I was diagnosed three weeks ago with two lumps in my right breast and had a lumpectomy last week. I was told this would be followed by just radiation but as it turns out I now have to have chemo too.My sentinel node biopsy revealed that unfortunately my cancer is very fast growing as it is at grade three despite being in the early stages. We know that I've had it for 12 months or less as last year (2016) I started being screened 12 monthly and I was cancer-free at that screen. I started having the yearly screens because both my Mum and younger sister are breast cancer survivors. Since my diagnosis I accepted that I had to have surgery and radiation but I've been blown away that I now need chemo as my doctor felt pre surgery that this wouldn't be necessary. I'm just wondering if anyone has any helpful tips from their own experience with chemo to pass on? Am especially wondering how crucial it is to get any dental work attended to as that is what most of the chemo tip articles online say?

I think some of the major concerns about dental work relate not so much to the chemo but to some of the drugs that may be used to prevent osteoporosis if you end up having hormone treatment. I wouldn't want to be having dental surgery in the middle of it just the same.Ask your oncologist; stick that question on your list so you know for certain what you do, or don't, need to worry about.It comes as a shock when you think you are heading down be track and you end up getting pushed down another. It would be helpful if surgeons could refrain from giving advice about oncology, oncologists wouldn't speculate about plastic surgery and people didn't tell you stories about friends of friends who have exactly the same disease as you and had different treatment. Tune up your bullshit metre, you may need it.My best advice is try to keep informed but don't drive yourself mental, figure it if you trust your team, and if you do, let them do their jobs. If you don't, change them. Keep a diary and most of all, be kind to yourself if you can. Take any opportunity to rest. One step at a time. Marg xx

Re dental work - I have just had major dental in prep for hormone therapy. As I am post menopausal and er+ I am to take aromatase inhibitors in my case Letrozole. I am osteoporotic - these drugs thin bones further so need in addition a bone building medication in my case Prolia injections 6 monthly. Prolia and other bone builders risk osteonecrosis of the jaw if major dental work is done hence why I had this work done prior to starting hormone therapy which in my case requires bone building medication as well . I understand women who are premenopausal and er+ are to take tamoxifen which does not have bone implications hence no bone building drugs are necessary and major dental work is not an issue. I have no knowledge about chemo and major dental work however . Major dental work for me meant extractions and implants not minor stuff like fillings.

Thanks for your comments. I appreciate them. My concern about the dental work is that I've been holding off on getting a couple of crowns done. I will check in with my oncologist about it once I meet with her hopefully some time this week. Such a lot to consider!

To my understanding the issue with chemo and dental work is the risk of infection as your immunity will be compromised.If the crowns are urgent or leave you at risk of infection, you should probably have them done first but if not, and they are not going to cause you problems for a few months while you are having chemo, it is probably not so important.The chemo I was having, FEC and Docetaxol, affected my gums, making them rough, tender and in the case of FEC, receded around the teeth while I was on it.You just don't want to be going in for major dental work while having chemo if you can avoid it.There are a lot of articles on here regarding tips with chemo if you have a look, I found that reading through them gave me lots of good advice so I put together a coping kit with medications to deal with the side effects.While you are having chemo, you can also come on with questions if you are struggling to deal with something.Give your Oncologist and your chemo nurses LOTS of feedback about what side effects you are experiencing, you can ring them for advice at all hours, I had an email address for the Pharmasist at the hospital (Gosford Private) to ask questions and had a foolscap list of side effects I ran through with the Onco every review.Get a thermometer, and monitor your temperature regularly.If you start before chemo you will know what your regular temp is usually. Mine is always below the "usual" 37 degrees, so if it started to climb towards 37 I was wary and started to monitor.I ended up in hospital with two of the Docetaxol doses because of high temperatures. If you catch them early it is a shorter stay!Chemo is horrid, but doable and once you know how your body reacts you can manage the side effects better.Good luck, Jennie

Re dental work, agree with the advice given especially not doing work if you can do it before or after however worth noting that I had no dental problems while on chemo and my dentist said he would not have known if not duly advised before I started chemo. I had A/C and Taxol. No mouth ulcers either. I did swish and spit religiously twice a day - my oncology nurse said 4 times is great but people find it onerous or forget, always doing twice every day was just as good. I'm on Femara which is not good for bone density but the only problem (a deep seated crack) undoubtedly started before I went on Femara, although discovered later. No bone issues with an implant to resolve the problem, just a bit of bleeding but that's because I am on blood thinners!

Chemotherapy tips | BCNA Online Network

23 Replies

Aussiegirl19
Member
9 years ago
Thanks LucyE for those tips. I've been using a soft kid's toothbrush and Sensodyne toothpaste since starting the chemo. I found everything tasted yuk (really bitter) from days 7 to 11 and thankfully since then it's been OK and I've been able to enjoy my favourite foods again. I also feel much less nervous about the upcoming chemo round than I did last time which is good.
Anonymous
Not applicable
9 years ago
All the best with chemo @Aussiegirl19. I went to the dentist before chemo, also saw a dietician but that wasn't as useful. My dentist recommended a sensitive toothpaste during chemo. I also avoided hot drinks an hour before and after chemo to avoid ulcers. I took iced water with ice cubes in it and a slice of lemons. Prunes were good on and off during this time. I also avoided chilli, onions and garlic but I just didn't feel like them and was unable to taste things towards the end of treatment.
Aussiegirl19
Member
9 years ago
Just an update. I had my first chemo treatment three weeks ago and am scheduled to do round 2 this coming Monday. I ended up not doing the cold cap. This week I started losing my hair and today my hairdresser shaved off the rest so I just have the stubble remaining until it too finally falls out.
Kat09
Member
9 years ago
Hi @Aussiegirl19 , it's all a bit daunting what lies ahead but as you are finding out this forum is a great support. As @melclarity mentioned I did give the cold caps a try and was told by my Oncologist it was a 50/50 shot I'd keep my hair, I didn't but I had AC Chemo 1st. When I did the 2nd round of Chemo, Taxol ,several ladies did the cold caps with that treatment and most had decent but varying results of keeping their hair. It does add alot of time to your treatment 30 mins before and an hour afterwards and you do have limitations on styling, washing, colouring etc but there's not one of the girls that kept their hair that wasn't happy or wished they hadn't done it. I didn't find them painful as some do, warm blankets are a must and they do offer you a light sedative if you want. In the scheme of things my hair became not so important as the stress of worrying about how much i was going to loose the next time I washed it or lightly combed it wasn't worth the hassle to me. My hair started growing back on Taxol and almost 8 weeks after chemo has finished I have a decent covering coming through, still wear a hat outside as it's just too cold! Good luck with your treatment
Kat x
Zoffiel
Member
9 years ago
Not all hospitals offer cold caps and the results seem to be very mixed. There are some success stories, but there are also many women who have been really disappointed. I suggest you start a new conversation about them which may get you more responses (always a good idea if you want information about a specific topic)
I've had two lots of chemo, ten years apart. Even if my hospital had offered the caps this time I would have had to think hard about participating. It's just one more bloody thing which takes extra time and effort.
Being bald isn't as bad as most people expect. Yes, it's not always pleasant but it is sort of liberating and it passes. Being bald in winter is much preferable to summer--at least you can wear a wig or scarf without ending up a sweaty mess. I enjoyed wigs from a fashion perspective--it was fun to completely change my look--but in summer? Nup.
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
@Aussiegirl19 cold caps come up alot, there's quite a few ladies that have tried them on here, only a few successful. My Oncologist said it was an option however he did say mostly it's not successful, I have friends who did it and thinned so much on top that they had to wear headwear and were furious as they said they may as well not tried it. Everyone is different. I'm pretty sure @kat09 tried it?? xx M
Aussiegirl19
Member
9 years ago
Thanks again to everyone who's taken the time to respond to me. It means a lot at the moment. I'm not worried about making it through this as I've got great examples right in front of me (my mum has had two bouts of breast cancer 16 years apart and is still going strong) but neither she or my sister needed chemo and it's all the day to day stuff that I'm unsure of and nothing beats advice from people who been there. I will be taking note of all your great advice especially about the dental hygiene as I'm a bit prone to mouth ulcers anyway. One other question: has anyone used cold caps? They've popped up in my research in the last couple of days so I'm curious about their effectiveness and how people have found them?
poodlejules
Member
9 years ago
@socoda. First heard it from marnie clark breast health coach, she has a very helpful website and great tips.
socoda
Member
9 years ago
@poddlejules, I love your term Thrivers!!!! Awesome. Xx
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
I rinsed with salt water twice a day, I did get ulcers but werent super bad, if they are, the best thing you could use is KENNALOG, its a cortisone paste and you use it at night as you can't speak LOL. Beats anything that they can give you, even gels or mouthwash, not necessary. Dental wasn't an issue at all, a quick checkup would be fine, I had one also after chemo to make sure and been absolutely fine no problems at all.

Coloxyl tablets for Constipation, make sure you hydrate the day before chemo too, another tip if youre having canulas, keep your arms and hands warm in the morning before you go in, helps with your veins.

Melinda xo