September 2018 Chemo Starters.

?ha ha ALittlePixie! I was just taking some rather attractive selfies!!(Not) ?and I think I’ve lost part of my eyebrow too!!!

Aley - My hair does grow a bit between cycles but after fec 4 I’m almost bald now! I’ve shaved what there was to stubble today as it was so thin anyway. Still got thick eyebrows and some lashes. I never got a wig and find hats and scarves hot and itchy so I just go bald in public. I find it very liberating! I’ve got an evening social in a few weeks though but I’m not sure if I’ll be brave enough then…

? I keep taking selfies too … a reminder of how bad I look at every stage ha ha! My eyebrows have gone very patchy too … keep looking optimistically for some sign of head fluff growing but nothing yet! ?

I definitely have some fluff emerging and hope that the T doesn’t make it all fall out! Looked up how fast hair grows…0.35mm a day! At 1mm every 3 days…a centimetre by Christmas…???

Gosh, we’re all gonna look like hot girls with patchy eyebrows and a cm of fluffy hair by Christmas! ???

Hi all,

Can’t wait to see some hairgrowth, will be a huge milestone in getting back to ME??‍♀️ Always felt my hair was my best feature lol always looked healthy and strong ? but it def didn’t like that FEC?? even with cold capping am now almost bald apart from fluff that’s held on.

I was recommended to get my eyebrows microbladed before chemo and best thing I have done? They are holding up well and a far better shape than my old ones which is a bonus! My eyelashes are falling out especially my lower ones. Always look really tired now.

Looking forward to 2019 when I will be rebuilt lol

:heart::heart:

Slightly obsessed with hair growth! Didn’t really worry about having it shaved off but it growing back does make me feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel! But don’t think I’ll be rushing to book the hairdressers quite yet. ?

I’m very disappointed I still have hairy legs!

My leg hair did go but it’s back again unfortunately ? Still got arm hair tho … thought that would have gone too!

One of toe nails is now changing colour ? anyone have any tips … or does it mean that I will probably lose it?

Hey Lisa
My oncologist told me to paint my nails dark, use olive oil for my cuticles and make sure I wear gloves for washing up etc. I’ve bought a water based nail polish and so far, so good. Hope this helps. My nails/fingertips hurt but none are lifting at the mo xx

Thanks ALittlePixie - will give that a go. How you feeling today … any better? xx

Hi ladies, my finger nails are discolouring I’m having my 4th FEC on Friday. Did yours get worse with T anyone?

No worries, I just hope it helps. I feel horrific still unfortunately. My oncologist was meant to call me yesterday but is off sick so I’m just battling on for now. Hope you’re doing OK xx

Aley, my nails seemed ok on FEC - had one T now and I have noticed one nail has discoloured so blaming the Ts!

Ahh no ALittlePixie ? sending big hugs. Hope your oncologist rings tomorrow and you get some help … you shouldn’t have to keep battling on :heart: xx

That’s happened to my right eyebrow and eyelashes too Jacqs! Weird eh?
How are people finding the weekly paclitcaxel as in SEs etc? Oncologist finally phoned and said I’d be having 6 weeks of it starting on 10th Dec. I just wondered how people were finding it x

We were told to wear nail varnish containing silicium on both hands and feet to protect the nails. We were told to continue for 6 months after treatment.

Hi Jacqs

Was all fine, have got a picc line in now so much easier and no stress with needles.

Came home and slept though as pre med drugs knocks me out.

I’m in single figures now which I am chuffed about only another 9 weeks to go.

Regarding the nail colours, my toe nails have gone black but finger nails are fine. Had my nails done yesterday as my sister owns a nail salon.

Had red Christmas ones, they are lush.

Since having t my eyelashes have gone and my eyebrows are patchy and thin.

Hope you are ok

Sending you big hugs to you and everyone.

Kath xxx

Thanks for all the comments re:nails I’ll be hunting down some silicium nail polish in the near future?? My BCN rang me today to let me know that my FISH result came back and I am HER2-…I have read that as the initial test was inconclusive I should maybe ask for a retest? Has anyone heard anything like this? ? I might contact my oncologist to ask advice…
Has anyone suffered from bloodshot, dry eyes? My Gp gave me ? drops but I’ve noticed they’re particularly bad today…Last FEC tomorrow ladies…here’s hoping the SE’s are kind to me ?

Little Pixie: I have found weekly Paclitaxel quite straightforward. My SEs usually only last a couple of days and have included tiredness, slightly loose bowels, slight tingling in the mouth on day one, dry eyes and skin, hairloss, problems sleeping (but that’s probably from the steroids), and just generally feeling off colour for a couple of days; also my neutrophils have crashed a couple of times, but that may have been the carbolplain and/or an accumulative effect. I’ve not had any nausea or vomiting, no serious aches or pains. It’s really quite manageable.

 

About the hair: I’ve now lost virtually all the hair on my head - just keeping a few bits off fluff to help keep my head warm; it’s cold being bald! Also lost all the hair on my legs and under my arms - nice SE that one!, eye lashes and brows have defintiively thinned as has my pubic hair (bit of an odd lokk that!). The only hair I’ve kep is on my forearms and I’m hoping that might still go :smileywink:

 

Hope everyone is having a reasonable week. I was up 3 hours last night, bloody steriods! Am feeling ok otherwise though, which makes a nice change.

 

Gx

 

 

Thanks so much for the Gaby. I am feeling quite apprehensive about having it weekly, so I hope I’ll manage better on that. So…we still to take the steroids?! I really hate them!
Good luck for tmoz Aley. Hoping the SEs aren’t bad for you and you sail through this last one X