Hair

My haircut/hair donation is this Wednesday (4th of December) and I have brushed my hair out tonight and compiled a collage. 

I very rarely brush my hair because this is what happens .................... Big bushy hair

This is how it normally looks when I leave it to dry naturally 

Links

http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-information/impact-breast-cancer/long-term-side-effects/when-your-hair-grows-back

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/cancer-drugs/side-effects/hair-loss-hair-thinning-and-cancer-drugs

http://www.nhs.uk/ipgmedia/national/my%20new%20hair/assets/mynewhair-haircareaftercancertreatment8pages.pdf

http://www.mynewhair.org/Home.aspx

Links to Breast Cancer Statistics and Incidence rates

Cancer Research UK

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/breast/

Source: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org

The statistics on this page are for invasive breast cancer only.
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/breast/incidence/

Statistics available for in situ breast carcinoma (a non-invasive tumour of the breast).

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/breast/Incidence-in-situ/

BBC News - Breast Cancer 'rising in under- 40s' across Europe by Helen Briggs

  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24746437

Women in general have a 1-in-8 chance of developing breast cancer

The treatment plan - FEC Chemotherapy followed by Radiotherapy

On 14^th of November I attended my preliminary meeting with the oncologist at the Lingen Davies Centre at RSH and was informed of all the side effects of treatment and the length of treatment. 

 I asked whether I could possibly return to work during cycle 5-6, if I was feeling well enough and my oncologist personally advised against it, due to potential infections/germs and delaying treatment if my white blood cell count was too low. He said I could speak to my breast cancer nurse about it and see what she thought about returning to work. BUT I'd already had this conversation on the 30th of October and got the same advice.

My oncologist said that my chemotherapy should start the last week in November/first week in December.

Adjuvant chemotherapy is used after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer coming back by treating any remaining cells.

Chemotherapy is usually given as several sessions of treatment followed by a rest period of a few weeks. In my case the rest period is three weeks.

The Chemotherapy and the rest period of 3 weeks make up a cycle of the treatment.

I start on Tuesday 10th of December  - 11.30am

I will be having 6 cycles of FEC Chemotherapy, delivered every three weeks.
I have calculated that I will receive my last dose of FEC chemotherapy on the 25th of March 2014 + 3 weeks to complete my last cycle. 

4.5 months in total 

I will then have to wait 3-6 weeks before I start radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is administered daily for 7-14 days.

FEC (ing) Chemotherapy is made up of three chemotherapy drugs.


F - Fluorouracil (5FU)

Possible side effects

• sore mouth
• taste changes
• diarrhoea 
• eye problems - inflammation of the lining of the eyelids
• skin changes
• risk of infection
• bruising or bleeding
• anaemia
• tiredness

Less common side effects

• feeling sick or being sick
• hair loss
• nail changes
• sun sensitivity
• skin changes - itchy, rash or dry skin
• soreness and redness of the palms of hands and soles of feet

E - Epirubicin (Pharmorubicin) - red fluid in colour

Possible side effects

• hair loss
• feeling sick or being sick
• lowered resistance to infection
• bruising or bleeding
• anaemia
• sore mouth
• taste changes
• discoloured urine
• skin changes
• tiredness

Less common side effects

• diarrhoea
• nail changes
• changes in the way your heart works

Cyclophosphamide

Possible side effects

• risk of infection
• bruising or bleeding
• anaemia
• bladder irritation
• feeling sick or being sick
• loss of appetite
• hair loss

Less common side effects

• sore mouth and ulcers
• diarrhoea
• skin changes
• taste changes

Manuka Honey

I bought some Manuka Honey 10+ and 25+ strength. 

A low white blood cell count or Neutropenia, a common side effect of chemotherapy, is a blood disorder that diminishes the number of infection-fighting cells which destroy bacteria in the body, leaving sufferers open to developing illnesses and facing potentially life threatening situation where they are no longer well enough to carry on with the treatment needed to fight their cancer (source: http://wellbeingmagazine.co.uk).

Resistance to infection is usually at its lowest 7-14 days after chemotherapy.

The Benefits of Manuka honey

Honey has long been known for its ability to destroy infectious bacteria. It has been recognised that Manuka Honey from New Zealand contains additional antibacterial properties not found in other types of honey, making it even more effective in treating infection. It also has more vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants than ordinary honey.

Manuka Honey's main claim to fame has always been wound care and treating even the hardest to heal infections such as MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant conditions. It can also be used to treat other infections throughout the body.

When taken orally, It is effective in treating conditions such as stomach aches, stomach ulcers, sore throats, acid reflux disease, gastritis, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome (source:http://wellbeingmagazine.co.uk).

Strength of Manuka Honey

Source: http://www.manukahoneydirect.co.uk

Manuka honey is considered to be active Manuka honey if it has a UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) and anything less than UMF 10 is considered to have a low level of activity. The ideal strength of Manuka honey for therapeutic use is between 10-18 and there is a significant difference between Manuka Honey and  Raw Manuka honey.



Also see Life Mel Honey

http://www.lifemel.co.uk/

Hair Donation to The Little Princess Trust

I've decided to donate 12" of my hair to The Little Princess Trust and shave my head. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to experience hair loss as a child/teenager. 

http://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/

Wednesday 4th of December at 2pm is the date. I have raised £25.00 to date through Justgiving.

Wigs

Source: http://www.wwe.com

For those with naturally long curly hair the market on the wig front is absolute pants. I ordered in three wigs which bared no resemblance to my own hair, needs must and all that malarky. I eventually opted for a long straight/slightly wavy brown model which I purchased with my NHS wig voucher and privately purchased a short straight one off ebay.





After Chemotherapy (March 2014)

My hair may grow back curlier (ffs), straight or indeed a completely different colour. You're probably all thinking it's just hair, it will grow back and indeed it will, but this has been my huge bugbear of mine since my diagnosis.

I understand that I have been lucky in catching a fast growing cancer and yes I would rather have my health, BUT can't I have my hair too?


I have invested in fake eyelashes and an eyebrow stencil kit. The last and only time I have ever tried to put on fake eyelashes I gave up as it landed on my right cheek. I'm not high maintenance as those that know me ... know

I have also purchased a deep red couture lipstick to "frame my face", which I have been trying out recently on nights out.

Source: alittlebitunique.blogspot.com

Dainty Doll lipstick in 001 Couture

Rene of Paris Amore Monofilament wigs are indeed the most realistic wigs out there.
http://www.trendco.co.uk/amore-wigs.html


Alternatively: http://www.laravisual.com/old-finnish-people-with-things-on-their-heads/