Looking for a list of what I can and can't do

April0315

during chemo. At times I am a little high maintenance, I'm curious about manicures, pedicures, botox, facials, waxing, massages etc..... If someone can point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it. Or feel free to chime in.

MountainMia

I don't know much about all of those things. I've read that the big issue with manicure/pedicure is the chance of infection. At the very least, take your own sterilized tools. Have them be very conservative and not trim or abrade your cuticles and calluses.

moth

Your skin will be very fragile during chemo. You will not need to wax because all your hair will fall out. You would not want to wax anyway because the fragility of the epithelium would make damage more likely.
I would not do mani/pedi except at home because the risk of infection is way too high. Some of the chemo protocols are pretty rough on nails. I had discoloration, grooving, splitting, lifting off the nailbed and pretty much lost 2 toe nails. Since chemo damages all fast replicating cells , your skin, nails, hair & your entire GI tract (from mouth to anus) are affected. There are some people who used some nail products to try to keep nail damage limited but I didn't bother - mostly I didn't feel like doing any of it. I was pretty sick during chemo.

I did have massages during chemo but only from a Registered Massage Therapist (ie someone who is a licensed health professional, not one in a spa)

fwiw, my skin looked great during chemo. Within months after it started looking much worse. I suspect chemo damages the collagen layers beneath the skin. Add chemo induced menopause and the drop in estrogen and I think my skin has aged about 5 years over 6 months. But being alive is a gift so the hell with patriarchal and ageist societal expectations about beauty.

Flower216

April-my MO's nurses gave me a lot of helpful hints. But she stressed to stay away from harsh products/anything with perfumes. She said if you must get a mani//pedi -ask for disposable emery boards, etc. However, nails can get very wacky with chemo, and even loosen up. She suggested using OPI Nail Envy (looks like clear nail polish) and a cuticle oil. I don't know for sure if those products helped, but I had no issues with my nails. Good luck to you!

illimae

My Oncologist was against mani/pedi’s and taxanes are absolutely rough on nails. Personally, I wouldn’t even have my nails painted during chemo because you’re going to want to stay on top of nail changed and see what’s going on under there. Soaking nails in a 50/50 mix of vinegar & water a few times/week is a good way of reducing the risk of infection, especially when your nail begin to lift up.

You should receive instructions before your treatment which includes many different topics from self care, nutrition, sex, etc.

April0315

Thank you all so much. I haven't had any education around the chemo yet, I can't believe it didn't occur to me that I wouldn't need to wax... wow.. I have so much to learn.

My daughter is graduating this weekend, so we just got our nails done. I can take everything off before the first day of chemo to be safe. And from here on out it sounds like I'm the all natural no frills version of myself

Thanks again.

pingpong1953

On a positive note, I had rosacea for over 20 years, and about a month into my chemo it cleared up. It's been almost 2 years and it hasn't returned. Go figure.

Flower216

pingpong.. its funny-I was just thinking that I used to get one or two migraines a month. Since I began chemo in November, I haven't had any migraines. (knock on wood).  The chemo truly affects every part of your body.

LeesaD

April - re manicures and pedicures - what I did during chemo was I got a gel manicure and pedicure the day before each chemo treatment. My treatments were every three weeks and because my counts were good MO said I had no restrictions. By the time the day before each treatment rolled around I felt fine and looked forward to getting a manicure and pedicure. I had no issues with manicures/ pedicures. Best of Luck to you!

IAmACat

I am getting chemo (TCHP) for the first time in about a month, and I am going to front-load all beauty treatments that present a risk of infection: botox (I like it in my frown), mani-pedi, acne facial with blackhead extraction, what have you.

WC3

Personally I would avoid manicures/pedicures. Your nail beds/root are very susceptible to damage during chemotherapy.

WC3

pingpong:

I've heard that rosacea is actually caused by a reaction to skin mites that just about everyone has. I guess the chemotherapy killed them or wiped out the antibodies responsible for the reaction.

Txladybe

Hi...just wanted to chime in on your post. I will be 70 years old this year and am still a very "girly" girI. I love my nails, hair, make-up etc. One thing I have learned from chemo is that every person reacts differently to their meds and you have to do what works for you. I am getting TCHP for my breast cancer and Monday will be infusion #5 of 6. After the 3rd infusion my tumor had shrunk by half. Thank you God!! My nail girl has been coating my own nails with acrylic for 25 years and no one told me to stop during chemo so I haven't. My nails are growing very slowly but they are in great shape so I only go about every six weeks. I have not gotten a pedicure, just polish change. I am really grateful for my nails looking great...that is a part of my beauty routine I get to keep. I lost almost all of my hair and eyebrows before infusion #3. There is a little blonde tuft of hair on top of my head that looks like Snoopy's friend Woodstock. Lol. This stuff makes you sick so do whatever you can to feel normal. I have always had pretty skin and still do but the chemo dries you out so much that I moisturize several times a day. No facials because my skin is very thin. Yes I have been sick with Chemo, really sick some days and can barely get out of bed, but I am so thrilled to be fighting and winning this battle. For me, feeling as normal as possible helps tremendously. Do what makes you happy and comfortable and as healthy as possible. Sorry about rambling, you will find you might not be quite as sharp and focused as you once were. (Chemo Fog) I wish you all the best. Sending you love and hugs.