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Friend with fatigue and very dry skin

claire_d
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hi everyone... I'm hoping some of you might be able to help. One of my friends has been having lots of chemo and as a result is incredibly tired and I fear becoming depressed. She also mentioned that she has really dry skin. I've been helping around the house and visiting as often as I can. I was wondering in particular if anyone can recommend any creams or a way to combat the skin issue. Thanks in advanced!   

 

 

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    Hi

    When a close friend of mine was having virtually continuous chemo she also suffered with both the fatigue and very dry skin.  The former side effect she dealt with by napping whenever she had the chance and family and friends helping out when she allowed us to do so.  Sometimes we just got crafty!!  As to the dry skin if she has mentioned this to her medical team they may prescribe a cream but my friend really enjoyed using body butters and gentle massage.  Her husband learnt the right technique through our local hospice services and said it was wonderful to  be able to provide something good to look forward to during her treatments.  Hope others will be along to offer their ideas too.  Jules54

  • Offline in reply to jules54

    HI Jules! Thanks for you reply. Yes, I think it's a very common side effect of chemo. I just wish there was more I could do. Napping does seem like the best natural solution. Thanks for the suggestions - I will definitely get in contact with her medical team and see if they can recommend anything specific.  I've also been doing some research myself and I found this website called Live Better With that has an amazing selection of products that is just for cancer patients. They had a skin care section and I find one called lyonsleaf body butter is that the one you used? 

    Would also love to hear others if they have any ideas too - product or anything else! Much appreciated.

  • Offline in reply to claire_d

    Hi again,

    The body butters my friend favoured were from Body Shop and I am not aware that she shopped specifically for anything aimed at cancer patients. She had a fantastic outlook on life and said shopping for 'normal stuff' meant she felt like anybody else.  The best person to ask as to what she would like is probably your friend as she I am sure she has likes and dislikes like the rest of us.  Just a thought but on good days my mate loved just going out  for tea and cake and a good gossip or having her nails done.  In fact anything that took her mind of her illness to be honest.  All the best. Jules

  • Offline in reply to jules54

    Thanks Jules, yes i agree the more 'normal' you can make it the better! Thanks for the advice. Claire

     

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    My husband struggles with dry itchy skin as result of taking afatinib and doctors give him tubs of acqeous cream and it works wonders.   I initially bought loads of expensive creams but this is the best in our experience.  It can be bought over the counter from any chemist as well - and is cheap !!   My husband uses it in the shower as well as a moisturiser.  

    Hope this helps and good luck

    xx

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    Hi my best friend Allison suffered with both these side effects after chemo, we had are own little routine going, after our children had gone to school I would go to her house and do a little house work. She would wake usually an hour later... I always said she did it on purpose do get out of doing the dishes...she would really laugh.. If she was having a good day she loved having her feet massaged or a head massage.  Our local hospice used to arrange it. She always said she felt like walking on air having her feet done and so relaxed having her head massage. I can remember  Alison saying  she now understood the true meaning of fatigue, it was a tiredness she couldn't explain. She found that by going back to bed at 2pm she would sleep till around 5pm and then she felt able to spend some time with her boys.  I would go back round 8pm ready for bedtime routine.  My husband was fully supportive of my wish to help Alison stay at home and would look after our children whilst I helped my friend.  She also found that aqueous cream from the chemist was very soothing for dry itchy skin.  If your friend is feeling low, which is totally understandable see if any of these things are available.  The one thing that helped both of us was to remember we were  best friends first...cancer second..we cried about it we got angry and when we could we would laugh.  It probably sounds weird to say we laughed, she was terminal.. We didn't laugh that she had cancer obviously, we laughed as you do when you meet up with your close girl friends and tell each other funny stories. I suppose we maintained whenever it was possible our "normal  relationship "  My lovely funny friend passed 7 years ago from breast cancer that spread to her brain.  

    Sending you both huge hugs xxx

  • Offline in reply to TigerLilyTinker

    Hi tiger, thanks so much for sharing. I will have a look for the cream. Sometimes it is the cheaper stuff that works! Claire X

  • Offline in reply to Kate91167

    Kate you sound like a wonderful friend. I was touched to hear your story. I loved this bit 'we were best friends first... cancer second'... Sometimes it's hard to remember that. So sorry to hear your friend passed but it sounds like she lived life to the fullest. I'll also look for the aqeous cream its been mentioned by a few people now it must be good! Claire

  • Offline in reply to claire_d

    Hi claire

    im glad my post helps in some small way,  I love to talk about Allison. I can honestly say that when I think of her, I do so with very fond memories, not of the bad times...but the funny things we did when she was ill.  I'll treasure our friendship for ever.  xx

     

     

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