I agree with Nikki49, you need to follow your hospital’s advice. My hospital’s advice is to be extra careful during chemo X
Hi,
for those of you who might not like the ‘standard’ headgear, or find some beanies a little too warm.
I am likely to don - a head buff for the first time tonight, as it looks as if my shedding is beginning!
These are slightweight ‘tubes’ of fabric usually worn by motor bike rider over their head and under their helmet. If you google head buff, you might get to a company, which makes them, but there are so many choices out there and some are quite low cost, Amazon and ebay have great choices. You could also look for multifunctional headwear.
I have gathered mine at the back and used a hair elastic to gather it into a ‘tail’.
xxx
Looks great & so do u I’ll have a look 
Xxx
Hi Lynn.
Yes I watched her diaries. I found them really helpful as I will be starting very soon. She actually narrated the big C and me which was good to hear. I’m going to get my hair cut short before I start chemo. Maybe next week so it won’t be too much of a shock. I’m not sure whether I want to put myself through the cold cap. It seems hard enough having chemo without that added stress. I will speak to my Oncologist and decide then. Xx
Honestly the cold cap is ok I really did t find it too bad it does make chemo longer as it has to be put on for 30 mins b4 chemo then 90 mins after chemo. My thought was if I don’t look ill it may help my self esteem & feel more positive & my daughter is 12 & I didn’t want to worry/frighten her too much. It’s def worth thinking about xxx
Hi ladies,
for those of you, who have not had time for semi permanent eyebrow tattoos and are concerned how do deal with the loss of eyebrows, in case it should happen -
There are a number of things you can do. You could order some “eye brow wigs” I found some on Amazon. Although not tried yet, as they are still there at the moment. Or you could use Eyelure eyebrow stencils and a good eyebrow pencil and eyebrow shadow. Superdrug has quite a selection of stuff. However I found that the templates were too large and made my own. Off to Hobbycraft to get some acetate sheets - cut them into a rectangle a little larger than my brow area. Then stuck them on with tape - and drew the shape of my eyebrows with a permanent small tipped marker. Once done - cut the coloured area out very carefully with a scalpel - and hey presto - my own customised eye brow stencils!
Sue xxx
Hi again,
for those of you wanting to get some sun -
I have been advised that we should use zinc oxide based suncreams.
Examples:
Korres Tinted yogurt Sunscreen SPF 50
Clinique Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
SkinCeuticals Sheer Mineral UV Defense SPF 50
xx
Well 2nd chemo on Monday what a carry on meant to start 9.30am started at 12 !! Got bloods taken thurs turns out my liver function had rocketed from normal 32 b4 1st chemo to 232 b4 2nd chemo so they had to do it again Monday morning wait for an hr to get bloods bk it had dropped to 112 still above average best range is 32-80 bit thankfully they went ahead they then put cold cap on & gave me anti sickness tab & had to wait another hr for that to work b4 chemo started & had to then keep cap on for 90 mins after chemo finished ! What a long day got out at 4pm !! Felt ok but it hit at 10pm felt really awful cld hardly move felt really sick not bad y’day & as u can see from the time going to sleep at 7pm I’m up at 2am wide awake but feeling much better ? So turned a corner bk to bed later for me I think, hope everyone is doing ok ? Lots of love Lynn xxxx
Thought this might be useful for anyone considering cold cap
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Lynn WadlandPublic
Keeping My Hair Through Chemo
alittleearthquake.wordpress.com/2015/01/31/keeping-my-hair-through-chemo/
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Hi again ladies,
did some exploring as to sunscreens -
QUOTE
The safe mineral sun-blocking ingredients are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide , and they work by reflecting the sun’s rays instead of being absorbed into our bloodstreams (as chemical sunscreens are). While both zinc and titanium are photo-stable, the Environmental Working Group prefers zinc because it provides slightly more protection from UVA rays (the scarier, aging kind that we beauty obsessives really stress about). Another reason to prefer zinc is because the absorption of trace amounts of titanium can cause serious internal stress and inflammation. This is a concern with the prevalence of titanium nanoparticles, which allow many mineral sunscreen formulas to go on clear instead of white. END QUOTE
So looked for those and without Parabens, etc. and as chemical free as possible - here is a list:
Lavanila The Healthy Sun Screen SPF 40 Face Cream - available via Amazon
DeVita Natural Skin Care Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30 - available via Amazon
Suntegrity “5 in 1” Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen SPF 30 - available via Amazon
Banana Boat Natural Reflect Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50- available via Amazon
Sue xxx
Thanks Sue x
HI Ladies,
hoping you are all doing ok - And as you may wish to experiment with scarves, especially as you may not have a Headstong Service near you - as it is in my case -
Here is a great website with tutorials! And any srafe will do - just do not use silk or organza - tool slippery to hang onto your head when all is gone - cotton and cotton mixes tend to be just fine.
scarves.net/how-to-tie-a-scarf/head-scarves
Sue
xx
Hi again,
Also found these, as I am not a fan of turbans and my head tends to be too small for pre tied stuff.
I also like the more elegant look - especially having had long hair.
xxx
Parabens – Reality check - AND this is a long post!!!
Right ladies – done some extensive research on this – and tried to find most recent research. If you have the will and stamina - read yourself through this –
It seems to me that all of us, who have ER+ receptors ought to consider, whether to avoid Parabens or not. It is our individual decision – I hope below will be of help to make the right one for you.
This link might also be of interest - cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/cancer-controversies/cosmetics-and-toiletries
What are parabens and what are they used for in cosmetics?
QUOTE -The most common parabens used in cosmetic products are methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben. Typically, more than one paraben is used in a product, and they are often used in combination with other types of preservatives to provide preservation against a broad range of microorganisms.15 Dec 2014 – end QUOTE
My main source -
ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_041.pdf
Good luck – very scientific
Below – excerpts and some details to understand the most important phrases.
Estrogen – [Wikipedia] - (American English) or oestrogen (Commonwealth English) is the primary female sex hormone. It is responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. Estrogen may also refer to any substance, natural or synthetic , that mimics the effects of the natural hormone. The steroid 17β-estradiol is the most potent and prevalent endogenous estrogen, although several metabolites of estradiol also have estrogenic hormonal activity. Synthetic estrogens are used as part of some oral contraceptives, in estrogen replacement therapy for postmenopausal women…
Like all steroid hormones, estrogens readily diffuse across the cell membrane. Once inside the cell, they bind to and activate estrogen receptors (ERs) which in turn modulate the expression of many genes. Additionally, estrogens bind to and activate rapid-signalling membrane estrogen receptors (mERs), such as GPER (GPR30).
If you really want to know more about Estrogens – just look it up on Wikipedia…….
In Vitro - (of a process) performed or taking place in a test tube, culture dish, or elsewhere outside a living organism.
In Vivo - (of processes) performed or taking place in a living organism.
17β-estradiol - Estradiol, or more precisely, 17β-estradiol, is a steroid and estrogen sex hormone, and the primary female sex hormone.
EXCEPRT:
3.2 THE ESTROGENIC / ANDROGENIC PROPERTIES OF PARABENS
3.2.1 Data described in previous SCCP opinions
Two previous SCCP opinions (SCCP/0873/05, SCCP/0874/05) describe and discuss a
number of in vitro and in vivo studies. A recombinant yeast estrogen screen showed
parabens to be able to bind to the estrogen receptor, to activate genes controlled by these
receptors, to stimulate cell growth and to increase the level of estrogen receptor protein.
The estrogenic potency in vitro was shown to increase with increasing length of the linear
alkyl chain and with increased branching of the alkyl chains, resulting in the following
potency ranking order: methyl- < ethyl- < propyl- < butyl- < isobutylparaben. The potency,
however, remained at all times 1,000 to 1,000,000 times below the potency of 17β-
estradiol. p-Hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA), the common metabolite of all parabens, was
inactive in the in vitro assays presented in the 2005 opinion.
The in vivo estrogenic activities of parabens have been tested in uterotrophic assays
employing female rodents, either immature or adult ovariectomised, after oral,
subcutaneous or dermal administration. Butylparaben appeared to be more potent than
propyl-, ethyl- and methylparaben, and again the values remained several magnitudes of
order below the potency of 17β-estradiol.
Conflicting results, however, were reported for PHBA tested in vivo. One study claimed that
it had no estrogenic effect, whereas another study gave potency values 1000-fold below the
17β-estradiol level (EFSA 2004, Anonymous 2004, Paulsen and Alexander 2003).
In summary, the in vitro data and in vivo rodent test results up to 2005 indicated that
parabens can exert estrogenic activity, but with potency values that are 3 to 6 orders of
magnitude lower than the potency of the positive control 17β-estradiol. The estrogenic
activity of parabens appears to increase with increasing chain length.
EXCERPT : Sub conclusion 1:
In vitro studies show the potential of endocrine modifying effects of parabens,
with estrogenic activity as a function of chain length. PHBA, the common
metabolite does not seem to exhibit endocrine modifying effects.
To me personally – this means I do not need to panic, should Parabens be used in cosmetics, however – of course – I shall avoid them, if feasible.
My reasoning - There are so many ‘estrogens’ floating about in our foods drinks and supplements, etc., which we may not even recognise. They are naturally occurring, such as in Soya, Maca root, etc. – so I am not sure whether the culmination may just elevate the level of reaction to them.
xxx
Thanks Sue, I must admit this has been a recent concern for me too, but the Cancer Research link has put it in perspective for me. I will still try and avoid parabens, but not obsess over it
Xxx
Yes you can look ok! Day 4 after second FEC chemo -
15 minutes from Chemo patient to seeing a business client -
Sue xxx
Hi again…
hope everyone is doing well. Have been doing some reading again - and thought this might be of interest to some of you -
Many of us may be struggling with the menopausal symptoms, due to our treatments and hoping to relieve them with supplements and other methods - so this may be of interest
This is is a short excerpt from NICE guidelines with respect to breast cancer treatment
QUOTE - Soy (isoflavone), red clover, black cohosh, vitamin E and magnetic devices are not recommended for the treatment of menopausal symptoms in women with breast cancer. - END QUOTE
So, should you really struggle, if might be well worth discussing with your treatment team and your GP, so they can help you. After all - we do not need anything else on top of our chemo challenge.
Hugs
Sue xxx
Hi all,
I don’t know how many of you have access to a Complementary Service but I thought I’d suggest asking for a referral if at all possible. I’ve already had two sessions of reflexology which have been fabulous but were both before I started chemo. Now that I’m into treatment, they are focussing on specific symptom control too. So I have just collected two ‘sniffer’ sticks (think Vicks inhalers only without the Vicks!) with different mixes of aromatherapy oils for nausea. One has grapefruit, ginger and peppermint, the other has orange and spearmint. The idea is to use them whenever I feel sick and see which works the best. At first sniff I’m favouring the the first but we shall see. My next appointment is a week today when we’ll evaluate them and I’ll get a full body massage too.
Brilliant service, hope you can all access something similar.
B x
Hi all,
I’ve just had a quick look through and it hasn’t been very thorough, but I can’t see any parabens free make up recommendations. Have there been any? I’m looking at getting some and have been recommended The Green People greenpeople.co.uk/shop/by-product/organic-make-up but they don’t have a huge range (and no eye liner or eyebrow pencils at all?!) Can anyone recommend any other companies?
Thanks
B x