that one. It really helps with the heartburn, onc said I should take it for at least the week, and longer if necessary. Well, off to bed, love and hugs from a very relieved Pat x
Well I’m gutted -no chemo for me today as bloods still low. I will have my first TAX next Wednesday now. Could have had it on Tuesday but I have my Look Good, Feel Better workshop that day so did not want to give that up as I put my name down for that months ago. I asked the nurse about injections to help with blood count and she is going to ask onc so hopefully I will get them and not have any more delays. My birthday is 3 days after first TAX now so I hope I don’t feel too rough.
Saw dentist yesterday about my missing front tooth and she is going to make a false one on a plate for me as a tempory measure as it’s too difficult to time a 45 min appointment at the dentist with a higher blood count as she gets so booked up.
Pat - Glad your chemo went well
pp
x
Oh PP, I’m sorry it was delayed, what a bummer. If you’re anything like me I get myself all built up (and het up!) coming up tp the appt and just ant it be be over. Hopefully, it’ll be all systems go next week. You go for your ‘LGFB’ session, you deserve it. Haven’t heard from Jo and she’s 5 days in now. Hopefully you’ll be okay to enjoy your birthday, are you gonna go out? Mines in the summer so hopefully I can celebrate in style the big 50! Best wishes to everyone, check in later, Pat x
Ooooh not so good now! Thought it was to good to be true. Effects caught up with me yesterday really achey everywhere, muscles, joints, limbs, teeth, ears, eyes and probably hair if i had any!!!toe and fingernails so so sore couldn’t even text or type yesterday! Managed to drag my wotsit outta bed today to take kids to cinema as it’s last day of half term, felt I should make the effort!, then we went for pizza but literally only kept going with 4 hourly nurofen, hot water bottle, i took with me! then a 3 hour nap when i got back! Hence that#s why I,m awake now!
Have a nice weekend!
Jo X
Hi all, Jo it sounds like it takes a few days for things to kick off, yesterday I felt pretty normal but today I feel more achey, and the biggest bummer is that my taste has virtually gone already! Went out as it was a lovely day, sun shining. Just feel a bit off, and a bit achey but a nice warm bath helped, with a nice candle burning, nice and relaxing. Hope everyone is doing alright and enjoying their weekend. Does anyone know if it’s ok to use those heat patches for the aches and pains? I bought a pack of the deep heat ones coz they’ve helped me when I’ve had a bit of arthritic pain but forgot to ask my onc about them. Take care everyone, love and hugs Pat x
Girls…the worst thing was the loss of taste. We called it Sludge Gob on our other thread! Someone likened their mouth to the inside of a wheelie bin! I found lager cut the slime!
It usually lasts about 10 days, sorry to say, but it gets worse before it gets better and then tapers off each cycle.
You may also find you get slightly breathless, but don’t panic, that passes too.
You’re all doing really well and are a third of way through tax already!