Breast Cancer Now Forum

My sister had chemotherapy for hair loss at first, and we were very upset about that. We asked her doctor and she said this is normal, but because my sister was very young, I was upset with her and to make her happy, I took her to the best beauty salons to have her hair done. In one of the beauty salons in Calgary, where we went to introduce my friend at https://www.beautster.com/cat/haircut-style/womens-haircut/, he taught us the process of hair care and then we got acquainted with the cold cap and My sister's hair loss was much less and she was fine ... View more

Have you tried Color Street? www.colorstreet.com/BluDelNails I am an independent stylist if you have any questions. https://linktr.ee/BluDelNails ... View more

Hi Reddi,  lovely to hear from you. Seems you have been so busy but glad all faring well.  As Feenix said it's coming up to mammo time for a lot of us... Just trying to keep calm and carry on. Good luck with the job Kip ... View more

 I love my swimming too, but have waited quite a while to get back to it. I’m on Palbociclib and my neutrophils kept crashing so it was a definite no no from my Onco for swimming pools. The sea was ok, so long as I was sensible re contact infections, but of course there is the cold and chills to contend with. It has taken two years to get me stabilised but I have joined a good gym and now do aqua aerobics 2 x per week for my lymphodaema , as well as a couple exercise classes, and TaiChi. My skin survived rads ok, although I was burnt through to my back, and after 25 sessions I was quite fatigued. My team advised taking things slowly until the skin recovered as it is very thin, and the last thing you want, or need, is an infection through a scratch or cut. You should check with your Onco , and also your rads team to be safe. Hope you get swimming soon. Good luck with the rest of your treatment. X ... View more

Thanks Wee Burd, I’m pretty certain it is just scar tissue or lymphodema, so I’m not overly worried, but I will get it checked.   Thank you all xxx ... View more

Hi, my first post! I have had a knee op, expecting another knee replacement in few months. I have just finished radiotherapy after breast surgery , and have been given Letrozole. I have psoriatic arthritis, the stress of the cancer diagnosis bought on a massive flare of the arthritis, am in lot of pain. Like most others, I don’t want to take Letrozole in case in causes more joint pain. Just wondered how it affected your joints? rgds. ... View more

Morning Katflo & Other cold cappers  I’m cold capping and am 1 week after 2nd Fec, I’ve shed lots of hair but am told it doesn’t notice to others, however I’m very aware that my parting is a little wider & I have a small bald spot on the parting too.  I see you’ve used Toppik, Can this be used during chemotherapy? Thankyou xxx   ... View more

After lash extensions i desided to grow my own beautifull lashes, in this question castor oil helped me a lot. But when I need to look beautiful, the best is the lash lift. I use this set https://yumilashes.com.au/ ... View more

Hi @Beckett I still get pins and needles -- like you, more in my hands, with occasional pricks in my feet. Were you on docetaxel? It is a common-ish side effect, and one that can linger for quite some time (and in rare cases, stick around a long time, or never go away). My last chemo infusion was 16 November, so it's been sticking around for me, but getting weaker. Definitely mention it to your oncology team, as they may want to monitor it. ... View more

This is the first time I have posted on here and the title of this post is the reason as I am being driven to distraction by the most awful taste in my mouth!   I am having neo-adjuant chemotherapy (3 x FEC and 3 x T) and have got through 3 x FEC without too much problem.  I have had another mamogram and ultrasound and the lump is shrinking and nothing in my lymph nodes any more so all good so far.  However, I had my first Taxatore infusion (plus Herceptin injection) eight days ago.  I felt absolutely fine for days two and three, then was hit hard by fatiuge and bone pain (also injecting myself with G-CSF due to low blood cell count) and have felt pretty horrible since then, but a good bit better today.  The fatigue and pain I can cope wth as I know it will is only temporary but I have had the most awful taste in my mouth for over a week now.  Please can someout tell me if I will get my sense of taste back before my next session of T?      ... View more

Hi Yes I’m using the cold cap, was ok the first 2 times but struggled last week made me feel really sick. I’ve had 3 FEC now and whilst I’ve nit had to wear my wig yet I have lost a considerable amount of hair - all from underneath so just about getting away with it! Start the T part of my treatment on the 18/10 and dreading it! Think I need to stop reading about everyone’s side effects 🤨 ... View more

I've been on it for 2 years so far and will continue until 5.My insurance states that it wont pay out for anything cancer related until I'm 2 years post treatment and anastrozole is counted as treatment so I'm loathe to carry on for 10 as it means I have to stay cancer free for 10 years which seems to be asking a lot! ... View more

I couldn't agree with you more Chirpy! In that if you think about how many women *do* eat dairy (my mother and late grandmother, for example) and DO NOT develop BC-it cannot possibly be that dairy is such an important predisposing factor. Studies would have to demonstrate that dairy is an important contributing factor (for certain women)-with other predisposing factors, before we can really take this "opinion" as fact.   Sorry to hear you had such a stressful year prior to your diagnosis. I have no doubt that stress plays a part, and am sure it did for me too. xxx ... View more

Hiya, i just carried on with the gel nails I've always had and mine have hung on in there. On the advice of my onco I used much darker colours than I normally would in summer. He seemed to think that ladies that wore darker colours kept their nails better and thought it might be something to do with UV protection, although he did say he was only guessing. Worked for me though. xx ... View more

Hi Rosie, Thanks for that! Hardening seems to be a natural part of the process, I wish I’d got a leaflet or something explaining all of this! The oncologist I saw after the rads wasn’t very good and I think he mixed my notes with another patients by the way he was speaking! 😳 Never mind, thankfully this forum seems to answer most of my questions! Thank goodness for Breast Cancer Care!!! 😀 😀 😀 ... View more

Newbie. Getting third lot of FEC next week, followed by 3 lots of T doxewhatsit. With MRI scans In between to monitor progress. The whole "journey" has been surreal and baffling, but I can hopefully offer some crumbs of positivity regarding the chemo sessions so far. The worst bit has probably been down to effects on the bowels. Any bloating/ strange pains in the belly area - get some Senna stuff into you. It works. Nobody tells you why you get constipation or diarrhoea, but both can be dealt with. Drink lots of water. Go out for walks. Don't be tempted to linger in your bed. Just get out. Meanwhile, we are in the middle of a heatwave - all that stuff about taking your temperature all the time is not helpful. You will be feeling the heat. If the heat feels different from hot weather or menopausal stuff, consult your thermometer. But don't sit with a thermometer stuck in you constantly - if you make sure you avoid random infections, just be sensible. The illness is new to us, but it need not take over our lives. I don't want to become a victim to this bastard. We are almost encouraged to expect the process to be crap, but it need not be. We can do stuff to make us feel we are in some sense in charge. Onwards and upwards!  ... View more

Hi guys thanks for your response, I'm really not worried about losing my hair, I was doing it more for my daughter who seems hung up on that one aspect, she will be fine if I lose my hair, just like she was eventually fine with my scars and no boob! But I was more worried that by doing the cold cap I was limiting chemo from getting everywhere and killing all cancer cells. No I didn't have a scan. Will definitely ask at my next appointment before my next chemo. Thank you all ... View more

Hi Thistle, I'm so sorry that you've got a tough decision to make after everything you've already been through. I wish you all the best throughout your treatment and hope you get all the guidance and reassurance that you need to help you make the right decision for you. I start my treatment on Friday 13th - EC x 3 and T x 5 so I'm also interested to know how everyone has coped with a similar course of treatment. Also I've gotta have gcsf injections mid-cycle that I'm not looking forward to (major needle phobia) but I am determined to give it a go. Sam xx Sam xx ... View more

Lots of love to you all who have now finished xxxx my last one tomorrow and first thing Saturday we are packing the car and headed off to Cornwall to just have time to ourselves. Apart from the slight pinkness and a very itchy nip, nothing really to moan about. Gawd bless the NHS. 12 weeks to get me sorted. Good luck all xxx you are all amazing and beautiful. ... View more

FEC-T and Paxman cold cap here too. Didn't lose any hair, well not that I could notice. Lost everything else including lashes and brows, so it was definitely the cap that kept it there. Give it a go, if it doesn't work you'll be no worse off and if it does you'll be glad you did it.   Good luck on your journey xxxxx ... View more