I used it through EC and Docetaxel/ herceptin and it worked wonders and I had no problems. Nothing seems to help during Kadcyla 
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I was the same as @gromit12 with the polybalm. My poor nails just keep ripping off with Kadcyla and nothing I do seems to help. I just try and keep them as short as I can to avoid them catching on anything and ripping off.
I’m delayed now for cycle 8 of Kadcyla because I brought back Covid from the US. I’m on Paxlovid and that stuff makes everything taste FOUL. I was fine the whole week of meetings and dinners and then as soon as I got back, I felt really grotty and tested positive. Not a happy camper. I’ve tried so hard to be positive and just get on with stuff but this just feels like too much.
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it’s just never ending isn’t it, and to have a delay 
zxOhh @kartoffel I feel for you having a dose of covid as well as everything else. I’ve found that any viruses seem to literally affect my brain, and i get depression symptoms that lift as the virus leaves. It’s really hard to deal with while in the thick of it, but try and remember ‘this will also pass’. Wishing you fortitude!
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Hi, I just looked into Polybalm for my Mum, my goodness the cost! Are there any alternatives? My mum is a pensioner, and I’m a single mum on a low income - I just can’t really afford to spend £100+ on this 
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Morning all and welcome to @rayasnan. We are a super friendly bunch and we have a wealth of info on here so have a read and ask away!
@rrey It’s great to hear from you and a big whoop-whoop on your wonderful news. As I always say, it’s so important to share the bit where you reach the light at the end of the tunnel to illustrate just how many of us get there. It may be a tiny pinprick in the far distance at the start of a journey none of us wanted to undertake but oh how brightly the sun shines when you reach it. I genuinely have a new found appreciation of the most mundane things in life now. It sure does give you perspective. I am also planning holidays now and it feels so good. Thanks for your positive message for everyone.
My nails are in such a state after all the treatment that I went and got some blue gel nails a couple of weeks ago. Goodness knows what they are looking like underneath but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. I was just sick of the sight of what was left and found myself crossing the street and marching into a nail bar on a whim. I’ve not heard of polybalm but good to hear of its existence.
@kartoffel Sending you love and strength and I hope you are on the up now. That’s a double blow getting Covid after you’ve been so amazing throughout treatment, both physically and mentally. I have found you inspirational as I’ve walked this walk with you and I send every good vibe I can across the airwaves to you. You’ve retained a sense of humour throughout and I want to tell you how much I have appreciated your presence. And of course our mutual love of potatoes.
@mum-a-lums30 I have been using Dr Organic Tea Tree Nail Solution and I could see the new growth coming through and looking a lot healthier before I suddenly lost patience and compulsively marched into the nail bar the other day. It’s probably not as effective as Polybalm but it certainly helps. Anyone else got any nail tips?
Salbert
xx
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Nail tips? Just discovered that applying nail polish, then using paint stripper on window sill, doesn’t improve look of nails!
My sewing pattern to make head wraps just arrived in the post. My latest occupational therapy project for old scraps of material. Nowhere does it define what small medium and large heads are…this could turn into bald woman wearing blindfold!
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@carrie5 Look Good Feel Better charity do amazing course for cancer treatment and hands and nails.
I was advised to use a balm rather than an oil daily on the whole nail bed. Use a strengthener every 3 days and reapply to check nails underneath. Coat in varnish ( dark if on a taxane chemo) with a top coat. Moisturise hand after each wash.
The lady I had in the course was based in Northern Ireland and recommended Oriflame, similar to Avon and available online in UK. Generally she said it didn’t really matter what brand. The courses are face to face and online, you get a bag of goodies. If you e been online you have to wait for it to be posted to you.
@carrie5 I think you need to step away from the paint stripper for a while!!
@rrey fantastic news about CPR 
@rayasnan Welcome to the thread. I hope you get as much out of it as everyone keeps saying.
@kartoffel sorry to hear you have Covid, it just seems to hang around. Glad you have the anti virals Paxlovid and hopefully you feel better soon.
Thinking of you all.
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@carrie5 What I am gleaning from this is that you are making your own head wraps and stripping paint all in one day. In my book, you are uber-practical, even if it doesn’t always go according to plan! 
@naughty_boob I am also envious of your ability to absorb knowledge at the rate of an encyclopaedia so that you always have it to hand whenever anyone has a query. I mean, I attended a few workshops and have watched various YouTube videos but can I retain the information?? Not on your Nelly!
I’m off to see my consultant today and as we know, I always look forward to my trips to the Marsden. They are all so lovely and I associate it with the point at which my worries and fears were turned around and I had hope restored.
I have about 30 kids doing an assortment of LAMDA exams this weekend. Please keep everything crossed for me!!
I hope the sun shines all weekend for everybody.
Salbert
xx
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Omg I remember the LAMDA exams! X
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Hi all,
You weren’t kidding when you said that I’d feel better once I had a plan!!! Went for my appointment today, got pre op on Monday and then operation on the 21st 4 weeks recovery and they are predicting 6 months of chemo, then the endocrine therapy for many years!!!they have pursued me that a lumpectomy is better for me as the tumour is tiny so I’m hoping for clear margins and no genetic cause as that will mean more surgery but for today, I actually feel almost like my normal self and for that I’m grateful.
Hope you are all doing okay?
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@jobieejo I’m so pleased you feel better now you have a plan.
We will be with you every step of the way. Make the most of your time before your surgery in 21st, if you can. Time will pass so quickly and before you know it the day will arrive and you will be on a treadmill/conveyor belt/ferris wheel until your treatment ends.
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Well I got a call from the radiotherapy late effects team this afternoon regarding my post radiotherapy fibrosis. I’ve got an appointment in 2 weeks 
The nurse says I’m doing all the right things- stretching, massaging the fibrosed areas and she also suggested some deep breathing. At least I am now in the Musgrove system having had radiotherapy in Reading
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Hi,
I’m feeling better now I know a bit of my plan too.
Pre op this Monday where they are also inserting a micro chip, then a dye injection on Thursday and my surgery Friday.
Busy week next week!
Still very anxious and nervous, also I have never had an operation before so not sure what to expect.
I then will find out my chemo and radiotherapy path once handed over to the oncologist once my surgery complete.
Love and positivity to you all 
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Good news @gromit12 I really wish the late effects radiotherapy was available nationwide. I’m at Velindre in Cardiff with the Welsh NHS and they don’t have the service. Just across the border in Bristol/Gloucestershire they have a self referral system for late effects.
I did ask at Velindre why they didn’t provide the service and they say there is a limited service for those who have had radiotherapy of the stomach and groin area. They just deal with late effects of bowel and bladder issues. I now have help from a cancer physio but it took a lot of asking, having seen a normal physio who didn’t understand cancer treatment.
Hope you get some relief. Radiotherapy seems so easy at the time but it can cause long term side effects. I was once told by a cancer rehabilitation specialist at the Penny Brohn charity, it was the gift that keeps on giving! Any it’s so true.
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@naughty_boob good that you’ve found a cancer physio. I’ve been watching some YouTube videos by a breast physio and have learnt some massage techniques - the nurse yesterday said to carry on doing these and to keep stretching as much as possible. Also to deep belly breathe. She said the service is not commissioned by the NHS but by Macmillan
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Somebody posted a link on another thread to The Breast Cancer Physio, Jen McKenzie, who is based in Australia and I’ve found her very helpful on top on my own cancer physio. So much so that I will be discussing some of the techniques with her.
Here is the link for anyone else that is interested.
Glad your service is funded by MacMillan, I believe my cancer physio is part funded by MacMillan as well.
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Highly recommend Jen McKenzie and the nurse at Musgrove said I was to keep doing her massage techniques till I’m seen
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@jobieejo - I had my last chemo five weeks ago but am still continuing with the herceptin by infusion x I’m so glad you now have a plan in place , it makes such a difference when you feel things are progressing and makes you feel a little more in control. I booked a couple of nights away with my husband before my surgery and I highly recommend it if you can … or treat yourself to a nice meal out x
@erica as above , once you have a plan , it does make a difference when you feel things are happening , once you start on the treatment train it’s all enveloping but you don’t get time to think of much else except getting through the treatment. Treat yourself too before you start it all , I had a lovely night away in a rural shepherds hut and that peace and quiet really helped to mentally prepare me for what was to come x
@salbert I hope the consultant appointment at The RM went well x my friend is an oncology specialist nurse there and raves about it x
I wish they would warn you more about the effects of the chemically induced menopause , my poor family don’t know whether to hug me if run for cover at the moment. Combined with the fact I’m not staying asleep
At night and feel like I’m burning up . I’m a laugh a minute at the moment . At least we are saving on heating bills 
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