Helpful Hint??

Hi I think you may be right about my unit not being very helpful I think it is because I am not from that town and also it could be a disadvantage that my daughter-in-laws Mum is their boss!!!!

I did have a manicure the week before my Taxotere (a Friday) and was so disappointed as the nail polish chipped before I even left town so went back and they just touched it up not any more overcoat anyway by the Monday I had to take it all off as it was chipped so badly that was with wearing gloves and not doing any housework or anything, I then put some on myself with a top coat on the Thursday and that is over a week ago and it is as good as ever!!! mind you not being a nail person I had it everywhere and so noticable being dark I never knew I was so bad at it but guess when I paint my nails usually I use a very light colour, it took a bit of work with a cotton bud and remover to clean around the nails but came out ok but am dreading doing it all again each week, guess I will get better at it.

The wash is Alpha Keri and you can get it in an oil but I thought the oil would be too hard to clean off the shower and be dangerously slippery, the wash is good.

You are also right that one day at a time is all you can manage at times and then as soon as you feel ok you start to look ahead a bit. It is so consuming it seems to really dominate your life and everyone around you, when talking to friends I try  to steer the conversation onto something else after the initial enquiries about how I am, this helps to have some other topic of conversation and gives me other topics to discuss with the next people I come into contact with.

We do need to spoil ourselves a bit as being women we tend to put everyone else first so it does seem to be a bit selfish but I am learning that it also helps my husband when I let him do things for me as it is so hard for them to have to stand by and watch and not be able to do anything.

If I can help in any way, don't hesitate to ask even though we are not having the same cocktail and our side effects will probably differ it doesn't matter.

Cheerio for now,

Jacqui xxxx

Yeah having the canula put in is worst especially if they don't get it in first time, which usually is the case and I do have good veins.

Poor you having to inject yourself I feel so sorry for you.

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Hi Jacqui,

Thanks for the quick response. You have been very helpful, as I feel the people really know what helps are those going through it. I've heard that Aveeno products are very good, but I have never heard of Alph Keri cream cleanser, so will be getting some of that when I'm at the chemist. Which seems to quite often these days.

By the sounds of things your oncologist nurses are not very forth coming with information and I'm not sure how you are suppose to know what to ask if you don't know. You can also get those freezer gloves for your head to reduce the risk of hair loss. Apparently they have been used in the UK for some time, but not used in Australia. However, you can purchase them and the nurses will put them on. I wish I knew that before I started my treatment, then again I don't think I could handle the cold for that long.

I have my second treatment on 4th July, not looking forward to it as i don't have a picc line or portacath. I had a portacath inserted when i had my partial mastectomy but then got a blood clot within two weeks and had to have it removed and now i'm injecting myself twice a day with Claxine (blood thinner). I have one more week of injections and can't wait until that is over because it makes my stomach turn every time I inject, which really isn't nice with the chemo effects. Not to mention my stomach is black and blue from all the time I didn't quite do it right. My veins are also bad, so will just wait and see how I go this time around and then my oncologist will decide if I need a picc line.

i was advised when i was diagnosed to take it one day at a time and you really do have to. I have also found I have become a lot calmer. Which is very surprising as I thought I would ge frustrated and angry, but I found you become quite accepting. i've also decided that I deserve to have manicures and get my nails done for me. So Jacqui, spoil yourself and splurge out on a manicure, you deserve it.

 

Good luck on the 8th.

Cheers

Julie

Hi Julie, the biotene you can get from the chemist and if you have a warehouse chemist it is cheaper again, I had FEC first and the dry mouth was bad enough unfortunately my unit did not tell me about biotene I only found out about it when I was going onto Taxotere (last 3 cycles) and got a little package of this product so purchased the full size it comes in a toothpaste, mouthwash,gel,spray and a gum and after the taxotere I use it all except the gum, the FEC gave you a metallic taste I find the taxotere gives you and awful taste all the time I am up to day 9 and still have not got my taste back.I found sucking ice also helped the dryness, and if my mouth did get sore I rinsed  bi carb soda as well as all the rest, they say you can use salt water but that made my mouth dryer....full time maintenence this body at the moment.

The nails, well my unit doesn't offer the frozen gloves, don't know why???I only heard about them on this site, in the package for Taxotere I got a bottle of manicure intensive nail hardener????FEC makes your nails thin and soft, taxotere is supposed to make them thick (I think) after one cycle my nails are tender even with the nail polish and hardener.

I am washing with Alph Keri cream cleanser (sounds like I should be cleaning the shower with it instead of myself) it is intensive moisturising then I have been using Aveeno 24 hr hand cream (I use it a couple of times a day)and it seems to help, I am also not a hand/nail person but have had to resort to gloves for washing up (painful) on the up side I can use hotter water and then the drying up is easier., and the nail polish stays on longer, I find it a pain painting my nails I am either too sick or too impatient to wait for it to dry as I need to do what I can when I can, I hope this helps you  and will be thinking of you...when is your next cycle due? mine is the 8th July and then only 1 more after that....still seems a long way to the end. Hang in there.

Cheerio for now,

Jacqui xxxx

I was given a Taxol pack by my breast care nurse when she gave me my chemo education session. In it was the biotene mouthwash and toothpaste a soft toothbrush a pair of cotton gloves to wear under the ice gloves a bottle of nail hardner and some sorbolene moisturiser. I am sure they are provided by the drug company so everyone receiving Taxol should get one. It's amazing how things differ around the country I am in SE Queensland and our oncology unit although small seems to be on the ball.

Sarah

I was given a Taxol pack by my breast care nurse when she gave me my chemo education session. In it was the biotene mouthwash and toothpaste a soft toothbrush a pair of cotton gloves to wear under the ice gloves a bottle of nail hardner and some sorbolene moisturiser. I am sure they are provided by the drug company so everyone receiving Taxol should get one. It's amazing how things differ around the country I am in SE Queensland and our oncology unit although small seems to be on the ball.

Sarah

Hi Jacqui

I also use Biotene products - they are great.  I use the toothpaste and mouth wash twice a day and have the gum and mouth spray on hand if I need it.  Although with all the water I am drinking I haven't had to use the gum or spray much.

I have had x2 FEC - 1 more and then I move on to taxotere.  I have also been told to use revitanail to harden my nails.  My onc nurse told me to keep using it in the months following treatment as your nails wont improve straight away and if I neglect them after treatment I may still have problems.

As I have always played sport I have never been much of a nail person either.  Last week a friend of mine who is a beauty therapist gave me a manicure.  My nails , short as they are, looked so nice.  So now I am trying to stay on top of things - I keep a nail file, my revitanail and hand cream on the side table in the living room so when I sit down to watch tv at night I give my hands and nails a bit of pampering.

I have also been having a daily tonic for hair, skin and nails by swisse.  Don't know if it is helping but I'm giving it a go.

I'm wondering what other dietary people find helpful????

Keep Smiling

Ann-Marie x

Hi Jacqui

I also use Biotene products - they are great.  I use the toothpaste and mouth wash twice a day and have the gum and mouth spray on hand if I need it.  Although with all the water I am drinking I haven't had to use the gum or spray much.

I have had x2 FEC - 1 more and then I move on to taxotere.  I have also been told to use revitanail to harden my nails.  My onc nurse told me to keep using it in the months following treatment as your nails wont improve straight away and if I neglect them after treatment I may still have problems.

As I have always played sport I have never been much of a nail person either.  Last week a friend of mine who is a beauty therapist gave me a manicure.  My nails , short as they are, looked so nice.  So now I am trying to stay on top of things - I keep a nail file, my revitanail and hand cream on the side table in the living room so when I sit down to watch tv at night I give my hands and nails a bit of pampering.

I have also been having a daily tonic for hair, skin and nails by swisse.  Don't know if it is helping but I'm giving it a go.

I'm wondering what other dietary people find helpful????

Keep Smiling

Ann-Marie x

Hi Maria, I was not told about the dark nail polish is that for the FEC or the TAxatore or both?

I am not big on nails usually as long as they are presentable and never use nail polish normally but I am a pathology collector and as you can imagine no one would like me to take their blood if I had crappy looking nails so have to be more aware than normal. The hardener that I have you put on fo 3 days then remove and start again for 14 days.

I also wasn't told about the biotene they must think that I am a mind reader, I am getting more and more disillusioned with my unit but of course can't afford to rock the boat.

Here's hoping they will be more forthcoming with information next visit.

Cheerio for now,

Jacqui

Hi Mandy you must have a good oncologist, why did they say to paint your nails black, nothing was said to me, I am thinking my unit may not be as helpful  it could be fthat I am not from that town!!!!

I am concerned about the nail part as I am a pathology collector and as you can imagine you wouldn't want someone taking your blood with crappy looking nails!!!! So any tips you have or get from your unit please let me know I would appreciate it very much.

I am going to work tomorrow and Tuesday morning.

Still have the metallic taste, queasy tummy but managable now.

Take Care,

Jacqui

 

Hi Jacqui

I got a sample pack of the Biotene at the Day oncology this time and have been using the gel at night - so much better than the dry horrors! 

My nails are so far ok - probably getting more attention than I ever ususally give them. I have painted them black for my Taxotere treatment on the advice of my oncologist too - with a smattering of Silver shatter for something fun. 

I am still gargling in salt water too and using the biotene at night.

All these little tips help don't they - thanks!

Amanda xx