Category: Survivors Hints & Tips

Lesley and her husband are both friends of my brother.  Lesley has just come out the other side of breast cancer treatment herself and has been in contact with me (all the way from New Zealand where they are currently living) since seeing the blog and has been a great support.

Lesley has shared her brave and heart-warming story and some great tips below.

My cancer was ER/PR + and HER2 negative.  I had 16 rounds of chemo but only completed 14 due to nerve damage and then 25 rounds of radiation.  I’m now on Tamoxifen (hormone inhibitor meds) for 10 years and it’s going ok.  It’s a long road but I’m glad I caught it when I did.  Even though it was tough there were a lot of positives from it.  It woke me up to what’s important in life – my husband Steve, my daughter and my family.  Not that I didn’t think that before but I did have a tendency to get wrapped up in work sometimes!  I also met some incredible people and have kept in touch with them – we all went though it together and got to know each other during our chemo sessions.

One of my chemo sessions fell on my daughter Eva’s first birthday.  Everyone in the chemo ward put their hair (and wigs) into Pigtails to honour the little birthday girl.  The nurses were incredible.

I found losing my hair really hard.  My hair was really long so first I cut it into a bob and then got it cut up super short.  I hated the short style though so that night I grabbed a bottle of bubbles, my mum, Steve and Eva and got Steve to shave my head.  We all cried and laughed but I felt much better afterwards and my wig sat better on my head.  All I can say is don’t feel bad for feeling bad about losing your hair.  It may seem small to other people in the grand scheme of things but it’s your identity at the end of the day and I think that’s why I struggled so much with it.

The first day I ventured out with my wig I went into a baby clothes shop where the girls knew me from being a regular.  One of the girls said “Oh your hair looks fab, did you just get it done?” I just said “erm yep” – then she asked for my hairdressers details!

Hints and Tips

I would recommend getting some nice photos taken before starting treatment.  We hired a local photographer to take some family pictures.  For me it was a good kick in the bum to get some nice pictures of us all that weren’t taken on a phone!

During my chemo sessions I found loose clothing that was loose enough to roll up my arm was best as my arm would swell with all the fluid and tight sleeved tops were really uncomfortable.  Shirts were great.  I used a little hot water bottle on my arm to keep warm.

I was allergic to the anti-nausea meds so struggled to keep even water down for my first four sessions, I found that a splash of Ribena helped!

The best product I’ve found is called “Colour Wow”.  It’s a mineral powder for brushing onto grey hairs but I use it on my brows.  It’s so much quicker and easier to use than pencil.  I use this every day to fill in the gaps – it comes in numerous different colours and you can get it online.

Invest in a decent eye pencil – if you end up with no brows you’ll need something to define them but the Wow is great for filling them in.  I found automatic pencils by Estée Lauder and Elizabeth Arden the best.

Sabina O’Neill is also an ex Aer Lingus Cabin crew member, however our paths never crossed in the air as Sabina was Shannon based while I was Dublin based.  Sabina came across my blog through a mutual friend and has kindly agreed to share her incredibly brave story and some hints and tips based on her experience.  I am in awe of her courage, thank you for sharing it with us Sabina!

SABINA’S STORY:

I was first diagnosed with cancer at 16 years of age a rare tumour called “Soft tissue Ewing’s sarcoma”. I had numerous surgeries and 8 months of extremely strong chemotherapy.  I went into remission in May of 1991 but unfortunately the cancer came back a year later.  I then had more surgery and 6 weeks of radium.

My 3rd cancer diagnosis was in July of 2016 when I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.  I had a full mastectomy and full auxiliary clearance.  I then went onto have 6 rounds of TC chemotherapy and 25 sessions of radium. My tumour was 1.6 cm with a lot of DCIS throughout the breast and hormone positive her2 negative.

A year later I started bleeding and found out through hormonal blood tests that my E2 was extremely high and that my ovaries would have to be removed.  I had an Oopherectomy in April of this year.  I am now waiting for my breast reconstruction which is due to take place in September.

HINTS AND TIPS:

• Take all medication when instructed to do so, do not wait for symptoms to present themselves.
• An electric blanket for bone pain especially when taking the NULASTA INJECTIONS.
• If your mind starts to wander to a dark place which it will watch a funny movie or read a book.
• Rest and sleep when you can.
• During chemo eat whatever you can when you can.
• If you choose to wear a wig (which I did for 18 months) buy a good one that will last.  Monofilament top with lace front are so realistic that you would never know it was a wig. If you hold a medical card there is a 500 Euro grant for one.
• Put make up on every day because if you look good you will feel good.
• If you go into menopause and are suffering from the dreaded hot flushes there is a drug called effexor which reduces them by 80%.
• Research and have confidence about your decisions regarding your treatment.
• And most of all live for each day and try not to worry.  I have beaten this disease 3 times and I am still here.