@bally8 congratulations on finishing your last chemo tomorrow! That has to be an exciting box to check off the list. I will be thinking of you tomorrow! Diagnosed at 33 is heartbreaking enough - I’m so glad your cold capping has worked for you! Thanks for the positive encouragement!
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This is my celebratory meal after my last herceptin today! Yeah, a year and a day, and I’m done. Slapped the bench outside the unit and a couple more in the park while walking the dogs after I got back. Feels surreal, did this really happen? Thank you so much to those ladies on here who told me it was do-able and very best wishes to those of you part way or just starting.
I’m very pleased to hear @naughty_boob that you have more energy for your garden, planting a garden represents hope for the future ( and hope the slugs won’t eat the lot ) @hoggie good to hear you’re getting hair back, personally I look forward to finger/ toe nails that look less like a horror movie, @salbert you inspire such joy in living your life to the full.
Thank you all so much, now I approach the ‘after’ phase determined that whatever it brings I will make some crazy things happen 
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@carrie5 I’m so pleased to hear that you have finished Herceptin and that you managed to slap several benches in celebration. 
Lovely looking roast potatoes.
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@carrie5 well done
x
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@carrie5 Congratulations on completing your treatment!
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Hello and welcome to you @olliek It’s DEFINITELY a good idea to join the HER2 buddies!! 
I’m so flipping sorry that you have to join us at such a young age. Not fair but then we all know life isn’t. It’s very nerve-racking but you are going to do it and get through it. One day you will be slapping that bench or ringing that bell and hopefully posting a pic on here of you doing so. Trying to explain what’s going on to young kids while managing your own fears certainly ain’t for the faint-hearted. My son was 13/14 when it all kicked off for me but when I finally plucked up the courage to tell him and my parents, they all dealt with it way better than I’d envisaged. It’s natural to want to protect them from it. The hair loss is such a visible sign that you are going through breast cancer and we all fear it. If you get some time (not easy with young children) then do take a look back over this thread. You will see us all rocking our wigs or Sinead O’Connor looks at various stages of treatment. We all worry about losing our hair and identity but again, I think the fear is worse than when it actually happens. This experience will certainly make you stronger. You ARE a strong cancer fighting warrior but sometimes you are also allowed to be a puddle. And we are very good at mopping up puddles here, so when that happens, jump on. There’s always one of us around. @naughty_boob is brilliant with resources, links and info. She is a walking oracle. All power to you telling your students too. I teach too and when I went to see the school show and sat at the back in a mask and wearing a headscarf, the most touching thing was having a shoutout from all the kids on the stage who came flocking to the stage door to see me afterwards. I’m definitely glad I told them all. Their energy gave me energy.
@loupy Yeah, we’ve all gone down that awful Dr Google rabbit hole and my consultant and BC nurse kept saying that most of it is outdated and plain wrong. Stick to MacMillan, Cancer Research and of course, this fabulous Breast Cancer Now website for information. Brilliant that you’ve found your monthly chemo starters thread to be such a great support network. It’s vital, isn’t it. I’ll always hold those women dear in my heart from February 2024 Chemo Starters. Discovering this forum was a lifesaver for my mental health.
@bally8 Great news that the cold cap has been so successful for you. 
for your last TCHP chemo!!
Oh @carrie5 , our wonderful, inspirational Carrie. Those roast potatoes make me happy for so many reasons other than being one of the best foods ever. I feel quite emotional when I think back to you first arriving on this forum and to think of you slapping multiple benches yesterday. Not only have you finished treatment, but you have shown us just what is possible while doing it (i.e. caving, tank-driving etc.) while dispensing your wisdom along the way. This is wonderful news. Bring on the crazier than ever!! 
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@arty1 Not quite snap but you are the first person I have seen who also has nab-paxitaxel due to allergies. I was beginning to feel like a freak as my hospital has to order Ìt in by courier especially for me as the pharmacy does not carry it due to costs. the oncologist managed to argue with medical ethics that in my case I did have an allergy to the carrier used in ducataxel and paxitaxel and nab would be the only safe option to prescribe after three failed challenges. takes ages to infuse as it’s like wallpaper paste.
just starting to brave a bit further in the forums here. I have HER+ that is being treated with 6 rounds of Phesgo, nab paxitaxel and carboplatin pre-surgery.
after pulling a severe excema flare in the third week with lots of side effects to the first round this time the oncologist has handed over prednisolone to take for five days after the initial three days on dexamethasone and a full dose of I/v steroids prior to chemo. I have also been instructed to take antihistamines every single day on chemo. they also allocated me the oncology nurse who lives with anaphylaxis to watch over me like a hawk and they deliver the drugs at half speed. I took home two bags of meds one bag full of emoillents and another with extra drugs.
I have to take in a cotton sheet washed in none bio to drape over the chemo chair and a cotton pillowcase to go over the mat they use on the pillow case after my skin reacted badly to that too. that before they have to locate the latex free dressings and ensure the cannula plaster is okay. my skin reacts to micropore and most dressings.
None of the staff now ask why I wear a medic alert as well as the red hospital wrist band. ITs got to the point the ward sister in charge checks every single drug thrice.
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@salbert your post truly brought hope and light to my day! So thank you so much for the that! I’ll start looking through more of the posts when I get the chance!
We are a musical family and my daughters are both super into the movie Wicked and love Cynthia Erivo so they tell me to just get some long nails and a few more piercings and rock the bald like she does! 
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Hi @wibbles. Welcome to the group.
I have allergies and a heart condition that my chemo regime was changed from Carboplatin and Docetaxel to Paclitaxel at a reduced dose which was then reduced after an allergic reaction, added steroids and managed to keep on it and then reduced again after an infection but I did finish at 12. Knowing I had the option to change to nab Paclitaxel if needed. My family has lots of allergies including severe eczema and type 1 latex allergy (anaphylactic) with lots of fruit and veg as cross reactions as well as nut/ peanut allergy. I can sympathise. I really struggled with the smell of the hospital gowns, sheets and blankets but many hospitals for ‘hygiene/ infection control’ won’t let you take your own. I’m someone who can’t walk down the laundry aisle in a supermarket and don’t get me started on Lush, I can smell it a mile away. It triggers asthma and allergies.
I hope all your precautions and steroids help. It’s so hard to balance your allergies and eczema with your cancer treatments.
I have so much trouble with plasters and dressings, most pull my skin off, cause purple bruising or red allergy wheals. I had a PICC fitted and struggled with several dressings with weekly changes until they tried IV3000 with Cavilon as a barrier under neath (used for people with incontinence as a barrier). I had no reaction to this but they did have to be very careful taking it off. The next option was a simple bandage dressing which was not as secure but possible.
I found being on steroids during chemo helped me able to wear nail strengthening treatment and varnish to protect my finger and toe nails. I normally can’t wear any on my finger nails as it causes an allergic reaction on my face and generally my eyes swell up. Not a good luck! Toe nails are fine as I can’t reach my face 
Do look at the https://lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk/ for help with nails, skin, hair and much more.
Take care from a fellow ‘sensitive’ person.
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Thank you so very much for sharing. It helps me feel less alone after the delayed reaction setting off a horrible eczema flare left me going what fresh hell is this!
I have bought a job lot of eczema pj bottoms and have seamless cotton socks. I plan on wearing them in hospital to try and protect my skin from hospital sheets. If need be I will buy in hand gloves and arm protectors that are simple cotton tubes.
My family are fairly atopic, DS one has severe eczema to the point he was under the local children’s and is still under a dermatologist as an adult and allergy to egg, DS2 has anaphylaxis to eggs, nuts, peanuts, shellfish, milk and coconut. I blame his dad who adds in a gluten allergy on top. Cooking can be fun.
My big allergies tend to be tree pollens and prescription drugs and anything my skin goes hell no to. An allergy to penicillin gave me the motivation to resist scratching all of last week. It nearly drove me crazy and l did call the hospitals 24/7 number and took a large tube of benovate strong steroid ointment antihistamines and dermol as no other emoillents was being absorbed to get some control over it. shudder Did tell the oncologist that was the most unbearable side effect out of all of them and to think l thought nausea and the runs plus zingy lips and everything tasting awful was bad. Those subsided as the skin went crazy and drier than a harsh desert. I feel cheated of the third week being more normal tbh as I could not wear any outdoor clothing for the first few days.
Not sure about using any make up though, l have always reacted to it even the most sensitive makes. the bit that has really creased me is Ìt feels like my skin has overruled my choice to wear beanies and headwraps by pulling a stunt that makes me feel a wig is well off the cards even if l wanted too. I cannot cold cap either.
Well done on being able to wear nail varnish type stuff. I am just using prescription emollients like marmalade on my nails and surrounds as anything else sets off hand eczema on top. Your right chemotherapy and allergies is not much fun as a combination.
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@wibbles honestly that sounds absolutely relentless — you’ve got so much being thrown at you at once and the skin side of things sounds especially brutal. I really felt for you reading your posts.
It sounds like you’re doing everything you possibly can to manage it though — the cotton layers, protecting your skin in hospital, sticking with what you know works — that all makes so much sense. And I completely get what you mean about the skin overtaking everything else… when it’s that bad it becomes the main thing, even more than the chemo side effects you expected.
Also, with your history of allergies, it’s no wonder your system is reacting so strongly — that’s a lot for your body to juggle. You’re not being dramatic at all saying it’s unbearable.
On the makeup/wig side, I think it’s completely ok to just park all of that for now if your skin is saying no — you don’t have to push through or meet any expectations there. Comfort comes first, always.
You’re definitely not alone in this, even if it feels like it at times. Please keep sharing how you’re getting on — it really helps others too, and we’re all here alongside you. I’m so glad you have some kindred spirits in our wonderful @naughty_boob and @arty1 You are in good company, even if you didn’t want to be, so to speak.
@olliek I’m happy to hear that my post brought some light and hope to your day. What I have discovered along the way is that there is lots of hope where breast cancer is concerned. So much research has been done and advances made that the vast majority of them (and this came from my team at Royal Marsden) are cured now or are treatable. Very happy to hear that you are a musical family. We did Wicked in Musical Theatre class in the Spring term of last year just after the movie came out. It went down a storm and I loved every moment! I think that your daughters have got it spot on with the Cynthia Erivo look. Definitely go for it.
I’m going out for dinner tonight with my breast cancer buddy who was a mum from our kids’ primary school. We always got on but as I knew she’d had breast cancer, I got in touch with her when I got my diagnosis and she was amazing. It was so good to have someone who’d gone there before in my corner to show me the ropes. We now call each other breast friends! We’ll have a bond forever.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
xxx
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HOORAY for end of Herceptin! You deserved those lovely roasties! 
You are so thoughtful and helpful to everyone on here. Such a lovely lady. I am sure you will jump from a plane or something to celebrate treatment being over.
Sending you lots of love xx
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Thanks NB. Great to see that you are still here holding everyone up.
Sending you lots of love xx
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Thanks. Changes your perspective, doesn’t it?
Take good care of yourself
Xxx
Can Iask if you found any sunblock you could actually use on uber sensitive skin?
It’s getting sunny out there and it would be nice to be able to get out in the garden when it’s still daylight. I can normally use the stuff meant for babies but given how reactive my skin has gone and I dare not try anything as yet …..but if would be good to know if there is anything possible out there. the oncologist suggested just patch testing but that could get very costly to do.
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thank you for reminding me comfort and good skin condition has to come first.
TBH I am spending up to three hours a day just trying to keep on top of my stupid skin just to reduce the risk of another flare. Its pretty miserable to find you have to spend that much time just using dermol cool showers and emoillents to the hilt. It makes me cry. I gather from the muttering from my oncologist that paxitaxel including nab paxitaxel be a bit of a sod for ramping up any pre-existing skin condition you have. if this plus the extra steroids do not work they want to bring in a dermatologist. TBH I could honestly do without out that on top.
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@jeml , that’s the same as I will be having. Start 17/4. I know we all have a different response, but just wondering how you found it in terms of side effects?
I tend to use Ultrasun SPF30/50. The family cream is very gentle but my son prefers the sport with a light gel texture. I originally bought from QVC because of their money back guarantee as I have wasted so much money on many I couldn’t uses due to reactions. I found the once a day formula meant I didn’t have to reapply which I found more irritating with other brands.
For my face I have tried the anti pigmentation Ultrasun spf50 for holiday for day to day I use Clinique face protector SPF50. ( can get samples if you ask in store)
I have used Ultrasun in Florida, Europe and The Canary Islands and never burnt with a once a day application. My children are both very pale and atopic and this is the best sunscreen for them. It gets reapplied after a lot of swimming. We all struggle with face application due to eye irritation so apply more sparingingly around the eye and rely on hats and sunglasses. I rely on long sleeved tops and long skirts or trousers.
I hope this helps.
Hi @salbert ! Yes I did cold cap. Not fun at all but never actually lost all my hair, just shaved it short when lumps fell out. It’s thicker than ever now!
Lovely to see you supporting all the others on here like you have with me. It’s invaluable to us all.
Lots of love xx
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Apologies for my lengthy absence ladies - life is annoyingly getting in the way
@wibbles .. you definitely won’t be the first person with allergies nor the last x My abraxane had to be couriered up froM Bath as they didn’t hold it at Great Western , My allergies became worse after having long covid . I think the issue either paclitaxel is that it’s based in a solvent base which for many is an issue , it’s also no good if you have a castor oil allergy like me !
I had to have my herceptin by infusion as it turned out I was allergic to that too .. you couldn’t make it up 
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