Susan comes from a family with three generations of breast cancer survivors, and went through a double mastectomy because she carries the cancer gene. A victim of a disease called “Alopecia Universalis,” she lost all her hair years ago, and has experienced first-hand the difficulty of dealing with the “stares and hurtful comments” she received.

“After my initial period of adjustment,” she says, “I began to explore the options for women who experience medical hair loss.” Susan went on to design the unique “BeauBeau” scarf and establish her own business. 4women.com now helps women and young girls to cope with the emotional upheaval of medical hair loss by providing appearance solutions and by advocating for greater awareness of the issue.

Just how much can losing her hair affect a woman’s outlook? Studies have shown that feelings range from depression to embarrassment to a complete loss of self, with some of these effects lasting even after the hair grows back. I know that personally, my hair is part of who I am, and that it helps me feel confident and feminine. When I lost my hair during cancer treatments, it was extremely difficult for me, and to this day I baby it and care for it to be sure it sticks around!

Susan’s research appeared in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing (Volume 15, Number 3), which details the difficulties facing patients who have to cope with hair loss. More specifically, the article talks about the fear surrounding upcoming hair loss, and how that can be even worse than the actual hair loss itself. Learning coping techniques before the changes occur in one’s appearance—called “anticipatory coping”—can go a long way in helping a woman to take control of her life and her survival.

“Anticipatory coping,” the authors state, “defined as the process of anticipation and preparation for an altered appearance…may play a key role in helping women to not just cope, but to rise above the assault to their self-image and self-esteem posed by sudden hair loss.”

The article goes on to detail the results of Susan’s online survey of over 1,300 women who were cancer survivors, were currently going through cancer treatments, or who had just been diagnosed. Susan wanted to find out how these women coped, and what they found to be helpful. Over three hundred women responded, and what they revealed was that having a sense of control over their changing appearance was extremely important.

“We survive by not just feeling in control, but by actually being in control,” one respondent wrote. “There are many choices out there, every woman needs access to and to know all their choices so they can choose for themselves.”

“During this period of uncertainty and fear, being able to grasp even the smallest sense of control is very empowering,” another added.

Susan also discovered that many cancer survivors were not getting the support they needed from their nurses, doctors, or cancer centers. “My surgeon knew no resources and yelled at me for bothering him…” one respondent wrote. Others said their healthcare professionals did help provide additional assistance, but that there still seemed to be a “disconnect” between “those treating the disease and those focused on healing the patient.”

What I gather from my experience and from Susan’s research is this—we must take control of our own cancer journeys. We just can’t expect the doctors, nurses, or even our stylists to do it for us. One of the best questions that Susan asked in her survey was how respondents would advise other women to take control of their appearance changes. Here are some tips from them, along with a few from me.

• Get a short haircut before you start chemo.
• Shave your head (or make an appointment to have it done) once you start losing your hair. (It’s much easier than picking up clumps off your pillow every morning—trust me! Plus this way, you decide when it happens.)
• Take care of your scalp. You’ll find it’s probably very sensitive once the hair is gone. I give you several tips for scalp care here.
• Take time to find your own post-hair-loss style. I recommend you get a wig before you lose your hair, so you can most closely match style and color, but you may also want to consider scarves (like Susan’s beaubeau), hats, and even going bald, if you feel like it.
• Never feel badly about your emotions surrounding hair loss. Many women feel just like you do. Accept your feelings and do what you need to do to help yourself feel more confident, feminine, and in control of your life. No excuses, no apologies!

Have you experienced hair loss as a result of cancer treatments? Please share your tips for coping.

For many people—women especially—hair loss as a result of chemotherapy can be particularly traumatic. Women have fewer bald role models than men, and can suffer difficult feelings of self-consciousness low self-esteem in response to losing their hair. Susan Beausang, an expert on the issue and founder of 4women.com, puts it well when she writes, “For a woman, a bald head is an announcement to the world—’I'm different,’ or ‘I’m sick.’” No one wants to feel that way. I remember the experience well—above all, I wanted to feel normal, and losing my hair made me feel anything but.

The good news is that there are people out there trying to make this part of treatment just a little bit better. Wake Forest Baptist University Medical Center and the University of California at San Francisco have received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a device called the “DigniCap” made by a company called Dignitana of Lund in Sweden. It’s a silicone cap that you wear on your head, with an outer neoprene cap that insulates the inner one. The cap is connected to a cooling unit that delivers consistent cooling to all areas of the scalp. The idea is the cool temperatures make the hair roots and follicles contract, reducing the amount of toxins that affect them—which slows or completely halts hair loss.

There are some side effects to using it. It’s cold, after all, and some patients experience headaches, but so far, it looks like these are the only side effects reported—well worth it for most people who want to keep their hair on their heads. The company has taken precautions to make sure temperatures are carefully controlled—the unit is connected to a computer with a touch-screen and simple symbols. If something goes wrong, an alarm goes off.

What’s promising is that clinics in Canada, Europe, and Japan are already using this cap, and the Dignitana website says that more than 80 percent of patients have kept their hair during chemotherapy. Can you imagine? In addition, Susan Melin, M.D. and lead investigator for the study, says that data from several international studies show that the device is safe to use and does prevent hair loss.¹

As far as I know, there’s no way to get ahold of a DigniCap here in the U.S. at this time (although I’m not positive on that—you could contact the company directly from their site). There are other similar devices, but it seems they’re all made out of country. One is called a “Paxman Cooler,” looks very similar to the DigniCap, and is used throughout the U.K. There’s another one made in Israel called the SCS II—Scalp Cooling System. So I think it’s safe to say that this idea is catching on.

Ask the cancer centers near you if they have anything like this. If not, you may consider other ways to keep your head cool, such as frozen veggies or cold cloths dipped in ice water. They aren’t likely to work as well as the temperature won’t be consistent across the scalp, but it may be worth a try.

Have you tried any cooling methods to deter hair loss? Please share your story.

Source

1. “Scalp Cooling Study Starts in U.S.” Breast Cancer World News March 9, 2011. http://breastcancerworldnews.com/?p=188.

Photo courtesy Dignitana via dignitana.com.

Rashes and other skin conditions can be devastating to your confidence. I remember when my father went through chemotherapy and broke out in an acne-like rash all over his face. He seriously didn’t want to leave the house. It broke my heart, as isolating oneself from people doesn’t do any good, especially if you’re fighting an illness like cancer. I remember applying some concealer on his face and how that profoundly changed how he felt about his appearance. If you’ve got a rash causing you embarrassment, try some of my makeup tips to camouflage it so you can feel more like yourself again.

1. Clean & moisturize. First you need to prepare your skin. Gently clean skin in lukewarm water with a safe product (free of toxic ingredients), then pat dry and apply a hydrating but light moisturizer that will help your skin heal as you go about your day. Consider soothing ingredients like aloe, calendula, oat extract and licorice root to relieve itchiness so you won’t be tempted to rub and touch your makeup later in the day. Be sure to clean gently so you don’t further aggravate your rash, and no rubbing!

2. Make sure you don’t forget sunscreen. While your skin is trying to heal from a rash, sun exposure can be especially damaging. Make sure to apply your safe sunscreen before your makeup. Even if your foundation has SPF, it’s usually not enough. Look for formulas that are oil-free, chemical-free, and non-comedogenic.

3. Use light and hypoallergenic makeup. Sometimes your makeup may be the cause of your rash—or at the very least, it may make it worse. Make sure your makeup is non-comedogenic (free of clogging ingredients like mineral oil), fragrance-free, and is made without toxic ingredients (use my Ingredients to Avoid list). Make sure it feels light and comfortable on your face (not like a mask). It’s up to you whether you choose liquid formulas or powder ones. However, liquids will be more hydrating. Also consider whether or not it can be easily removed, as you don’t want to have to rub and pull at your irritated skin just to get it clean.

Step 1: Start with concealer. Choose a color that matches your skin tone (or a little lighter—don’t go darker), then apply with a small concealer brush over red and raised areas or over broken capillaries. For areas that are really red, you may want to try a green concealer, as it will help neutralize the redness. Test the color by applying some to the red areas and see if it helps them disappear. Use concealer only on the areas you want to cover—using too much can make your skin look cakey, which will make the rash more obvious. If you have acne-like pustules, a yellow-based concealer is best, applied from the center out and blended will at the edges.

Step 2: Choose foundation based on coverage you need. If you have just a mild rash, a light foundation may be enough, but if yours is more severe, feel free to experiment with cream foundations that provide more coverage. Match your natural skin tone as closely as possible, and use a brush or sponge rather than your fingers to avoid adding oil or bacteria to your already sensitive skin. Many rosacea sufferers love mineral powder foundations because they’re oil-free and feel less irritating to skin rashes.

Step 3: Skip the blush. Your skin is already red, so most likely you don’t need blush. If you do want a little color on your cheeks, use a sheer color.

Step 4: Dab of powder. Using a loose face powder lightly over the red areas can help to further camouflage them. Just be careful not to use too much so it doesn’t look cakey and dry.

Step 5: Less is more. Keep your eye makeup light so that you don’t look over done. Also, choose a neutral lip color. A bright red lipstick can bring attention to the redness of your skin. Choose instead a softer, neutral color or light gloss.

Have you had to camouflage a rash? Let us know if you have any tips.

Photo courtesy Brixton Street via Flickr.com.

A clinical trial examined the effects on nails from “docetaxel,” a particular type of chemotherapy drug that is known to cause nails to become brittle or discolored in about 40 percent of patients, and to become infected in about 3 percent. Researchers gave over 40 cancer patients an “Elasto-Gel” flexible glove (made by Southwest Technologies, Inc.) to wear while they were getting treated, to see if it would have any effect on their nails. The glove contained glycerin to retain the cold, like a hand-shaped ice pack. Patients wore the glove on one hand for 90 minutes, before, during, and after intravenous infusion of docetaxel. Halfway through, the gloves were swapped for new ones to be sure they stayed cold enough. The other hand was left unprotected.

Here’s the exciting news: two-thirds of the gloved hands were free of skin problems! I’m not talking just nails here, but other common side effects too, like hand/foot syndrome and dry, oozing skin. Yet minor problems occurred in over 40 percent of the unprotected hands. Ann O’Mara of the National Cancer Institute’s Community Clinical Oncology Program said the results were “striking,” and over 80 percent of the patients said they were satisfied with the treatment.

I know your next question—can I get ahold of one of these gloves? The answer is yes. You can get one as easily as ordering it from Amazon. The bad news? It will cost you about $100. You can try the ice and frozen veggies instead, and they may work just as well—we just don’t know because there are no studies behind those methods. My guess is that what really matters is keeping your hands cold enough during the entire infusion. Ice melts, and veggies thaw. The researchers even swapped out gloves to keep the study participants’ hands cold enough.

If you want to protect your skin during treatment—and why wouldn’t you?—try this method, however you decide to do it. Have someone go with you and help you to keep replacing your ice, veggies, or gloves, so you keep them cool enough. It’s a small price to pay to escape the suffering caused by dark and infected nails, dry skin, and open sores on your hands.

Have you tried something like this to escape side effects on your hands? Please share your story.

Sources

1. Florian Scotté, et al. “Multicenter Study of a Frozen Glove to Prevent Docetaxel-Induced Onycholysis and Cutaneous Toxicity of the Hand.” Journal of Clinical Oncology 23 (19): 4424-4429 (July 1, 2005).

Photo courtesy eldercarelinkCare via Flickr.com.

“Has anyone else had trouble with fluid retention/swelling?” writes survivor ColleenN. “All of a sudden in the past week I put on over 7 pounds with lots of swelling in my ankles, and some in my knees, stomach, and hands. My ankles weren’t even this puffy when I was pregnant.”

Fluid retention occurs when your body can’t remove fluid from the tissues as easily as usual, so it remains longer than it should, building up in certain areas like the hands and feet. The lymphatic system, hormones, and your diet can all play a part in swelling, as these are the key players in fluid buildup and removal.

Cancer and cancer treatments can cause fluid retention for several reasons, including: 1) hormonal changes from your therapy; 2) the effects of the drugs themselves (many drugs can cause fluid retention); 3) related heart disease, liver disease, or kidney failure; 4) a blockage in the veins or lymph system; 5) malnutrition; or 6) other effects of the cancer itself. Usually the swelling will occur in the hands, feet, ankles, face, and abdomen, though it can occur anywhere. Swelling may also occur as part of an allergic reaction to medications or other substances.

How can you be sure you have this sort of swelling? If your hands, legs, face, or stomach have swollen up, you can probably recognize it visually, or you may have noticed the weight gain. You can also check for these signs:

• When you press on the skin over the swollen area, it leaves an indentation for a few seconds.
• Your hands feel tight when you try to grasp something or make a fist.
• Your rings, socks, belts, or other pieces of clothing feel tight.
• You feel bloated a lot.
• You feel a shortness of breath, particularly when you lay down.

If you have one or more of these symptoms, be sure to check with your doctor right away, especially if you’re short of breath, the swelling seems to move up your arms or legs, it built up really quickly, or your hands or feet feel cold to the touch. Your doctor may prescribe medications that can help your body release the fluid. Otherwise, try some of these remedies at home:

• Cut down on your salt intake—try not to eat salt at all. Be especially careful of canned soups, lunch meats, bacon and ham, soy sauce, potato chips, and the like.
• If your feet or legs are swollen, elevate them as often as possible by sitting in a reclining chair or on a couch with your feet up on pillows. Try not to stand for long periods at a time.
• Avoid tight clothing, and consider stockings and hose that are made for managing fluid retention (ask your doctor or nurse).
• Weigh yourself at the same time every day. Tell your doctor if you gain or lose five pounds or more in a week.
• Eat bananas and raisins. They’re high in potassium, which helps your body eliminate fluid.
• Use a bag of frozen veggies or a cold towel on swollen ankles and hands.
• Try natural diuretics like cabbage and cranberry juice.
• Drink water. May seem counterintuitive, but water helps flush your system of fluids.

Have you experienced this side effect? How did you cope with it?

Sources include:

• Swelling (Fluid Retention). National Cancer Institute. Cancer.gov. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping/chemo-side-effects/swelling.
• Swelling. Chemocare.com. http://www.chemocare.com/managing/swelling.asp.
• The Editors of Consumer Guide. “8 Home Remedies for Water Retention.” Discovery Fit & Health. http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-water-retention.htm.

Photo courtesy bionerd via Flickr.com.

“I am about 8 months out of treatment for head and neck cancer,” says one survivor on Cancer Compass, “and along with other things, I cannot get warm! I’m freezing no matter what the temperature is. Has anyone else experienced this cold all the time after treatment?”

“I’m always cold too,” says another survivor on csn.cancer.org, “and it’s definitely been since treatments started.”

Is it possible that cancer treatments can affect how we experience temperature? A lot of survivors seem to think so, so I decided to look into it. Seems there are a lot of reasons a person can experience more cold than usual. Below are a few, along with some coping techniques. \

Iron deficiency: If you’re not getting enough iron, or if you’re body is unable to process it as well as usual, you could be experiencing an iron deficiency, which can make you feel cold. Iron plays a role in regulating body temperature and carries oxygen throughout the body. If you’re iron deficient, you may also tire easily. Colon cancer can cause the condition, but so can an unbalanced diet, insufficient vitamin C, peptic ulcers, and even vegetarianism. Your doctor can test for the condition, and then assist you with treatment.

Sweating: If you’re perspiring more than normal, that can also contribute to a colder feeling. Sometimes treatments or side effects can cause extra sweating, particularly if you’ve been thrown into early menopause. Some women experience “cold flashes” during treatment in a similar manner to the typical hot flashes. Other times, the sweating can be a separate reaction to the medications. Check with your doctor, then get used to taking an extra shirt around with you so you can change out of damp clothes and avoid getting too chilled.

Circulatory issues: Blood flow gives you that feeling of warmth throughout your body, so if you’re feeling cold, it could be that your blood isn’t circulating as efficiently as it should. Thyroid conditions can sometimes cause this—the thyroid is responsible for releasing a hormone that’s used in regulating the body’s use of energy and vitamins. If it’s not producing enough of that hormone, you may feel cold. (Other symptoms include weakness, depression, and dry, scaly skin.) According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, some drugs used in chemotherapy, like Sunent or Gleevec, can cause or worsen hypothyroidism.

Raynaud’s disease also affects circulation, causing small blood vessels to narrow, particularly in the hands and feet. Certain drugs used in chemotherapy have also been linked with Raynaud’s.

Low blood platelets: If treatment has lowered your white blood cell count, that may explain why you feel cold. Platelets are one of the three kinds of blood cells that circulate oxygen throughout the body. If you don’t have enough of them, your body doesn’t get enough oxygen, which means you can develop anemia—which causes you to feel cold, among other things.

Weight: Body size and shape affect how you respond to cold climates. If you’ve lost a lot of weight through treatment, that could be why you’re feeling colder. Larger body masses produce more heat. Particularly if you’ve lost both fat and muscle, you’ve given up a significant portion of your insulation, so to speak, and your body will respond by feeling colder.

Of course, these aren’t the only reasons you may be feeling colder than usual. Causes vary from person to person, depending on your treatment and your overall health condition. The point is that treatment can affect body temperature, and several survivors have experienced it. Talk with your doctor, and try these coping techniques:

• Get used to wearing layers. Try one of the many brands of light long underwear under your clothes, and take an extra sweater or jacket with you wherever you go. (Nothing beats wool for real warmth!) Consider also stocking up on hats, scarves, and gloves. Silk socks under your regular socks can help keep your feet warm during cold days.
• Wear socks and gloves to bed if it makes you more comfortable. You can also try a warm foot bath before bed.
• Take a personal heater with you to work.
• Exercise daily if you can. Exercise encourages blood circulation, which can help you feel warmer for hours afterward.
• Consider getting an electric blanket or electric throw for snuggling in your bed or living room.
• Preheat the car before you leave the house—start it up and let it run for about five minutes (make sure to open the garage door to air out the exhaust).
• Humidity holds heat, so if you live in a dry area, install a humidifier in your bedroom, or anywhere in your house that you want to feel more comfortable.
• Try a canopy bed. Having some sort of material enclosing you overnight will help hold in heat to keep you warmer.

Do you feel cold all the time after treatment? Please share any tips you may have.

Photo courtesy graur razvan ionut via freedigitalphotos.net.

My day goes so much better when I get a good night’s sleep. I just need my eight hours or I don’t function well!

Sleep is really important to your healing process—it’s when the immune system does most of its work—so if you’re walking around like a living zombie, get some advice from your doctor, try new coping techniques, and don’t give up until you’re nodding off on a more regular basis. Here are some tips to help!

Tips to Get More Zs:

1. Set a regular bedtime and wake-up time and stick with it! Your body tends to fall naturally into habits. If you disrupt your sleep schedule you throw off that rhythm, contributing to future sleep deprivation.
2. Try to fit in some sort of exercise in your day. If you’re feeling too wiped for lots of exertion, just take a walk around the block. Exercise always helps you sleep better.
3. If you need a nap, take it. You may have avoided naps before your diagnosis, but during cancer treatments, you need to take advantage of when you’re feeling naturally tired, especially if you’re having trouble getting in enough shut-eye. If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, limit your naps to no more than 30 minutes each.
4. Keep a record of your sleep habits for a week—when you go to bed, when you get up, and how much sleep you’re getting. This will help you identify patterns that may be contributing to your sleep problems.
5. If you’re having trouble sleeping with your partner, consider separate sleeping arrangements. Particularly if you’re dealing with night sweats or other discomforts, you may find it easier to sleep by yourself, as then you won’t be concerned about waking your significant other.
6. Try to keep your bedroom a “sleep-only” zone. TVs, computers, phones, and even pets and children can disrupt your time to sleep, or contribute to a stimulating instead of relaxing atmosphere.
7. Create a bedtime routine you can work forward to. Consider a nice oatmeal bath with a candle before turning in, a good book, some soothing music, time spent meditating, or anything that will ease your mind and get you into a sleeping mood.
8. Avoid stimulating chemicals like nicotine and caffeine several hours before sleep, and stay away from alcohol as well. It may help you get to sleep, but then it often keeps you from entering the deeper stages of sleep, leaving you feeling tired.
9. I read not long ago that walnuts have goodies like melatonin and tryptophan in them—both ingredients that help promote sleep. Consider them as a nighttime snack.
10.  Make the room a temperature that will work for you. Most people sleep a little better in a cooler room. Consider silk sheets (they’re easier to move on—more comfortable for your skin) and use whatever you need to relax. Heater, fan, blankets, whatever works!
11. Are you finding your mind racing as you’re trying to close your eyes? This happens to me all the time, so I keep a notebook by my bed to write down my thoughts. Once they’re on paper, I know they’ll be there in the morning and I can rest more easily.
12. Finally, if you can’t get to sleep after 20 minutes or so, don’t just lie there and suffer. Get up and do something relaxing. Have some warm milk and honey, read a book, or write about your frustrations. Soon you’ll find yourself feeling naturally sleepy again and you can go back to bed.
13. If you have side effects that are interfering with your sleep, be sure to ask your doctor for a solution. Don’t give up until you find one!

Have you struggled with sleep during your cancer treatments? Do you have tips for our readers?

Photo courtesy Shutterstock.

“The link between oral health and overall health is now well documented,” he says. “Establishing optimum oral health is important for anyone at any age. After cancer treatment, it is imperative.”

Chemotherapy affects all fast-growing cells in the body, which includes those in the mouth. That’s why we get mouth sores during treatment. You are also more prone to an infection in the lining of your mouth, as your white blood cell count is down and your immune system is not as able to fight off bacteria and viruses. A common side effect is a fungal infection called “thrush” that appears as white patches over the mouth and tongue. If you suffer from this side effect, be sure to check with your doctor. He/she will have anti-fungal medicines you can use.

Chemotherapy can cause dry mouth as well, which can rob your mouth of the protective effect of saliva, and may lead to bleeding gums. Of course, all this sounds really unpleasant. Is there anything we can do to increase our odds of going through treatment with a healthy mouth?

Try these tips. There’s no guarantee you won’t still get some of the irritating mouth side effects, but you’ll be more likely to avoid them or at least lessen their severity a little.

• See your dentist before you start chemotherapy to make sure your mouth starts out as healthy as possible.
• Avoid mouthwashes with alcohol. Use non-alcohol brands like Oasis (made specifically for dry mouth), and PerioBrite.
• Avoid sodium laureth sulfate and use toothpastes with safer ingredients like Tom’s of Maine or Burt’s Bees.
• Even if your mouth is sore, don’t avoid cleaning your teeth. Your teeth are more susceptible to decay during chemotherapy so it’s important to protect them. If a brush feels too harsh, use a softer-bristle type, or ask your dentist for a foam brush. Replace your brush frequently to avoid germs. On your worst days, at least use your non-alcoholic mouthwash or warm water with a little salt.
• Check with your doctor before flossing. You are more at risk for bleeding, and if your blood platelets are low, you could make gums bleed even with gentle flossing. Floss when you can, and try a waterpik at a low setting with warm water when you can’t.
• Keep your lips moist with a non-toxic lip balm. Apply often. Dry lips make it easier for germs to get inside your mouth. Try Badger, Soft Lips Organic, or EOS Organic.
• Avoid things that will irritate your mouth or make it hard to clean. These include spices, garlic, onion, salty foods, crunchy foods, and sticky foods like caramel and other sugars.
• Drink water whenever you can. Avoid acidic drinks like orange and grapefruit juice. Try soothing teas instead.
• Suck on ice chips before eating to help numb the mouth.
• As soon as treatment is over, get to your dentist for a checkup. Together you can arrest any decay or gum damage that may have started from chemotherapy.

Do you have other advice for mouth care during chemotherapy? Please let us know.

Photo courtesy saralonde via Flickr.com.

If you have symptoms like these, you may have what is called “folliculitis,” an infection and inflammation of the hair follicles. The follicles can become red and irritated, and form pus-filled lesions that resemble pimples. And yes, cancer patients and other people with depressed immune systems (such as those with AIDS and organ transplants) are more at risk.

Folliculitis is actually caused by bacteria, such as staphylococcus aureus. Fungal and viral infections, or even chemical-based irritation, can also cause it. Cancer patients often experience it on the scalp, but it can also appear elsewhere on the body, like the legs and buttocks. It’s not particularly dangerous, just irritating and uncomfortable.

If you’re dealing with this side effect, first of all, check with your oncologist. He may have a prescription cream or other medication (antibiotics) that will help. Most patients find the doctor’s solutions heal the problem within a few days, so if whatever you try doesn’t work, go see the doctor again. You may also consider seeing a dermatologist, who may recommend topical antibiotics or antiseptic washes.

Next, try the following tips that we’ve gleaned from other survivors. Whatever you do, don’t just suffer in silence. If it is a bacterial or viral infection, it’s important to get it taken care of as quickly as you can.

• Check your shampoo. If it’s not the most gentle, chemical-free you can find, switch! Many oncologists recommend baby shampoo. Always read labels, however, as not all baby shampoo is safe as you think. We suggest you go for organic, or at least those brands that stay away from parabens and sulfates. Avoid harsh shampoos like dandruff or anti-bacterial types. We like brands like California Baby, which don’t contain toxic chemicals.
• Try ice packs and frozen veggies to take away the sting, itch, and irritation.
• Resist scratching! Use an anti-allergy cream like Benadryl when needed, or try some mashed oatmeal and yogurt combined into a paste. Very soothing!
• Clean your scalp periodically with a hydrogen peroxide/water solution to kill bacteria and cleanse the infected areas.
• Some fighters have good luck with tea-tree oil, applied directly to the infected areas. Just be sure you’re not allergic to the oil, first.
• The Mayo Clinic recommends a wet compress made with white vinegar.
• Try to keep your scalp as dry as possible. If you can, abstain from wigs for a day or two, as they can trap heat and oils on the skin.
• Use warm compresses several times a day to soothe, cleanse, and help the area drain.
• Always wash your hands before and after touching your head to avoid spreading the infection. Use a clean washcloth and towel each time you wash your scalp.
• Take a break from oily creams and/or cosmetics as they can clog pores and leave more room for bacteria to grow and the infection to spread.

Have you experienced this side effect? Have any tips for our readers?

Photo courtesy giusma via Flickr.com.

“I see patients who are seriously under-medicated and do have pain,” says Colleen O’Neil, RN, breast cancer survivor, and peer counselor to cancer patients. “It makes me very frustrated. There are many approaches to pain control and they should all be considered in an effort to ease the suffering of cancer patients. People shouldn’t have to be in pain just because they have a cancer diagnosis.”

According to the survey, nearly half of patients suffering “breakthrough” cancer pain (severe pain that strikes without warning) say treatment doesn’t offer adequate relief. Patients ranked their pain from 8-10 on a scale from one to ten, but still many said their doctors told them the pain was a normal part of cancer or its treatment.

“Providers and patients should not accept breakthrough cancer pain as a normal side effect of cancer,” said Russel K. Portenoy, MD, chair of pain medication at Beth Israel Medical Center.

CancerPain.org describes “breakthrough” pain as pain that occurs despite the pain medications the patient is already taken: “These severe flares of pain are called breakthrough pain because the pain ‘breaks through’ the regular pain medication.”

They go on to say that if your doctor hasn’t offered you additional meds for this type of pain, something is wrong: “Almost all people experiencing chronic cancer pain should receive medications for around-the-clock pain control and a medication specifically for treatment of breakthrough pain. If this has not been offered to you, discuss this with your health care provider.”

Pain is something that some cancer patients feel they “have” to live with, but according to O’Neil, this thinking can actually delay healing. “Pain doesn’t contribute anything to the getting-well process,” she says. “It makes you feel vulnerable and frightened, not just because you’re hurting in the moment, but you fear it will continue or perhaps get worse. If your pain is well controlled, you feel more optimistic about your health and feel more resilient about your ability to recover.”

If you’re experiencing pain from cancer or cancer treatments, please don’t feel you have to suffer through it. There are a myriad of pain medications available, and getting yourself some relief will only help you to recover more quickly. To make sure you get exactly what you need, CancerPain.org recommends you communicate the following to your doctor or nurse:

• Tell them where it hurts, when it hurts, and how intense the pain is.
• Tell them what makes the pain worse and what makes it better.
• Tell them how fast it comes on, how long it lasts, and how often it comes back.
• If you’re taking medications, discuss how much relief they are giving (or not giving) you.
• Discuss how the pain is affecting your daily life—what activities can’t you perform because of the pain? Talk about your appetite, your sleeping habits, and whether you can perform your normal daily routine.

Then, ask about what other options are available to you—what other medications and alternative therapies may help. If your doctor tells you the pain is “normal” and fails to help you with it, make an appointment to see a pain specialist in your area.

Finally, don’t worry about medication addiction. Studies so far do not support the myth that cancer patients become addicted to pain medication. Take what you need to feel better!

Have you struggled with pain related to cancer? Please tell us anything helpful you may have learned.

Photo courtesy idhren via Flickr.com.

Since mouth sores can affect how much you eat, and in severe cases, even lead to malnutrition, we gathered some information to help you deal with them. Try these steps to lower your risk, avoid making them worse, and relieve the pain.

To prevent it:

• Go to your dentist for a thorough checkup before starting cancer treatment.
• Brush teeth, floss, and use a non-alcohol mouth rinse twice a day.
• Keep your mouth and lips moist and hydrated.

To treat it:

• Ask your dentist about pain-relieving mouth rinses.
• Try a numbing gel like Ora-Gel on the sore itself.
• “Prevention” magazine recommends making your own rinse by combining Maalox with Benadryl.
• Floss once a day. (If you’re gums are bleeding or you’re just bleeding easily in general, check with your doctor or dentist before flossing.)
• Try a water irrigator at a low level to get all the food out between teeth. You can also add salt or an anti-bacterial mouthwash to the water for extra cleaning.
• Use a soft toothbrush or ask your dentist for a foam one if your mouth is extra sensitive.
• Use lip balm regularly to keep lips moist—dry lips make it easier for germs to get inside your mouth.
• Drink plenty of water to keep the inside of the mouth hydrated. If you have dry mouth, consider chewing sugarless gum or sucking on hard candies—sugar-free if possible.
• Suck on ice cubes or popsicles to numb the painful area between meals and—if you’re having trouble eating—before meals.

To eat with it:

• Eat soft foods like pasta, cottage cheese, yogurt, ice cream or frozen yogurt (less sugar and fat), soft fruits, and shakes, and cook your veggies to soften them up.
• Stay away from alcohol as it irritates the inside lining of the mouth—purchase alcohol-free mouthwashes.
• Avoid acidic foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, spicy foods, or rough-textured foods that will be harder to eat. Chips, popcorn, some dry cereals, and fried food will be difficult—choose pasta, food cooked in sauce, bananas, soft casseroles, eggs, gravy-covered items, soups, and custards.
• Cut food up into smaller pieces so you don’t have to chew so much.
• Use a straw to drink, and a small spoon to reduce the amount of each mouthful.

Do you have some tips for dealing with mouth sores? Please share.

Photo courtesy stuartpilbrow via Flickr.com.

“I noticed that when neighbors stopped in…I would forget I was naked on top and start conversing,” says survivor Michele Corey. “It wouldn’t be until I saw their eyes talking to my forehead that I remembered I was bald and wanted to run in and get something to cover myself.”

Baldness can be one of the most emotionally difficult cancer-treatment side effects to deal with. According to research published in Patient Education and Counseling (Issue 3), “Chemotherapy-induced alopecia is one of the most distressing side effects of chemotherapy.”

“It can be painful to look in the mirror and see someone you’re not,” says “About” writer Dave Alexander. “The baldness is a constant reminder of the disease, so it can be a real hurdle to overcome.”

You can cover it up. There are wigs, scarves, and hats. And of course, the promise that the hair will grow back. For most people, it does. According to chemocare.com, “In almost all cases of chemotherapy-induced hair loss, your hair will resume growth after treatments.”

Meanwhile, how do you cope? Men may have more role models to look up to—Vin Diesel, Chris Daughtry, and several other powerful, successful guys who choose to go hairless. Still, being bald has its challenges for men.

“I guess I had forgotten or maybe never realized just how important hair is to a lot of women,” says a troubled divorcee. “One woman told me that I have everything she’s looking for in a man except hair. I was stunned.”

For women, the challenge can be even tougher. “I could have been having a perfectly lovely day feeling utterly healthy,” says survivor Jane Read Martin, “and then, oops! I’d catch a glimpse of my bald head and be reminded that, Oh yeah, I have cancer!”

There are all the standard recommendations—join a support group, talk to a good friend, see a counselor, remember it’s not your fault, and remind yourself that it’s not forever. But when it comes right down to it, coping with your baldness means coming face-to-face with your own self image, and finding that it may need some attention.

“So much of a woman’s identity is tied to how she looks,” says Kim Lynch, R.N., breast health care coordinator at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, Main. “It’s important to acknowledge your hurt and pain [about the changes in your appearance]. It’s real. But once you’ve accepted it, you can move on. Through this process, many women…realize what’s really important and reorder their priorities. Women discover their beauty from the inside out.”

In fact, a study in Cancer Nursing found that most cancer patients felt that physical characteristics became less important as measures of worth, while living itself became more important. “How do you reconcile the newly reassembled view of yourself?” write authors Sheri Magee and Kathy Salzo in Picking Up the Pieces. “As a survivor you must re-own your body—both how you see it and how you imagine others perceive it. Though the process may be fraught with self-doubt and avoidance, with frustration and discomfort, it remains an inevitable and important part of recovery. You are left with this home for your soul: learning to accept it, move into it, and get comfortable with it again are important steps in how you will progress.”

Did you experience changes to your self image as a result of hair loss? Please share your story.

Photo courtesy baldproducts via Flickr.com.

“I had a bilateral mastectomy last week and came home with drains on both sides,” says fighter Louise414. “Shortly thereafter the drain on the right side stopped working. I saw the surgeon again thinking he would somehow fix the drain. Instead he removed it. I immediately developed seroma.”

Basically, a seroma is a collection of clear fluid (usually blood serum or blood plasma) under the skin. Drains are used post-mastectomy to dispose of the fluids that typically gather after surgery, but once these are removed, some fluid may still pool up in places like the surgery site, under the armpit, and even in the shoulder area, if muscle was removed to help in breast reconstruction. According to BreastCancer.org, they can show up 7–10 days after surgery, typically after the drainage tubes have been removed.

If the seroma isn’t causing you too much discomfort, it will usually absorb back into the body in about a month, though sometimes it can take much longer. If it is painful, you can go to your doctor to have it drained (much like you might drain a blister) with a needle and a syringe, though this can carry a slight risk of infection. Sometimes, you may have to have it drained more than once, or the doctor may use medications to help encourage the body to absorb the fluid.

Researchers have been studying seromas to try to find ways to reduce or eliminate them after surgery, but so far haven’t had a lot of luck. One study published in the World Journal of Surgical Oncology (December 9, 2004) concluded that it didn’t really matter when drains were removed, what type of dressings were used, how often the arm was moved, how old the patient was, what the status was of the lymph nodes, or how large the tumors were. They did find, however, that there was a 2.5 times higher risk of seroma in patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy as opposed to breast preservation.

A current clinical trial begun in 2006 is exploring the use of steroids (i.e., glucocorticoid) after surgery to help prevent seromas from forming. Surmising that seroma formation is the result of inflammation, researchers wonder if substances that decrease inflammation might decrease the chance of seroma formation as well.

If you notice a swollen, tender area developing after your breast-cancer surgery—that feels like a pocket of fluid or hard like a lump underneath—check with your doctor, but don’t panic. It could very well be a seroma. Fighter Becky says, “I am three weeks out from a radical mastectomy and thought I had injured myself by doing too much too soon. Knowing that the seroma is a normal by-product of the surgery is very helpful. It is certainly uncomfortable, but knowing that it is a common occurrence makes it less scary.”

If the fluid seems to be increasing, the seroma getting larger, or if you’re experiencing pressure on the healing area, see your doctor. If you do have it drained, watch for signs of infection, like redness, warmth, or tenderness.

Have you had to deal with seromas after surgery? How did you deal with it?

Photo courtesy jogya via Flickr.com.

The solution? According to this doctor, anyone taking Naprosyn should supplement with folic acid. But most doctors fail to suggest such a thing, so patients suffer side effects, which may then be addressed with more medications, which can then cause their own side effects…you get the picture.

If you’re going through chemotherapy, you know all about side effects, and you probably wouldn’t argue that the drugs are robbing your body of nutrients. “Patients undergoing chemotherapy need to receive high-quality nutrition to get through that period,” says Ross Pelton, co-author of The Nutritional Cost of Drugs (Morton Publishing, 2004). According to Dr. Vagnini, even minor nutrient deficiencies can cause all kinds of problems, including depression, muscle weakness, itchy skin, sleep disturbances, bleeding gums, and much more. A study on patients with ovarian cancer showed that those on a nutritional supplement protocol tolerated the chemo much better than those not receiving the supplements.

“I saw with my own eyes the difference between patients who were on supplements and those who were not,” said oncology nurse Leigh David. “It was very obvious.” Supplementing seems to make a lot of sense, but what, and how much?

First of all, always check with your doctor. Vitamin and herbal supplements can sometimes interfere with medications or decrease their effectiveness—antioxidants are specifically suspect—so you want to be sure you won’t be deterring your progress. Do some research on the medications you’re taking, and check with a naturopath for guidance on how to start restoring the nutrients you’re losing. (You can also read Dr. Vagnini’s book.) We’ve put together a few general recommendations to get you started, taken from Oncologychannel.com and other sources.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Protein Powder: to keep up your strength, supplement with protein powder twice a day. Go with those that have a low sugar content. You can choose from whey, soy, rice and hemp protein powders.
Ginger: ginger supplements or tea can help reduce treatment-related nausea.
Spirulina: helps maintain healthy weight and it is a super food!
Soy: check with your doctor especially on this one—may enhance the immune system.
B12: may help with anemia.

FOR SOME SPECIFIC DRUGS
5FU—vitamin B6 and CoQ10.
Taxol—vitamin C.
Tamoxifen—soy isoflavones.
Adriamycin—CoQ10, vitamin E, riboflavin, vitamin C, antioxidants.

Do you take supplements to offset chemo depletions? Have you received expert advice? Please share your experiences.

Photo courtesy of Luv 2 Flickr via Flickr.com.

Let’s start with the risks to the eyeball—and if you’re immune system is down, the corresponding risk of infection. Remember we said “sharp tweezers?” One false move and you could have an injury. According to Toxic Beauty author Samuel Epstein, M.D., California and Washington require eyelash extension professionals to be licensed, but many other states have no such regulations, so whether or not you’re getting someone adequately trained in the procedure is hard to tell. Did you know that eyelash tinting has been outlawed in Colorado and New York because of the risks of eye injuries? Strange that so far extensions are still allowed. Regardless of how careful someone might be, accidents can happen, and that’s not something you can afford while fighting cancer.

Next, let’s look the supposed “comfort” of the procedure itself. The writer at closettherapyblog.com says the first few days after application, her eyes stung when she showered or washed her face, the roots of the lashes were sore, she had trouble cleaning out her eyes in the morning, and if one of the false lashes fell into her eyes it was especially painful. Depending on your point of view, these discomforts may be worth it for the results, but are definitely not something you want to risk while undergoing chemotherapy.

“Sometimes the glue gets in the eyes and they get bloodshot, or inflamed,” says Eriko Furukawa at a Tokyo consumer consultation centre where many complaints have been made, “or the eyelid swells or natural lashes get damaged.” If you’ve got only a few lashes left, why would you want to take the chance of damaging them further?

Now, let’s look at the glues used in these procedures. Most adhesives contained in eyelash extension kits contain toxic chemicals like formaldehyde—not something you’d want that close to your eyes at any time. The Korea Consumer Protection Board examined the amount of toxic substances in 23 kinds of adhesives used to extend eyelashes and add false lashes, and found that formaldehyde was in 10 of them—at levels of 1,800 to 20,000 ppm (parts per million)—levels that can cause allergic reactions or perhaps even more serious consequences, such as the 16 reported cases in which the procedure caused inflammation to the cornea.

“The glue that is used for lash extensions is made so that it can hold on for about six or so weeks,” says fakeeyelashes.org in the UK,  “and as a result you will find that they are made with products that can cause issues ranging from irritating and causing your eyes to be sore to causing severe damage to your eyes and lashes.”

What about long-term results? According to Alan J. Bauman, M.D., “Often, eyelash-extension users complain of difficulty removing the extensions carefully or of noticing that their eyelashes looked much worse after consistently using the extensions for several months. Many say that their condition did not significantly improve—even months after they discontinued the extensions.”

Once your treatment is over, you can do some more research and make your own decisions, but please, while your immune system is down and your body is fighting for its life, just use a little toxin-free mascara and call it good!

Have you had an uncomfortable experience with eyelash extensions? Let us know.

Photo courtesy Star Haven via Flickr.com.

The liver works as an efficient processor of toxins in your blood; a “purifier,” so to speak, that sends clean blood back into your system, and toxins out through bile or urine. Unfortunately, some chemotherapy drugs—because they are, in essence, toxins that the liver struggles to get rid of—can overly stress the liver and cause damage (called “hepatoxicity”). In other words, toxins accumulate in the body faster than the liver can process them, and it breaks down—forcing patients to delay or stop their chemotherapy treatments.

A recent study showed, however, that children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who had evidence of liver inflammation, reduced that inflammation with milk thistle. Not only did this benefit the liver, but it enabled more patients to continue their chemo treatments without delay.

“Milk thistle needs to be studied further to see how effective it is for a longer course of treatment,” said co-researcher Kara Kelly, MD, “and whether it works well in reducing liver inflammation in other types of cancers and with other types of chemotherapy.”

Milk thistle—a member of the daisy family—grows in Europe, North American, South America, and Australia. The herbal remedy is made from the seed (actually the fruit of the plant), which contains antioxidants. It has a reputation thousands of years old for helping to restore the liver, and was recommended to treat malaria, the plague, and other illnesses. It was also thought to help reduce the effects of toxins like poisonous mushrooms and alcohol on the liver. Only recently, however, have scientists started looking at its ability to help treat illnesses, although the German Commission E (regulatory agency for herbs) has already approved it as a treatment for toxic liver disease.

This study on children with ALL is only one of several that have used “silymarin”—an antioxidant from the milk thistle seed. According to The American Cancer Society (ACS), lab tests show improvement in liver function, and early studies in test tubes and lab animals show that silymarin may help with cancer prevention and treatment. However, more research needs to be done.

If you want to try milk thistle, or silymarin, check with your doctor. According to the ACS, it’s considered safe, but has the potential to block some of the cancer-killing effects of chemotherapy and radiation. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends 280-450 mg per day, or 100-200 mg of silymarin-phosphatidycholine complex two times per day. (The latter is thought to absorb better.) If you experience symptoms like jaundice, fever, abdominal pain, severe fatigue or nausea, bleeding that doesn’t stop after a few minutes, or any unusual swelling in the feet and legs, check with your doctor, as these could be symptoms of liver damage.

Have you gone through liver changes as a result of chemotherapy treatments? Please share your story.

Photo courtesy Luigi FDV via Flickr.com.

These serums actually came about when patients using glaucoma eye-drop drugs noticed a happy side effect—longer lashes. When the drugs were applied to the lash line, lashes grew. Now, the drugs were supposed to be applied into the eye to help reduce the pressure of glaucoma, but of course the side effect of longer lashes caught everyone’s attention.

Since then, several eyelash-growing formulas have hit the market, many having nothing to do with the original glaucoma drug. The Ardell Brow and Lash Growth Accelerator, for example, is mostly extracts, proteins, and vitamins. Other brands use peptides, amino acids, and other nutrient combinations to help fortify lashes. However, the most popular brand—Latisse—is sold by prescription only, and uses “bitamaprost,” a glaucoma drug.

Bimatoprost is clinically proven in a number of studies to increase eyelash growth, and is FDA-approved for use as such. In one study, volunteer’s eyelashes grew about 25 percent longer, over 100 percent thicker, and around 18 percent darker. However, like any drug, bimatoprost comes with potential side effects, including eye itching, red eyes, and a possible change in iris color, though less than 5 percent of patients experienced these effects. The problem is the change in eye color, if it happens to you, could be permanent. Those with light-colored eyes seem to be more at risk.

It’s certainly popular, and is making Allergan—the parent company—lots of profits. A monthly dose will cost you around $120. If you use it, you need to be cautious, as it can spur hair growth in other areas of the body. If too much ends up on your cheek, for example, you could end up with more hairs there. There’s also no guarantee that both eyes will grow eyelashes at the same rate and length, so your eyes could differ slightly.

Cinco Vidas would prefer that you wait until treatment is over to try a product like this. One, there is risk of allergic reactions and eye irritation, and since your eyes are already probably drier than usual, you don’t want to add to the problem. Second, there is an increased risk of eye infection, particularly if your blood count is down, as the applicator may come in contact with your eyes and then contaminate the medication. If you wear contact lenses, your risk of irritation is higher, as they can absorb the medication and then continually subject your eyeball to it.

If you’re struggling with thinning or missing eyelashes as you go through treatment, check out our post for more information, and then consider one of the safer eyelash-growing treatments that don’t use the bimatoprost ingredients.

What do you think of the new eyelash-growing trend? Please share your thoughts.

Photo courtesy jomak14 via Flickr.com.

“I know the waiting is the worst part,” says caregiver cluckle, “as I have experienced it with my wife.”

“Cancer is a waiting game, we’ve learned,” says caregiver katcadwallader. “A tough waiting game.”

Fortunately, scientists have added some weight to women’s concerns with a new study that argues for faster relaying of results to patients. “For a long time,” said Dr. Elvira V. Lang, author of the study, “there has been the recognition that women should find out sooner what they have, but there was just not much effort put into it. When women just say they’re stressed, there’s a tendency to put it aside as psychological. But once you can show there can be adverse effects on the immune system…then this gets a completely different light on it.”

Specifically, scientists showed that women waiting for the results after a breast biopsy experienced abnormalities in the levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can damage health and compromise future treatment. The average wait was 2.5 days, though many of the women had to wait five days or longer. Even though the odds are good that everything will be okay—80 percent of biopsies come back with non-cancerous results—women who don’t know the outcome still experience considerable anxiety, which the study showed can influence wound healing and depress the immune system. In fact, waiting for the results was found to be as stressful as getting a cancer diagnosis.

Researchers hope the results will encourage faster analysis and communication of biopsy results. “It’s no longer so easy for healthcare providers to overlook the effects of extended waiting and say, ‘Oh, it’s just nerves,’” said Dr. Lang.

Some doctors are already working to make wait times shorter. Dr. Ronald S. Weinstein, for example—a pathologist at the University of Arizona in Tucson—says, “I am acutely aware of how stressed out women become when they’re waiting for the results of a biopsy.” He’s using a new digital microscopy system that allows him to examine biopsy tissue and diagnose breast cancer within hours instead of weeks.

If you have to go in for a biopsy and want to reduce the stress of your wait time, Dr. Lang recommends you speak to your doctors about communication procedures beforehand. Ask questions about who will tell you about the results, and how long it will take. Schedule the biopsy so you don’t have to wait over the weekend or through a holiday. Finally, consider adopting stress-lowering techniques during the experience, such as meditation, guided imagery, and exercise.

Have you had to wait for days for the results of your biopsy? How did you deal with the stress?

Photo courtesy The Consumerist via Flickr.com.

“The research demonstrated that almost all toothpaste products contain significant levels of lead,” said the American Environmental Safety Institute, “a heavy metal known…to be hazardous to human health by causing cancer and birth defects.” (Toxic Beauty, Samuel Epstein, p.164)

Proctor & Gamble agreed to reduce by 25 percent the levels of lead in its toothpastes. Meanwhile, metal isn’t the only thing to worry about. Many toothpastes contain triclosan, an anti-bacterial that’s been shown to be a hormone-disruptor in tests on animal and human cells. (Read labels to see if your toothpaste has it.) On top of that, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)—one of our ingredients to avoid—is in many brands to encourage foaming, but is a particularly harsh detergent that can irritate tender gums (especially when you’re going through chemotherapy). When ingested at high levels, it can be toxic to the liver and kidneys.

Want to know something else scary? Scientific research has suggested that SLS can increase your risk of…mouth ulcers! Study participants who brushed using SLS-free toothpaste reduced their number of canker sores—by as much as 81 percent. You definitely don’t need more mouth sores during treatment, so if your brand has this ingredient, throw it out!

Another harsh ingredient—hydrated silica. A “whitener” in toothpastes, it’s abrasive, and can wear down our naturally protective tooth enamel. If you’ve got sensitive teeth and gums, avoid this one.

Other toxic ingredients we have warned you about—like parabens and propylene glycol—may also be present in your formula. Colored pastes often contain dyes that have the potential to cause headaches, allergic reactions, and fatigue. And of course, most have fluoride. Dentists recommend it for preventing cavities, but fluoride comes from the element fluorine, and can be very toxic if you swallow it. When ingested, it can damage the brain, reduce the function of the thyroid, and may even increase risk of bone cancer (in one study). However, most dentists still believe that fluoride in your toothpaste—where you’re not supposed to swallow it—is beneficial to your teeth, as it does counter the effect of plaque and makes the tooth more resistant to decay.

We’ll let you decide whether or not you want to go for the fluoride, but as for the rest of the ingredients, we urge you to shop for brands that stay away from SLS, silica, triclosan, and lead—especially if you’re going through radiation or chemotherapy. For suggested brands, try Tom’s of Maine, Herbal Choice, or some of these other alternatives.

Have you adopted a toxin-free toothpaste? Tell us your thoughts.

Photo courtesy RedToque Photography via Flickr.com.

“I completed my chemo 1/4/09,” says fighter CTML. “For the last 5 days I have been having numbness/tingling in my feet.”

Foot problems and discomforts that linger after treatment is over are fairly common in the post-chemo world. They differ from person to person, however, depending on the drugs that were used, how long chemo treatment is given, and the person’s individual response to the treatment.

Here are a few side effects you may experience in the feet after treatment, and some potential solutions.

Numbness/tingling. This is usually the result of nerve damage in the small nerve fibers in the feet, and can show up even months after treatment is over. Ask your doctor about drugs that work on nerve pain, like carbamazepime and gabapentin. You can also try massage, warm towels wrapped around the feet, vitamin B supplements, non-toxic lotions, acupuncture, over-the-counter pain relievers, or a topical capsaicin cream. Avoid tight-fitting shoes, and if you are feeling numbness, make sure you protect your feet with socks and shoes at all times.

Dry, itchy skin. Itchy skin can be caused by cancer treatments or the cancer itself. Make sure to drink plenty of water, and use water-soluble moisturizers (not oil-based ointments) to keep skin from drying out. Protect feet from the cold and wind, and try cold or warm packs for 20 minutes at a time. If your feet are super dry, apply lotion at night before bed and cover up with breathable, cotton socks. For severe itching, ask your doctor about anesthetic lotions or steroid creams.

Brittle, dark nails. Cancer treatments can turn nails brittle, and cause discoloration. Regularly apply a moisturizing cuticle cream to nourish new nail growth, and use toxin-free nail polish if you’re sporting open-toed sandals.

Joint soreness. Cancer and cancer treatments can affect joints and bone, creating pain. Try anti-inflammatory pain relievers, and ask your doctor about medications. Then consider a natural joint supplement that contains glucosamine and herbal lubricators to restore joint comfort. Choose gentle exercises that don’t increase pressure on foot joints, like swimming, yoga, and pilates.

General soreness. A study published in Applied Nursing Research showed that foot reflexology had a positive, immediate affect for cancer patients who reported foot pain. Try it! Another fighter recommends 500 mg/day of L-Glutamine.

Hand/Foot Syndrome (HFS). HFS is a skin reaction that appears on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet as a result of chemo treatments. It may show up as tingling or numbness, or swelling, redness, peeling skin, and tenderness and pain. If you’re experiencing HFS, check with your doctor. In addition, oncolink.org recommends you avoid tight-fitting socks and stockings, wear comfortable shoes, avoid things that put pressure on your feet, like hard-impact sports, apply thick moisturizer often, and avoid water that is too hot. Try ice packs to deal with the pain, consider supplementing with Vitamin B6 (50–150 mg per day), and try over-the-counter medications.

As you’re seeking solutions, remember that for most people, foot side effects do eventually subside. “I had that soreness after Taxotere for months,” says survivor Phoenix, “but it did go away. A year after chemo I thought I was completely better generally, but now I know it wasn’t true; it takes a long time and each year that passes you feel a bit better than before.”

Have you experienced lingering side effects on your feet? Tell us your story.

Photo courtesy McBadger via Flickr.com.