Advise & Tips For Other Fighters

I wanted to include a post, and probably more in the future, on tips and advice for current cancer patients undergoing treatment. Here are a few things that are working for me and helping me through my treatments. It is obviously best to consult everything with your doctor before opting to do any of these tips. When writing this post I have so far been through 6 treatments of Taxcol and Herceptin.

Neupogen Injection

Currently, I am getting the Neupogen Injection once a week. You are given the option to receive the injection in your arm or stomach. I received the first two injections in my arm, and my arm was very painful for several days. I have found receiving the injection in my stomach is a much better option. It does tend to be a lull stinging pain throughout the day, and is very sore by the end of the day. The injection is known to make every bone in your body hurt. My oncologist recommended I take a Claritin pill before each injection. Since taking his advice, I have found my neck and shoulders to be sore at bedtime, but by morning everything feels back to normal.

Vitamins

I never really took vitamins in my life, and my immune system has always been strong. Since I have been on chemo though I have been taking Women's One A Day tablet and Biotene (for skin, hair, and nails). Taxol, the chemo I am currently on has potential to drop my white blood cell count. So far, my white blood cells havd held at a normal level, and I believe the Women's One A Day has contibuted some to this.

Before I started chemo, my nails were already extremely brittle due to over maintenance manicures of shellac nails and acrylics. After taking Biotene vitamins for 6 weeks, I have already noticed my nails strengthening. My hair is also silky and shiny, although thinner. I have switched my hair products to Kenra, and I believe these products have definitely enhanced the quality of my hair. It is important to use a good quality conditioner that detangles your hair very well, so when you brush it there are minimal tangles to brush out. Additionally, my skin seems to be less dried out (mind you it is the middle of Winter, and I live in an extremely dry climate area) and has a nice glow to it.

Wigs

So far, I have been fortunate to not need a wig. However, knowing that I have two ready to go when that time comes is that much less stress on me. I will advise any female to start looking at wigs as soon as she knows she will be receiving chemo. As an excess amount of my hair is falling out on a daily basis, I feel prepared to take on what is headed my way. Being Bald!

Placement of Port

The night before I went into surgery, I read all over the internet trying to find pros and cons to getting a port in your arm vs. your chest. I could not find any information that specified this, but decided to go with whatever the doctor suggested was best. My doctor said since I have good veins, the best place for my port was in my arm. Most choose to have it in their chest, but I like it in my arm. I can wear a short sleeve shirt to treatment, and I do not feel like my clothing ever interferes.