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Beating Breast Cancer
15
items I have been cancer-free now for 3 years. This is my list of things that helped make treatment and recovery a little easier. I hope they help you in your journey.
I tried all sorts of head coverings when I lost my hair, but these were by far the most comfortable and well-fitting. Her bamboo beanies, are butter soft, warm when you need them to be, without making you sweat. And…when you have those dreaded inevit...
AllThingsBlooming - Etsy
A major side effect of Taxol is painful neuropathy in your hands and feet. Icing down your hands and feet during an infusion prevents the chemo from reaching your extremities and thus prevents the neuropathy. It's not pleasant to have your tootsies packed in ice, but in the long term, the minimal discomfort is worth preserving the feeling in your hands and feet. I used this brand of mittens and they worked like a champ. We bought an extra set of ice packs and took them in a little cooler to the infusion center. When one set warmed up too much to still be effective, we'd just switch out the cold packs.
The exact ones I used on my feet aren't available anymore, but there are lots of other options to choose from.
The exact ones I used on my feet aren't available anymore, but there are lots of other options to choose from.
Healthy Hands Ice Pack Wrap - Cold Therapy
My husband's coworkers got me a care package when I was diagnosed that included a blanket that was very similar to this, some warm fuzzy socks, and an eye mask. I used the set every time I went for an infusion, both during and on the way home. They pump you full of fluids once the infusion is finished which makes you very chilly. It was much appreciated.
Afterprints Warm Hugs Healing Blanket 50"x60"
After chemo, I had a double mastectomy with immediate diep flap reconstruction. After a mastectomy and or reconstruction, expect to have multiple drains in for several weeks. I pretty much lived in a either the robe I bought from this seller or pajam...
BabyBeMineAndGownies - Etsy
After chemo and reconstruction, because pathology showed a micro met, I had to have 6 weeks of dense dose radiation. Radiation is a piece of cake compared to to everything else one goes through during treatment. However, it’s not without its side eff...
Rejuvaskin Skin Recovery Cream, 100 ml
Whether it’s the port scar or the mastectomy scar or the hip to hip incision from the diep flap reconstruction, I was a mess of ugly scars. Two products in tandem helped me reduce their appearance. The first is this scar tape. You wear it for 12 hour...
MED PRIDE Silicone Wound Tape 1.5in x 1.6yd
The second product I used on my scars is something that I still treat myself to today. This Lavish body butter is amazing. It reduces inflammation, does wonders for stretch marks, helps heal sunburns quickly, helps heal eczema, and it smells delici...
LAVISH Ultra Rich Body Butter
Besides the fact that your scalp will be tender while your hair is falling out, a lot of us get something akin to cradle cap during chemo. These soft little newborn brushes were great for massaging my head and exfoliating.
Scalp Scrubbie Loofah Cradle Cap Brush 3-pk
Another breast cancer survivor recommended this trick to me. Until all of your hair falls out, you will be annoyed that it is constantly shedding. Every time I was in the bathroom, I would take a sheet off the lint roller and use it on my head to col...
Extra Sticky Lint Roller
Once your hair starts to grow back, it will most likely come back in curly even if your hair was stuck straight before chemo. Divacurl was my favorite styling aide while my hair was short and curly. Just wash, apply a small amount to wet hair, scrunc...
Super Curl Definer | Ultra Defining Gel - DevaCurl
When it’s humid, those curls can and do get frizzy. So my hair dresser recommended that I also apply a pea sized amount of the reskin leave in cream. Even though I blow dry those curls straight now that my hair is shoulder length, I still use this cr...
Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame Heat Protectant Leave In-Cream - Redken | Ulta Beauty
After surgery, especially after reconstruction, you'll need to figure out how you are going to navigate sleep for 6-8 weeks. If you have a hip to hip incision like I did, it's near impossible to get up from a horizontal position unassisted. Some people rent an electric recliner for a few weeks. Some people buy a wedge pillow set like this to make it a little easier to sit up. I bought this wedge pillow set, and if I had only had a mastectomy, it probably would have worked well. However, my abdominal incision made it too difficult to get up even from an inclined position, so I ended up sleeping on the couch sitting up for the first 2 weeks before transitioning to the bed with the wedge pillow.
Bedluxe 3PCS Wedge Pillow Set for Relief
After a mastectomy or lumpectomy, the surgeon will want you to wear a surgical bra for a while. Essentially a bra with no underwires that provides ample support. They will likely give you some from the hospital, however, the hospital bras are very thin, and if your incision is not underboob, you will be able to see it through the bra and thus, through light colored or thinner shirts. I found these and love them. Supper soft, plenty of support, and the padded straps were a bonus. Plus, a front closure is a must because your ability to reach behind you will be strained for the first several months of your recovery since muscles and tendons have to be cut during the surgery.
CYDREAM Women Post-Surgical Zip Front Bra
I didn't have nausea with the taxol, but I did have extreme nausea with the AC. I had to have these ginger chews at the ready during infusions.
Prince of Peace Ginger Chews, 4 oz. - 2 Pack
Coffee tasted like dirt to me all through chemo. It does something to your taste buds. I got my caffeine fix with peppermint tea.
Bigelow Peppermint Herbal Tea, 120 Bags