Hair, skin and weird body changes after chemo and rads.
Comments
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I'm hoping we can start a section on changes to hair, I just read that eyelashes can fall out up to three times depending on cycles. I didn't know that and was so glad to read about it. Also my skin is like an alligators even after slathering continually with oils and creams. And i have eye tearing that just won't stop. My feet feel like sand paper and if I put on a pair of pantyhose they would be full of holes even though I'm faithful to my Dr. Scholls foot board. Anyone else have weird things happen can you write it on here. Oh yeah I'm wondering when my hair grows back will it be itchy, when it fell out it hurt and I was so happy to have my son shave it. Okay now I have to blow my nose. I'm up to twelve boxes of tissue because of the tearing. So if you have or had wierd nail, hair, and skin stuff please add it, I hate surprises and it would help to what to expect. And yes we are all different but thats the point, it will be nice to know what to expect. And what annoyed you the most. Me it's trying to vaccuum with and I can't reach a tissue, not a pretty picture. Oh yeah and my boob is still blue from the dye in July.
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Oh yeah I had major tongue and mouth problems no matter how well I took care of my mouth. One Dr. prescribed Nystatin and it didn't really help and I ended up hating the taste. Then I ended up meeting a new Doctor at my cancer clincic he was great and explained alot of things to me that no one else did. Like why and when I shouldn't mess with a fever. He told me that 7 to 12 days after chemo the white count takes the worst hit I didn't know that and had had a temp of 99.8 and since it wasn't 100 I didn't go in well if it had been explained better I would have. But anyway he prescribed Fluconazole 100mg. one a day for 10 days And it worked. I could feel my mouth wanting to start that awful feeling on the gums that makes you brush and brush (gently). But waht a relief it worked I took the last pill yesterday so I hope I'm out of the mouth danger zone. And I finally looked in the mirror and are my eyes a mess red and puffy, as it PMS struck like lightning it's the eye tearing and between that and the face dryness man I look rough. I hope I can look better by Friday when my son and his fiance show up I love them both so much but they haven't seen me without hair, or the wieght gain. The Doctor told me it was the steroids I just hope it goes away and I have a waist again some day, actually I just want to fit inot a pair of pant that look good. The joys of vanity. But in all seriousness I really hope the women on this site will write down the weird things that happen with chemo and rads. My next challenge rads. One women I met at my cancer clinic said she was so fed up with skin shedding she wore the same shirt for six weeks, I don't think I could do that but I didn't even know skin shedding could happen and I'm afraid the dye left in my breast is going to cause problems with the radiation, probably a dumb worry but a worry nontheless. Pearl
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Pearl,
Hi! Here are the things that have happened to me so far being on chemo. I have had the skin problems and have given up as far as being dry and irritated. I use Eucerin on my body and now I am using this new facial wash and serum don't know the name of it but it is an olive oil base. I have also had the eye tearing as well as the nose blowing. It seems like the eye tearing always starts the wk after chemo and I am constantly blowing my nose. I have not lost all of my hair and still am hanging on to some eyelashes and eyebrows. I don't think I will have them much longer being I am going for my 2nd tx of Taxol this Friday. My mouth I have had one problem with the tongue turning brown but other than that just the wk following chemo certain foods will burn my mouth but don't really see any mouth sores. My nail beds now are turning a bright purple have not lost them or have had them turn brown yet so..... There are lots of things that can happen when you are going through chemo, like the chemo is not bad enough.
Good luck to you
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OK, so I go in for a bilateral with reconstruction on Dec. 6th. I am thinking I'll start chemo in January. This sounds unpleasant.
Steroids? For what? No one told me anything about steroids. I go in to see my oncologist on Wed,so maybe I'll find out then.
I'm glad to know this is here, so when I start chemo, I can check in with you all.
Kimberly -
Kimberly,
They use steroids as a premed with your chemo they say it helps with nausea.
More than likely they will not start your chemo until you are 4-6 wks post-op they need to be sure everything is okay so you can start. I know my Surgeon had to release me before oncologist would start.
What kind of reconstruction are you having? I had the tissue expanders and also a bilateral mastectomy as well.
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Hi jdg1,
IDC, three tumors two in the breast one in the lymph. ERPR+ HER- Don't know stage or grade or anything...assuming I'll know after surgery and both breasts have been examined for pathology.
I will have a bilateral mastectomy with skin preserving reconstruction-although I'm concerned about a rash I've had since right after annual mammo in late Aug. I've also got a hard mass under the skin that hasn't been biopsied and doesn't seem to have caused concern. I have implants currently, so won't need tissue expanders. I'm also having lymphs removed and later down the road ovaries.
Are steroids optional if it is preventative? I'd rather use the least amount of drugs as possible. I've not taken an aspirin or a cold rememdy in years, and the thought of all these chemicals is just aweful. -
OT - sorry, small tangent - Ilovewolf, Kimberly - I too didn't want the steroids. But, I ended being extremely grateful for them. With taxol, they prevent the allergic reaction to the cremaphor (rads brain here, I think that's what it's called, the substance that the taxol comes in). Also, the steroids gave me a much-needed day or two of feeling semi-ok.....
but then the steroid crash was n.o.t. fun.
ok,OT finished sorry.
My skin thing - right now, burns and blisters from rads. However, there's this amazing bandage called 2nd skin. Thank goodness.
Good luck all! Not everyone gets all the side effects.
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Pearl49, I sympathize with you about your frustration and not having all se's explained to you before treatment. It's true that there doesn't seem to be anyplace that outlines everything possible or probable. There are many thread that have appeared on these boards but as soon as no one is posting to them for a while, the threads drop out of sight and then there is another whole list of questions popping up. It does seem a shame that there is no "permanent" list of se's to refer to when starting chemo or rads.
That said, I had the weepy eyes/runny nose thing starting with my third DD A/C, lasting for about a month or so after finishing my fourth A/C. But, even now, six months after finishing, my nose starts to run as soon as I start exerting myself. I'm sure it didn't do that prior to chemo.
Now you know about losing the eyebrows and lashes. Also watch for swollen ankles from some chemos. That can be fairly harmless or could signal adverse effects. No one told me about it.
Also, you may have your nails turn brown and fall off.
Tina
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1lovewolf,
You could ask not to get the steroids but I think you might not do okay with the drugs. I know while I was on the AC they did decrease my amt. of steroids because it was too much with taking Amend as well. But with the Taxol no they didn't want to decrease the amt. at all. I know with the chemo they steroids help with inflammation as well. I am one that does not like to take drugs as well but I figure it is what is needed at this time and luckily I really did not get sick at all. Just like AmyaM said it does prevent allergic reactions while getting Taxol. You should talk to your Oncologist and let him know how you are feeling about the steroids.
Good luck and hope all goes well
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Wow everyone this is great I'm so glad that you wonderful women are writing down the weird things and the questions about steriods, runny noses, brown fingernails and anything else. There are so many wise women on this site that will have calming answers to our queries about the weirdies.
Hi Ilovewolf, I was surprised too when they gave me steroids, but they really helped. I also had an onco who recommended and prescribed steriods for me so I wouldn't crash sort like weaning and it made a difference I didn't crash hard, very tired but not a boom. So the steroids sound worse than what they are. And they're usually a day before and few days after chemo. And the do help.
Amy thank you for the second skin idea it gives me more hope that I will heal from the radiation better. I think and hope that this little section will really be a help to everyone and I am going to read it everyday. Right now I have the eye tearing but my skin is so dry it's unbearable and chapping my lips. Have to go washer wonky.
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Went to visit my radiologist today, Dr. Lock. Hadn't seen him since before chemo and he was surprised at how different I looked. He said I looked gaunt and I said "I've gained a ton of weight with chemo, I can't believe you think I look gaunt". We talked about Second Skin in Canada and he warned me to talk to the pharmacist about it before hand to order it, he also said it's finally available here in Canada, yeah, we get everything last except snow. We talked about the radiation study I'm hoping to get into it's for rapid radiation twice a day for 5 days. I'd rather do that than 33 and 8 boosts. Anyone out there here of rapid radiation? Dr. L also said alot of woman like aloe vera gel and told me not to take any antioxidants when I have radiation, so no vitamin e or my acidophilus when I start rads. I hope I get in the study my only worry is my breasts may not be large enough they can't be to big or to small so hopefully I am just the right size when I see the women i charge of the study on the 27th. Well thats all for now have a good night everyone. Pearl
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Hello everyone: My eyes are still tearing like crazy, when wil it stop. I'm going for my tatoo tomorrow and my stomach all of a sudden looks like I'm t months pregnant and when I take off my socks I can really see the fluid retention wonder when it will stop. My last chemo was two weeks and three days ago. Docetaxil. And out there with ideas. I can't take fluid pills so have to fiquire out something else. also I can eat one cracker and feel full for the whole day anyone else?
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I too am with the tearing eyes two weeks after the 3rd round. This week is my 4th/final - will they stop? Anyone know when the numbness will cease as well? It's heck on the trying to walk - get so far and then viola it becomes worse and hurts like all get out.
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I have major pain in my left shin and ankle that just will not go away, and I also get hand numbness but it comes and goes. I don't know when the tearing will stop, I hate it. Its been almost three weeks since my last shot of Docetaxel and since last night every now and then it stops a bit but then starts up again. I've been using the baby wipes that have shae butter in it, it helps get rid of the burning. Shannon I've gone through 22 boxes of tissues and counting. Oh yeah another thing I've been doing is the nedi pot to clean out the sinuses and it does help for about a half an hour. And outside I wear sunglasses always. Good luck and let me know if you have any tricks to deal with it. Pearl
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You sound as if your in the same pattern as I was. I'm finished my dox now but it's almost three weeks and tearing is still happening and my skin feel awful like an alligator no matter what I put on it. My lips were getting chapped but I really think that was because I forgot to drink enough water. I was rubbing baby oil on my face like a mad women. And my thumbs are still really purple, almost brown now so I'm hoping that means they are clearing up. These little things along with feeling like crap sure do add up I just keep waiting for it to get better, every morning I wake up hoping something is different and you know what it will be. I just have to patient (not my best quality) add the chemo brain and wow I'm alot of fun to be with. My sister Susan had me in stitches one day, she comes and stays with me for about 5 days for each chemo and one day she bought a scrabble board and wanted to play scrabble. I laughed so hard I had tears running down my face, just the other day at my birthday party I offered someone a band aid (it was a plate of chips) yup chemo brain and I'm going to play my mensa sister scrabble. Had to get my laughs in.
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I keep adding to this little section because I'm hoping to keep it active on the board. Almost three weeks from my last Dox and my leg pain seems to be getting worse. Last night went out for a wonderful meal with my sons and future daughter in law (a doll) and we were at the restaurant for two hours when I got up the muscles in my thighs and upper legs felt swollen and I walked with bent legs and it still hurts today as if I was running or skating, ankles still killing me and shin, plus the eye tearing is still annoying. I'm trying to educate myself on side effects and Dr. Susan Love's breast book says the chemo brain (well she doesn't call it that) and leg pains etc could continue for some people for over a year yuck, I really hope that's not my case, I have to ask my Dr if I can have some physio or something to help with the legs and I'm going to buy a brain teaser and hope my brain capicity gets better.
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hi ladies,
i finished my chemo last wens. 4 rounds of dd a/c and 4 tx of taxol. my eyes were constantly tearing and nose constantly running. i used visine eye drops for allergies and that really helped a lot. just put them in before you go out. the nose running stops as soon as chemo stops. also, the girls on the board for chemo starting in august, figured out that we all lost our nose hair(who knew?). we laughed so much because none of us think to look there!!! i think that's why the nose constantly runs. good luck to all of you. my thoughts and prayers are with you all. i start radiation soon. my brain is starting to work again. there is a light at the end of this loooong tunnel.
Lots of hugs, Jackie
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Hi Jackie: I've tried bendryl, allernix, drixoral,visine,and another eye drop my pharmacist recommended, nothing will stop the eye tearing and nose running. And your right, checked my nostrils, no hair there either. Wish they could make a hair remover for legs with the chemo side effects, put it once every three weeks and it will stay away. Dream on. I finished my chemo almost three weeks ago, they hit me very aggresively up here because of the tumour being triple neg and hormone neg. So I don't know when this tearing will stop... or the leg pain, now it's all the way up my legs to my lower back. And when I ask my onco why this is happening she, blows it off and leaves me angry, I have a list for her and if I have to block the door I'm getting answers, I'm sick of being sick and in pain enough is enough. I want to go for a long walk and then have a cold beer, and go out at night with friends and clean my house spotless, all these dreams. All the normal I just want back. I'm impatinent (did I spell that right) chemo brain.
I start my rads in the next week or two, and then hopefully this wil all be overwith for good. Another dream, my liver has three tumours in it they'll be checked on the 6th. Can't wait for that hope they're gone. I just hope the leg pain goes away and really really want to feel normal even for just one day.
I'm glad your brain is working again, I'm going to buy brain teaser and try to make my work better. I hope I see the light at the end of the tunnel soon, I'm so glad you are gives me hope.
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Well girls, I just found some hair regrowth, but not on my head it's on my chin, it's hilarious I check every morning to see if the hair on my head is growing back, never thought to check my chin. So now I can pull the hair on my chinny chin chin.
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One question for everyone the hair on my head is coming in all kinky and white, the hair on my chin is coming thick and black. I wonder will my pubic hair come in straight? (Just a joke) I hope!
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Well ladies..I just found this web site..how cool. I am done my 6 treatments of chemo and start radiation Feb 12 for 30 treatments. I had a lumpectomy back July 26/07. Funny, my face is driving me crazy so I'm waiting and hoping that all returns to normal soon. My face is puffy and I've gained 10 - 12 pounds which ticks me off greatly. My eyes are teary too. My hair has startd to grow back. I look like Susan Powder, anyone remember her? I have to decide on whether to have my ovaries out and have a consult Feb 12 with the lovely Dr Fellows here in London, Ontario. He tied them in Feb and now taking them out, oh and he delivered my son...he's done it all up there !!!! My tumor was progesterone positive and therefore the suggestion to look into the removal of ovaries and of course the tamoxifen (sp?) and all the other goodies for post/pre menopausal women. I am premenopausal. Any thoughts ?
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Oh Nicola your in London as well do you go to the cancer clinic on Commissioners' and Wellington, that where I go, they have great doctors. And I remember Susan Powder thats how I looked. I happy to say that I've lost some of the wieght but still not where I can wear my old clothes and they are nice so I'm going to continue trying to lose while staying as healthy as possible. I'm sorry you have to make that decision it must be scary. What about tamoxifin or other meds that will stop estrogen and stay away from soy products as they have lost of estro in them, fake I think but estrogen in them. I hope that helps. Have you checked the site for your type of cancer. Check Community Knowledge and Exchange and you'll see the different sections. I really hope you make the right decision but reading the other womens posts will help alot. I'm hormone negative so don't have that concern. But I really hope everything goes well for you, pm with your email address if you'd like to and if you feel up to it maybe we can get together. The weather is really bad today and I'm plugged to the couch, went to the store this morning and have to go back because the store owner undercharged herself. She's been so good to me the whole family when chemo was at it's peek, I would forget my purse, or keys, or gloves, wallet. It seemed everytime I went in they would check the counter and floor and call me back so I have to let her know she shorted herself 8bucks. I didn't realize it until after I looked at what I bought and it didn't make sense. So out I go in this crappy snow. So keep it touch nice to meet someone from London as well. Pearl49
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Hi, I have been looking everywhere on the internet for someone to answer some questions. It looks like most of you are talking about breast cancer. I have colon cancer. I have finished all my treatments June 27. I have having a lot of swelling in my ankles and the worst is that I can't see. Everything is blurry. Is this normal and will it go away. Hope to hear from someone. Thanks Emilee from Tennessee
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I had blurry vision while on docetaxol, I don't know if they are giving you taxols but it drove me nuts some days, couldn't see what I was typing, It's July now and I can actually see what I'm typing so it does seem to get better. Good luck with your cancer, emmy, hey that's the name of my cat, she is so pretty.
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Hi everyone,
I finished chemotherapy over two months ago and will be having a bilateral mastectomy on the 15th of September. I had chemo for 5 months.I LOST ALL HAIR EVERYWHERE ON MY BODY....Including my leg hair and all of my eyelashes and eyebrows! My head hair is just starting to come back; but, I see no sign of eyelashes!
Did anyone have the same thing happen? When did they come back in?
It really bothers me. I can wear wigs and makeup; but, because of the constant tearing, I cannot wear false eyelashes.
Praying for all of you!
Kathy F.
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KathyESP~
I love your doggie! I lost all my hair, everywhere too. My eyelashes came back slowly and then fell out again. I didn't have much tearing so I wore eyeliner. I have them back for about 8 months now but they are thin and short. I HAD nice lashes before. My hair came in curly and my private area did come back straight! WTH~~~
I've kept my hair short having had it trimmed several times and the curl is mostly gone but it is a different texture. Not very pretty but at least it's hair. I know my my lashes are no going to improve. I wish I had gotten something good from all this but I didn't. I hate cancer and the treatments.
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Yep, lost all my hair, except for 2 knee hair (and YES, I let them grow to almost a 1/2 inch, and they never fell out!) and one head hair right in the middle in front. I left there as a joke. It was my BANG!
Had to have fun somehow. My eyebrows were already thin from hypothyroid that I was Dx with the same day as BC and the lashes thinned, but never completely fell out.Thankfully, after chemo though, my underarm hair has come back VERY thin and the affected arm....hm...maybe 10 total and they grow VERY slow. My arm hair I swear, came back curly too! Very weird.
As for skin, mine seems better than Pre-BC, but then that might be the levothryoxine? My nails during chemo were long and strong and I had to trim them (cut actually) every 2 weeks they grew so fast. I bet, 1/4 inch a week. I was thoroughly stunned! Now they are back to normal.
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Dear Egal and wiwere,
I was wondering when or if I would get an answer on this. Thanks so much for doing so!
Before chemo, I had very long thick lashes. I really hope they do come back.Egal, I did get something positive through this cancer. It has brought people that I love much closer to me. My sister and I were not close. I actually see what my purpose in lilfe has been and hope that I will continue to live so I can be a more productive and empathic person.
I have heard so many different stories from women who have gone through this. I take a Yoga class with a group of them. One lady has lost her hair four times because she has been through chemo four times.
Wishiwere, I also have one hair that is about an inch long that sticks right up from the middle of my bald head. There is no way that I would pull it out! I have always had straight blonde hair and liked it that way. I'm sure that i will have to deal with some curl and gray for awhile.
The reason I asked this question is because I feel that I have lost or losing everything that makes me female. Ten years ago, I had to have a complete hysterectomy. With the cancer, I will be losing my breasts in about 10 days. I don't feel sexy at all anymore. It has changed a lot of things for me both physically and mentally. I know my hair and lashes will be back with time; but, I don't think that I will ever be the same person.
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I am going to be starting chemo on Sept 8th. I am going through TAC which I hear is an aggresive type of chemo therapy.. My doctors have told me that my hair will definitely fall out. Some people have said to shave it before the hair falls out in clumps...Some had said to wait. I just want input on what I should do.... Does your hair really fall out in clumps?
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Hi, priane, Yes, it really does fall out in clumps. I has 6 TXs of TAC. My hair started to fall out about 2 1/2 weeks after my first chemo TX. I had my dh shave it off because I didn't want to deal with that much hair falling out all over the place, but I've read here that it can actually be painful while it is falling out. I didn't experience this. Good luck with yout TXs.
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