Fear of the unknown was the most difficult part of my chemo journey. I found out at the age of 36 I had breast cancer and was swept into a whirlwind of treatments. The mental image that flashed when I was told I needed chemo was me withering away to nothingness after my first shot of chemo. I had no idea what to expect and my only education on this treatment was what I had seen in the movies my terror was intense.
The good news is chemo didn’t erase me from the world, yes I was tired and yes I lost my hair but over 2 years on, I’m here, I’m healthy and I’m back to me. Here is my list of how to ride the chemo wave:
Before you read these please note these are things i did hopefully some of them work for you too.
- Dental Health – prior to starting your treatment you need to book yourself an appointment with your Dentist & Hygienist – get your teeth cleaned and make sure you have any treatments done before Chemo commences.
- Buy a soft bristle toothbrush – you will need to go easy on those gums
- Review your skincare regieme and switch to natural skin care products, suitable for sensitive skin – #Ren #Seavite #DrHauske #Soudashi
- Get your head shaved & pick a fabulous wig – do it before you start Chemo or after the first one – you don’t want clumps of hair falling out and traumatising you. Pick someone and somewhere good to get it done. I highly recommend Jim Hatton based in Rathgar.
- Get lots of Lip Balm, your lips will feel so dry during Chemo so keep well topped up
- Tea Tree Oil – i used this constantly to combat the risk of picking up infections i dabbed a drop inside each nostril daily, i also kept a tissue with it at all times in case i came in contact with someone with a cold and i could hold it over my mouth
- Go green – eat lots of cabbage / spinach / kale they are so beneficial to you when going through Chemo
- WATER WATER everywhere – drink at least 2 litres a day – flavour it with Lemon if you don’t like it on its own but its defo one of my most important MUST DO’s
- Get your daily dose of Fibre – you do not want to become constipated during Chemo – soaking some linseeds in water and add to your morning porridge works very well
- Meditate daily – i did some relaxation / healing meditations, they were simple ones i found on YouTube. I can share ones that i used if any of you want me to. I found that they quietened my mind and really relaxed me.
- Accept that you are going to have fearful / dippy days, blame the medication and watch a funny movie the feelings will pass.
- Do not skip rinsing your mouth out with A) prescribed Mycostatin & B) Salt and Water this will minimise you getting mouth ulcers/blisters – be very strict on yourself with this, you don’t want a sore mouth
- Invest in some Clarins Instant Light Complexion Enhancer i used 02 Champagne – it brightens up your skin without you having the feeling of being caked in make up – although i also caked myself in make up lol FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT !x
- Pencil in thinning eyebrows – you want to keep that face framed.
- I only lost my eyelashes after chemo finished and i can’t apply false eyelashes so i just smudged lots of Black Eyeliner around my eyes and it made the lack of lash less noticable, i did get strip lashes applied if i was going on a night out.
- Get some hats, i had a lovely cool cotton G-Star hat which was very comfy on my head and not too warm
- Coconut oil for everything – you can swish it around your mouth to keep it clean and bacteria free, rub it on your scalp when you are loosing your hair as this can become very sore and use it as a body moisturiser – buy a good quality organic one it should only set you back €10 – €15
- Meet up with friends for coffee and chats – this will help you feel like you and forget BC for a while
- Accept help when offered – don’t try to be a martyr – let family cook your dinner, mind your kids or clean your house – there is plenty of time for you return the favour when you are better – thats what family & friends are for, we are all here to pick each other up when we fall down.
- Remove as much stress from your life as possible – if it stress you it goes !!! I found housework very stressful so i got a cleaner and it was the best money i ever spent – little things count and when you fighting for your health you don’t need anything taking your focus off you so be selfish and limit yourself to pressure and stress
- Step away from the Keyboard – Do not google anything you will fill your head with worst case scenarios
- And on the really hard days focus on what you will be doing in a year from now !
#breastcancer #fight #hope #toptips #survive #positivity #happiness #chemo
Hospitals differ, but I was able to bring a friend during chemo sessions. So my workmates did a rota and a different one came to each session. We had tea and biscuits and a good catch up each morning. It felt like I’d been out to lunch instead if stuck in a hospital.
Also shaving your head is a very personal thing. My hair came out gradually and I cut it into a bob and wore hats for all my chemo sessions. Much more comfy than wigs. I only lost it all after the 12 week sessions.
Its great when you have a good support network and company during chemo sessions makes it more bareable