Hi Ladies
I have been reading some of the threads about chemo and the immediate effects you’re having once you’ve started which have been really helpful. I’m due to start FEC in about 10 days time and it’s been great to get an idea of what might happen - although a bit frightening at times!
There are a couple of other things I’d like to ask for either ladies who are having treatment now or who have had it in the past. I read the ‘upstairs/downstairs’ ! comments but what about the other stuff? By that I mean eyebrows and eyelashes etc, I’m not too bothered about elsewhere - it may get rid of my very manly forearm covering after all these years with any luck! Have any of you bothered with false eyelashes if they do fall out? I am tempted as I have long lashes and think I would look really different with no lashes, even more so than if I was wearing a wig/scarf having lost my hair. I wouldn’t expect to have them on all the time but it might be nice occasionally.
Also for any contact lens wearers, do you have problems with these? I’ve read that eyesight can change but do your lenses get uncomfortable/dry/itchy? I wear mine every day and would like to continue on the ‘good’ days but wonder if it gets difficult to wear them as treatment continues.
And finally! Has your skin been affected by the treatment, especially your face? If it’s become more sensitive did you change brands to a milder one and are there any good ones out there worth stocking up on?
Thanks a lot for reading this and if you’ve got any other observations it would be really helpful. Wishing you all well with your treatment, keep strong.
Nicky x
Hi Nicky
I had my first dose of FEC on 15th April and am just waiting for the hair to drop now. It has started to fall but not in clumps as yet. Like you I am not bothered about losing the hair but a little bit anxious about my eyebrows and lashes. I have read numerous threads with regard to hair loss and understand that chemo affects us all differently. There is a chance that eye lashes/brows will thin but not go totally…time will tell!
I am going to get fitted for my wig tomorrow - my sister and mum are going with me and I am looking forward to it - a day out in Blackpool (hope the weather bucks up!)
Skin changes came on day 6 with horrendous spots all in scalp/face/neck and chest area. They were really sore but they have started to dry up now but I still look like an advert for the elephant man! I never have had ‘good’ skin and am used to the occasional spot but this really did look like a bad case of acne! But not bothered what people think!!!
My mouth and gums have changed but thankfully I have not had any mouth ulcers but I have mouthwas called DIFFLAM (can buy but cheaper on prescription) this was recommended by my chemo nurse. She also advised copper and zinc supplements too which I take 1 a day. Ice lollies and pineapple have also been recommended. I think there is also a thread ‘top tips for chemo’ which you will find really useful. I don’t wear contacts so i cannot advise on that.
Good luck with your treatment and keep in touch
Anita
Hello Nicky
I have had 4 of my 6 chemos now, everyone’s experience is different as you say. I have kept my eyebrows so far, some lashes have come out. Look for a “look good, feel better” session near you for tips with skin, hair and makeup; I have heard they are good. Dont get your hopes up re arm hair, as I am still shaving my legs lol.My skin has gone much drier in general, esp soles of feet and round the edges of my face, where I have used a little almond oil. My eyes are VERY sore the last few days of each cycle and I guess that would be difficult with lenses?
Good luck with your treatments, Nicky and Anita, I know some of the side effects can sound horrendous but we can all get through together!
Louise x
Hi There,
My eyebrows and eye lashes thinned gradually but didn,t come out all together. I still managed to look ok with a little eyebrow pencil and mascara when I went out. I only wore a wig if I went out (pub, meals etc) , otherwise I wore an aray of cotton scarves wrapped in a bandana style. My husband prefered these to my wig.
I think that hair loss is different for everybody. I have dark thick hair and lots of body hair and it just got very thin. I ended up getting a number 2 crop because of the inconvenience of shedding hair everywhere.
Chemo was not as bad as I expected and i still managed to do most things. So best of luck
Andrea x
I finished chemo on 1st November.
My hair started to fall out about 10/12 days after starting FEC so my OH and daughter clippered it down to 6mm and two days later OH shaved it completely for me. My eyebrows and lashes did not completely disappear on FEC but did thin. However, when I started on Taxotere I lost both completely (although my head hair started to return - weird)!
I used a product called BrowZings (by Benefit) on my brows. It contains a brush-on wax and a powder which looked quite good. In fact I am still using it as my eyebrows have thinned again since starting Arimidex and Herceptin. Hope it doesn’t cause the same problem with my hair!
I didn’t try false eyelashes…but I did use eyeshadows in an earthy shade with some white highlight under the “brow” to give definition to my eyes and face. Also a little eyeliner on my lower and upper lids. You can otherwise look quite washed out what with being bald and having no brows or lashes!
As for skin, I found (and so did others on here) that my skin became very soft and peachy…in fact I had better skin on chemo than before or since! We called it the silver lining to chemo!
I treated myself to lots of Clinique products, which suit my skin, and although they are expensive, I think we deserve to give ourselves a bit of pampering whilst going through the treatment.
I wore my wig when going out, and always tied a narrow scarf or hairband (try Accessorize) round it to match my outfit and make me feel more secure. I also wore hats and bought a couple of “Buffs” (try Googling) which were great for around the house and to sleep in. They were also handy for wearing under hats which were always too big on me with no hair underneath (I have a small head and petite features).
Can’t comment on contacts, but a friend of mine who had FEC wore hers without problems.
Good luck with your treatment…it’s not pleasant…but when it’s over you will be so pleased that you’ve done everything you can to fight this disease.
xxx
Hi Nicky
I’ve just finsihed chemo, 3xfec and 3xtax.
My head and body hair went on fec, I think I shaved my legs on the 2nd fec and it never came back. Arm hair still there though.
My eyelashes and eyebrows were affected by the tax, all my eyelashes on the bottom row are gone and I have a few hangers on on the upper row. to you and anyone else who is thinking about it DON’T try false eyelashes. I did and the glue stuck to remainder of my real lashes and they came out. I was very p*ssed off about it too!!!
I wear contacts and had no problems, until my eyelashes fell out and my eyes became really runny and I ended up with eye infections with rubbing them all he time.
Good luck
Ang xx
Hi Nicky08
I’ve just finished 4 x FEC, and have just had 1 of 4 Tax, won’t go over the hair loss things again as you’ve probably got enough info about that.
I’m also a contact lense wearer and like you wear them every day, normally from morning to night, I had no problems at all on FEC and managed to wear them as normal, am getting some watery eye problems on Tax, but lenses still wearable.
Skin was fine on FEC in fact most people commented on how good my skin looked, on Tax really dry and a bit sore on face
Good luck
Sarndee
Hi,
I’ve just had my second FEC and all hair now gone (used OH’s electric razor to tidy it up - don’t tell him!). I found my contacts very difficult to wear immediately after 1st FEC, as my eyes were very dry (and yet runny at the same time after I gave them a good rub - odd!). However, after a few days rest I find I can wear contacts again - just take your specs with you in case you get irritated. I would find being bald AND bespectacled very difficult, so am glad I can wear contacts most of the time!
No experience yet of eyelashes/eyebrows. Hopefully I’ll escape it. I’ve jived up the bandanas by drawing attention to my eyes (when wearing contacts), with make up & mascara, but I’ll be religious about getting it off.
Wig got first outing today and people didn’t even know it wasn’t real - bumped into someone I hadn’t seen since before this year hit the wall and he’d no idea! Phew! All the best to everyone, remember, it’s not forever (although wish it was for the leg hair!)
Love
Sue xx
Hi
Forgot to add comments about the eye lashes and brows, they held on till 3rd FEC, then both started to thin out, I’ve had semi permanent make up put on my eye brows, which I’m really pleased with, haven’t resorted to false eye lashes yet as I still have a little to put mascara onto, but will resort to falseys if they totally go
xx
hi Sarn,
Where did you find semi permanent make up for the brows? Was that at a beauty salon? I find being aware of how to sort out problems gives me a vague feeling of being in control of this thing. Why is a song now going through my head “Just an illusion, ah ah ah ah ooooha”?
xx
Hi Westsidesue
I had the semi permanent make up done at a local beauty salon (Imagine Me, Newport, Shropshire) I was wary as thought it might cause an infection, but really it was no more than a graze and it was fine, a little uncomfortable, but really OK, for me its boosted my confidence I found it really quite disturbing looking in the mirror in the mornings, no hair, sparse eyebrows and sparse lashes pretty scary to say the least. Know what you mean about being aware of how to sort problems out if needed, felt having this done was at least one to me, and waking up with makeup on is great, now I’m singing ’ Just an illusion ’ . . . . .
x
Nikcy
I had EC and then tax and the EC did affect my eyesight. I am normally very short- sighted and always wore contacts, but I have gone to glasses as they are more comfortable. The chemo nurses advised me that EC can cause itchy eyes when being given and the Onc said that my eyes would be more watery on Tax, he was right about that for the last two treatments. I lost most of my eyelashes and brows and find that I get those little white spots on the very lip of the eye which would make contact lense wearing uncomforable. However it’s now two months since finishing chemo - YEAH - and you have reminded me that I need to try the contacts again.
I haven’t gone in for false lashes or brows as with glasses and a wig with a fringe, I don’t feel exposed. I didn’t have any skin problems for me. But my nails are really not pretty just now.
all the best
Pauline x
I had my eyelashes dyed 2 days before I started Herceptin,Taxotere and Cyclophosphamide on April 9. I thought perhaps putting mascara on in the mornings and having to remove it at night may encourage my lashes to fall. Who knows? Chemo #2 this Wednesday. My hair is starting to fall out at the nape of my neck. The first time you realize you have a handful of hair is so scary and so last Wednesday was a Very Bad Hair Day. I have tied it up loosely in a scrunchy and it is sprayed with loads of Elnett!!! I have one wig ready standing by and will get another one when my hair is mostly gone and I can hopefully get one that is not too big. I don’t mind saving money on leg and bikini waxes!
Hi, i had sensitive skin before chemo and it went crazy. i was given a massive pot of epiderm (only available by prescription) otherwise ive been told its bloody expensive and that has helped loads!!!
Thanks Sarn, that’s really helpful!
And now I’m thinking beauty salons I’m thinking Grease, “look at me, I’m Sandra Dee” after their home make up/perm/ear pierce party. Thank heavens we grew out of that without doing too much damage to ourselves!
Carolina, I’ve just bit the bullet and shaved off what was left. Wig got first outing today. Used loads of make up round eyes to distract from wig. Had a problem working out where to stop with the foundation though! I used to do bandanas and big bold earrings, but am getting past that for work now.
And Anita you just reminded me about the zits! They were huge teenage sore swellings! I got them after my first FEC. Then I got a period. Thought FEC was meant to stop all that nonsense in women my age? I hope I don’t get the zits again this month. Will let you know on this thread!
Don’t forget your FACTOR 50 sun cream now ladies - the sun is finally shining in Scotland, will probably shine for another day or two and that will be it for another three months!
Hi everyone
Thanks for the great response and especially to Anita who pointed me in the right direct of the tips for chemotherapy thread which is really helpful but has given me a massive shopping list! I also won’t be trying the false eyelash thing now it’s been pointed out about the glue pulling any remaining lashes out! All that’s left to be done is get the bl**dy thing over and done with and see what happens after.
Thanks again for all the help and hope all of you still having treatment get through it as bearably as possible. It’s a great help to know there’s so many others going through what I will be and who offer such brilliant support and laughs!
Nicky xx