I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer with lumpectomy in October but I'm having four treatments of cold cap chemo AC and was wondering whether the Nioxin shampoo was a good one to use while going through this? Also what's the best for Reflux? This is my first post, so thanks for reading. Cheers.
Hi @Samm, thanks for your info and yes my cold capping going really well and keeping most of my hair just thinning and shedding a little but only one more to go tomorrow!!!! Hip hip hooray. I've been using the Niioxin throughout but only wash once a week as seem to lose less hair after washing being only once a week. Radiation therapy after that and everyone raves about Moo Goo so getting deodorant and body cream tomorrow for that. Maybe try a haircut in a couple of weeks though still no hairdrying for awhile l imagine. I've just gained so much knowledge from everyone on BCNA forums etc and I'd like to say thank you and blessing to everyone on their journey. Everyone is so giving with knowledge and support. The World is a nicer place with all the love for each other even though we are or have had breast cancer. Xxx
Hi there. Nioxin was a great shampoo/conditioner for after chemo. I think my hair has grown back thicker than it was before & definitely curlier 😀 the cold cap got colder but was certainly bearable. Hope all went well.xx
@Lissie by the way I coloured with a natural dye 6 weeks after last chemo, then 4 weeks after that one without ammonia and PPD free then 4 weeks after that I was backto my normal color,
Wow! Thank you so much to everyone for all your advice that helps me so much. Have bought some Nexum over the counter till l see oncologist and that's definitely helping. I ordered the Nioxin on line and ended up with shampoo and conditioner 300ml each for $40 for the both so will give it a go. I'm waking up at all hrs so l had a two hr afternoon nap. My gosh. A bit of a change with no work at moment but pretty positive about my outcome and just going with what my body tells me. So thanks again to everyone and great health to you all. Cheers Lissie x
Absolutely its worth it. Make sure you shove that thing down in the middle every so often to keep good contact with your scalp. Yes, don't freak out when it starts to shed. It keeps it's normal shedding routine plus a bit more. I would say I lost about 2o% over the entire time but it was all even so the only person to notice was me.
I was very naughty and the thought of only washing my hair once a week in 35 degree QLD heat was less than appealing. I washed it every day (sometimes twice if I had been working outside) from mid length down (can't fall out from the middle right?) and did a two second flick of conditioner under running water so it washed straight off over my head. Up to you if you want to take the risk with that.
As far as other symptoms go I was ok with the first three, a bit queezy and light headed every now and then but the worst part was the super sonic hot flushes and chemo mouth. Nothing that really stopped me from doing anything though The fourth round was a lot harder for me and took about 10 days or so to get back to ok. I went on to paclitaxel then which was sooooooo much easier.
The below photo I have just taken. I thought it might give an idea of the actual amount that shed. So this is 18months post chemo. I actually didn't realise how much had gone until it started to grow back at lightning speed.
@Lissie I second what @"Kiwi Angel" said nexium daily I started with the over the counter stuff and went up to a 40mgm script. I had reflux all day long without it. I also just used my normal shampoo and conditioner but of thinning but grew back super quick
@Lissie - welcome to the forum. My oncologist prescribed Nexium for me and I took it from the second round on chemo onwards till about a month after I finished. Never had reflux before but it was terrible during treatment. I just used normal shampoo and conditioner and although my hair thinned lots it grew back so fast!
Hi @Lissie I just used QV simple shampoo and conditioner. And I did what the Paxman people suggested re washing only a couple of times a week though @kezmusc has some very helpful hints with that! Also don’t stress when it sheds... I nearly had heart failure but @kezmusc calmed me down and all was fine.
Hi Kezmusc, Thank you so much for your advice it's much appreciated. I've only had my first cold cap on Tuesday but l think it's definitely worth it. I will keep in touch and let you know what happens. Is there any other symptoms that you had besides some reflux? Thanks again especially being new to all of this experience. Cheers, Lissie😀
Hi @Lissie e, Welcome to the forum. Always great advice and a warm and welcoming place to be. Ask anything and help and support will always be available.
I had a great run with the cold cap. I used the ecostore conditioner under the cold cap and Viviscal thickening shampoo and conditioner for hair washing. Plus it's a hell of a lot cheaper than the Nioxin or the Paxman one.
They gave me Somac for reflux as well. I didn't have a great deal of problem with reflux but seemed to work well on the odd occasion I did.
