hi im 36 mother of 3 n diagnosed dec 23. ive had 2 ops n 5 of 6 chemo n finding it very hard at mo. feel so peed off n cant get rid of that feeling. would love to chat. x
patricia thinking of you love hugs prayers xx sending u all positive vibes can think ofxxx
colly and lee know what u say about looks and wigs i have really nice wig but my head gets really itchy think i try that cap like u said dont know if i missed it colly but how did endoscopy go hope all ok .
Just wanted to say I'm thinking of you, Patricia. This is a worrying time. You've been through the mill, and now this big worry. Let us know how he gets on tomorrow - and you of course - it will be very difficult being there again - especially under these circumstances.
I also just wanted to chip in on the hair-lessness discussion! It is now about 4 months since my last chemo and my hair is fab. It is a charoal grey, slight curl, and incredibly thick and soft. I'm even tempted to keep it this way! Lots of people have commented - 'It takes years off you' etc. (Must have looked a right sight before!)
Seriously though, within a couple of months, I started feeling a lot less bald and almost chic!
Re eyebrows and eyelashes - they grew back really quickly, and once they were back, I felt much more human. I do remember my eyes feeling very gritty and watery - and that's just because the eyelashes weren't there doing their job as little windscreen wipers! I also found that I had a permanently runny nose from lack of nasal hair! But again, this grew back in really quick too. As for my legs - well they're like Kielder Forest again!
I hope this helps. All these things you're having to put up with are all temporary, and whilst they are awful at the time, at least you know that you WILL start feeling normal again a short time after the treatment stops.
Thanks lee you always say the right things, mwah. Nina appointment cancelled as oncologist said to try the tablets first and to be honest the pain is away now, so we're thinking it has just been chemo that's caused the lining to thin which in turn causes the terrible heartburn etc x
Shents thanks that's good news and normally my hair grows very quickly, it is coming through and is brown, yeah think youre right re eyelashes and nose hair, my leg hair is coming back just now, still nothing down below lol x
Patricia, stay strong, some time we find strength when we don't think we have any left. the fear of not knowing is often worse than the outcome. Once you know - you can start on the road to putting things right again. I wish you both well and lots of love and hugs.
Thanks ladies for your tips in regards to the wigs, I WILL be buying an undercap of somesort. I have thought about practicing with false eyelashes before mine fall out, but i also wear glasses and always have had 'dry' eyes. Contact lenses are the best for me as they seem to protect the eye - but not good with chemo i should imagine. However, I do think glasses will help prevent with wind grit and dust and hide those hairless eyes. If you go to Boots and look around the nail care/eyelash curler type counters, you will find a 24hr black or brown felt tip style eyeliner. Tiny dots along the eyelash line - leave to dry and then put on a normal pencil eyeliner in a slightly lighter colour, you'd be amazed at the result. Being very similar to a felt tip in design it is easy to use - you really won't need much practice and it washes off reasonably easily., but is waterproof. Stand a foot from the mirror and see how good it looks. If you're really brave - draw the lower eyelashes with tiny lines very short ones but plenty of them - ive seen this done and it looks great- im just not that steady with my hand and havent managed to achieve it - sstill a few weeks to practice i guess.
Lee, I was suprised to see how you felt without your wig, I think the picture you have is just gorgeous and i really do mean that. i don't look that good even with hair and eyelashes. Some of us are just blessed with those lovely features that look good no matter what. Your picture has inspired me to learn more about makeup and confidence - i want to look at least as half as good as you during my chemo and recovery.
shents, you have given me hope with eyelash growth, i thought maybe as they were the last to go they would three times as long to grow back. I have heard other ladies say how much better their hair is after chemo in terms of thickness and length - but only once the growth becomes established. it is nice to hear from someone who can verify that! Yes we can cover naked head with wigs and things, but how do you hide the eyes? Tony did you lose your hair and eyelashes too?
Caroline Colly Rose and Nina how are you all doing ? keep smiling, you have also been such an inspiriation to me.
the anticipation is almost as bad as real thing . we are all different but some things it seems are the same , the thing with the eyes mine r same its nightmare as try wear more make up to distract from bald head hey ho . fact chemo is rubbish but we have to do it so we have to cope as the girls say hopefully all sid eaffects r transient. i too have got stand by false eyelashesbut luckily still have them at present , funny how we all chat from different parts country xx great to speak to u all xxxx u are so special thanks xxx
its so great when you come on and share your words of wisdom, I dont know about anyone else but hearing from you always brings me such comfort and knowing how you are getting on and how well you are, just makes everything that much more bearable,
what a lovely thing to say, I guess with a bit...no change that...with a lot of make-up I guess I dont look too bad, for me its the night time when everything comes off I just feel so low, however Tuesday is coming and I just cant wait for it to be over then hopefully I will be able to inspire you guys with a full recovery.
Colly you said your hand was the same as mine is now, what happened when you went for your last chemo did they use a different vein ?
Hello all my lovely friends, I wonder if someone can tell me how the NHS wig thing works. I have a wig place attached mnt Vernon Hosp where i see the chemo nurse on the 3rd and have made an appointment to call in. The lady was lovely - i told her i had seen a wig almost identical to my own hair - only better - and she is going to try and source it. She did say in her email however, that i need a referal letter from who ever is treating me, although I do have the health exemption certificate. So who do I ask for a referral? The chemo nurse, the surgeon or the oncologist or can my breast care nurse do this for me? If I have to pay then so be it, but ideally I would like a change of wig too and paying for two wigs really will break the bank right now.
Also ladies- please if you have any unwanted wigs, remember the WIGBANK who offer a fantasitc service. i was thinking of starting a new thread dedicated purely to tips on coping and looking good from wigs to hair dye to false lashes and so on. So many of you have had such great ideas and tips - let's set up something we can all access in one space?
