Aveeno body oil is really great and it’s got some good ingredients, nothing that should irritate. Also its good to put on your nails whilst you are moisturising. Every little helps 
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I did! Possibly overkill but figured couldn’t do any harm as you must wear gloves & socks under the cold pads anyway.
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Lifelong eczema sufferer so sensitive skin here! I’ve absolutely loved the eucerin with urea body lotion which has kept me super soft & rash free so worth a look. Sounds silly but a really good pump on it which is otherwise just another thing to contend with if you can’t get it out the bottle with aching body bits!
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Oh & for the face la Roche posay for chemo is super gentle xx
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I went to lush and got celestial moisturiser- it’s lovely - haven’t started chemo yet tho so hoping it does the job for that. I listened to that podcast (so now I’ve got breast cancer with Liz o’riordan) and the dermatologist did talk about urea creams la Roche posay and udderly creams as being good
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Popping over from March 26 group - Good luck to all April starters. Totally get the wanting it all to begin. I am sat hydrating pre my 2nd EC round this afternoon.
I have not done the cold cap as my nurse looked at my regiment and said it’s only 50% effective and you’ll defo lose your hair on that (3xEC 3 weekly and 12x weekly Paclitaxel!) I have a PICC line - which I just clingfilm to shower a top tip from my mums leukaemia nurse three years ago.
Top tips -
- keep on top of all the meds they give you, I took a better safe than sorry approach. Took nausea meds evening of and morning and evening for the first three days post infusion.
- Rest when tired even if it’s just sat or lying down, but not sleeping.
- Say yes to all offers of help and food supplies - it’s hard to admit to needing it but helps you and them on this “journey”.
- Drink, drink, drink - hydration is key to success and flushing the toxins out when they have done their job!!
Remember your body can do tough things and you have got this.
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Hi all
Had my first EC treatment yesterday morning. Everything went fine whilst in hospital but had some very severe Nausea all evening. Through all my meds at it and finally had some relief at 1am 
slept on and off but woke with a headache which hasn’t shifted even with lots of hydration. Do you know if we can take paracetamol or do I have to check with the helpline? Hoping to get out for a small walk this afternoon in the sunshine.
How is everyone else doing?
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Originally posted this in the April 2025 thread by mistake 
Hi all! Starting bi-weekly neo-adjuvant EC on Tuesday 14th for stage 2 grade 3 IDC (HR+, ki67 80). Just came off a surprisingly smooth fertility preservation cycle (28 eggs frozen after 9 days of stimulation, while one of my ovaries barely works due to past surgery complications) so that gave me some confidence that things can go well 
I practice a Japanese martial art called Kendō (剣道 / Way of the Sword Kendo - Wikipedia ) and I decide to keep practicing during treatment (while refraining from some high-impact sparring 
). The very helpful seniors in my club came up with a special training regimen for me, heavily focused on drills, footwork and techniques, to help me stay fit and sharp during treatment.
In preparation for treatment, I got a buzz cut yesterday! It was nervous and sad leading up to it, but once it happened it was a lot easier. I was worried about being upset at the hairdresser’s but I didn’t – I was in fact happy to have made it. It also turns out to suit me rather well. Grabbed a treat from my favourite bubble tea place near the hairdresser before I headed home.
Here’s a drawing of me walking down the street! Enjoying the new hairstyle
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Hi Warriorinprogress
I checked with the chemo ward re paracetamol before the cold cap which she said was fine but to be careful taking them after as it could mask a temperature.
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Worked out that the headache might be due to lack of caffeine. Haven’t been able to stomach a cuppa since yesterday afternoon 
Will make sure I take my temperature before using paracetamol in the future. Thanks for the reply. How are you feeling? Think you started a few days before me.
Hi
I’ve been good thanks- Have taken all the meds first thing and had no nausea and eating normally. . Just felt a bit trembly first thing but it passed. Managed a walk each morning and bits of housework so all good. See what tomorrow brings.
Best wishes to the other starters and soon to be’s. 
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Ended up in a and e with a temperature. Was put on iv antibiotics and sent home when temperature dropped. Feel exhausted now but better than yesterday.
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What did you do the whole time? I’m worried I will be bored if I can’t use my tablet or kindle with my hands in iced mitts. Are you allowed to take them off occasionally ? 
Popping in from March starters to answer question about headscarves etc.
Wrapunzel (USA) provides some very good YouTube videos on how to do various headwraps. They also have a none profit arm that provides head coverings for those going through cancer treatments so can provide good tips. They also have a FB group that shares ideas for headwrapping.
I cannot cold cap. Instead I bought some Bold Beanies, great round the house, lovely to sleep in and provide a good base for other scarfs to jazz things up. They also for well under my Tilley sun hat. Nice and light and can be worn under a knitted hat on colder days. Mid price www.boldbeanies.com
I bought a range of cotton rectangular scarves to use as l favour the regal knot tie. You can also use a pashmina if you need extra warmth.
If like me you have super sensitive skin look for bamboo based headwear. I have some from here. Their bamboo range is comfy to wear, designed to have all seams covered and has not irritated my skin in the midst of a nasty eczema flare. Mid price. www.chemotherapyheadwear.com
I did buy some cheaper ones on eBay but they are not as comfy to wear with uber sensitive skin.
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Please make sure your oncologist is aware of this. Chemo can be very skin drying and that can lead to nasty excema flares. ( learned that the hard way)
My infusion was only 30 minutes so I chatted or put on an audiobook. I don’t think they’ll stay super cold for the whole time if you have a longer infusion but yes definitely scratch any itches before you glove up!
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All good my lovely. Finished chemo & no flares-the urea stuff proved magical x
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Hi Everyone - I have been reading in previous months to set a feel for my journey.
TNBC -35mm Grade 3 - Stage 2 no lymph node involvement seen on scans. Although a 6cm cyst has been seen on my ovaries which they want to have a look at throwing all caution.
I had my first treatment today. I am on 12 week Taxol weekly for 12 weeks, which Carbo and prebromizulob thrown in the cycles too. Followed by EC and another for 12 weeks after on 3 weekly cycle. Then surgery and immunotherapy and radiotherapy.
Today was all of them - without grumbling too much it was a long day as the hospital im at is around 2 hrs away and im also cold capping. And with all 3 drugs wooah.
I havent really much to report - the first 10 mins of cold cap were hard, but I zoned out got through and forgot it was there really. Feel a little lightheaded this evening but thats about it at the moment.
I am pleased to have somewhere to share this crazy journey with and check back, sharing advice and ideas.
Ggood Luck everyone - to the journey, the trials and the tribulations, of course a gang we never wanted to be in but here we are 
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Just another tip for skincare, I have suffered from day 10 after each cycle of TC with an awful rash of spots all over my face and the best thing I used was given to me by my chemo unit - Cetraben cream!
Now chemo is over I’m still using it! It isn’t glamorous at all but it has worked wonders! x
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Hi, quick jump in from February thread.
I’m on 12 x weekly paclitaxel (had 8 so far),and only real side effect has been face rash which started about 5 weeks in. Given steroid cream and super strength antihistamines which have really helped. A few tips:
Skin will really dry out so get something thick and use it at least twice a day. Don’t exfoliate! I’m using a mix of La Roche Posay and Aveeno. I used to use Lush and Body Shop moisturisers but they’re not thick enough for my chemo skin.
Head coverings - I got some really good ones from Etsy. Caps and hats.
Check out the thread on this website called Cancer made me eat…for some great tips on food and nutrition during chemo/ other treatments.
Keep an eye on your temperature throughout and use your emergency helpline if it goes up. Infection during chemo can be very serious.
Be kind to yourself! This isn’t meant to be a punishment even though it feels like it at times. Have treats without feeling guilty.
Use this forum for support, I’ve found it really helpful and reassuring, but also a bit of a distraction at times 
.
If anyone has any questions there are a few of us who dot about between threads who are becoming old hands, and we’d be happy to help 
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