Mouth Sores

I got a really good session in with my dental hygienist before I started chemo.  I've only had the start of sores & got rid of them straight away (I've had my last session).

1. Buy as many soft toothbrushes as you're having cycles & change it every cycle.

2. Brush teeth gently and all round your gums, palette, inside of cheeks and tongue at least twice a day, preferably after each meal

3. Use tape floss, but very carefully to avoid damage to your gums that might cause infection

4. Use interstitial brushes, as large as will fit between your teeth - again very carefully.  I got 3 sizes

5. Use a mouthwash morning and night and after every meal - mine is Corsadyl, and I've also got Difflam if sores start.

6. Freeze pineapple juice to suck if you do have a problem and get a stock of soup in.

Feet and hands

There is a risk of developing palmar-plantar syndrome, which could stop your chemo.  I've got it and had to stop early, but I did follow the instructions to try to avoid it. I've taken additional precautions as well:

1. Avoid friction on your hand and feet - only take short walks, & wear comfortable shoes - no heels & don't use gardening tools or similar

2. If you start to get a burning sensation, reddening, callouses or skin peeling, tell your oncologist.  

3. Get a really good foot moisturizer - I got a lovely intensive one from Boots.  Use daily.  I also use Sally Hansen cuticle oil round my finger & toe nails, including trying to get it underneath the nails, which have peeled.  I also use Neutrogena hand gel several times a day (no rubbing - remember the friction problem

Nails

These aren't as bad with FEC as with taxols, but mine have ridged badly (and a bit discoloured).  I was recommended to OPI formaldahyde free (they do one with formaldahyde as well, so choose carefully) Nail Envy nail strengthener for sensitive and peeling nails.  Works a treat. I was told I can use nail polish remover (which you need to for the nail strengthener), but check if you're going on to Taxols, because I'm not sure if it's OK with that

Sickness & nausea

I was only sick once, on the first day of the first cycle, so this hasn't been a huge problem

1. Brew up a small piece of root ginger in some water & drink warm

2. Ginger biscuits and ginger cake help

3. Take a note of which tablets work best for you - we tried Emend on the second cycle, which made me feel worse (it does seem to work for most people, so try it if you need to.  I realised the Ondansetron worked best for me, so for the third cycle, we halved the steroids and doubled the Ondansetron - it worked.  I felt so much better right through the cycle.  Much less diarrhoea.  I also added Senakot and Magnesium Hydroxide for the first few days, when I get raging constipation.  Anusol is a life saver for the haemorroids.

Hair loss

Upsetting, but once it's finished shedding it's not too bad.  Make sure you've got a realy nice wig (people tell me mine is better than my hair was :} and lots of pretty hats & scarves.  I was recommended to get a sleep cap so that overnight shedding didn't end up all over the bed.  I found seeing the hair everywhere the worst bit.  I lost about 85%-90% of mine and have still got most of my eyebrows and a lot of my eyelashes.  My scalp got sore on day 12 and the hair departed on days 19-22.  I cut it to about an inch before chemo and down to stubble on day 13 to get used to it gradually.  The last cut helped with the soreness and I can't help wondering if that's why I didn't lose all of it - maybe the lighter weight decreased the risk of it dragging out, but there's no evidence I can find to support this.

Everything Else

Everything else could just be coped with.  I didn't feel great for the first week each time, but not really ill.  I slept a lot, but was more active than I expected to be.  There were a few hours each cycle when I had very painful wind, but it soon passed.  I couldn't get to sleep many nights until 3:30, but I just caught up in the morning or during the day/evening if I needed to.

My chemo nurse said I'd been particularly unlucky to have so many side effects, so this really is do-able.  Hope these thoughts help someone