Finding Ways to Cope During Your Journey
- “Real Housewives of Cheshire” star Nermina Pieters-Mekic, 33, says she has “good days” and bad days while undergoing chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer. Among the side effects she’s noted publicly is some hair loss, although chemo can also cause fatigue, often alongside gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea.
- Pieters-Mekic undergoes cryotherapy, which involves scalp-cooling devices approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for certain cancers, including breast cancer. It’s used before, during, and after chemotherapy to preserve and/or minimize hair loss. It works by constricting blood flow, thus limiting circulating chemotherapy from reaching hair follicles.
- Chemotherapy stops cancerous cells from growing, dividing, and spreading to other organs. It travels through the bloodstream, killing cancerous cells. However, the process also impacts healthy cells, leading to side effects.
- To better manage chemotherapy side effects, experts recommend exercising and eating a nutritious diet with enough fruits, vegetables, and protein. Getting enough sleep helps with fatigue and allows you to recover quicker. Your doctor may also recommend medications to help with side effects.
Nermina Pieters-Mekic, 33, known from “Real Housewives of Cheshire,” is bravely battling early-stage aggressive breast cancer. Enduring rigorous chemotherapy, the devoted mother acknowledges the rollercoaster of good and bad days stemming from grueling treatment. Yet, she’s determined to seize every precious moment, ensuring the good days are cherished to the fullest.
“When I do have a good day, I make sure I put on some make-up, I wear something nice, and I surround myself with good people,” Pieters-Mekic wrote in an Instagram post.
Read MoreView this post on InstagramPieters-Mekic shared photos of her attending an event with a fancy dinner where she was one of the honorees for her entrepreneurial pursuits.
“Yes – I’m still going through treatments at the moment, but thankfully, that doesn’t mean I don’t have good days,” she said.
“This was actually the first big public event that I went to, and I enjoyed every second of it, even though it was a little bit scary after being in my own safe bubble for so long,” Pieters-Mekic continued.
Supportive fans – some of whom attended the event – shared words of encouragement.
“I loved your talk at the event on Friday. Thank you for sharing your story. It’s always interesting to hear how someone so fit and young can still be affected by these issues, and it gave me a huge reminder to check myself more often,” Instagram user Rebecca Dennis commented.
Helping Patients Cope with a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Her Cancer Journey Began Amid Pregnancy
Pieters-Mekic’s cancer diagnosis emerged while she was pregnant after discovering an unsuspecting lump in her breast that turned out to be aggressive early-stage breast cancer.
“I was pregnant when I found out I had cancer; it broke my heart we couldn’t keep the baby – nobody should ever find themselves in that unthinkable position,” Pieters-Mekic told OK Magazine.
View this post on Instagram
“After some convincing from my mom, I decided to investigate it further as the lump was getting sore and growing,” she explained.
Last July, she was diagnosed with an early-stage aggressive breast cancer. The diagnosis brought a flurry of worry for the popular Housewives reality star.
“I will never be able to describe how I felt that day and the days after that…My heart was broken, I was scared, and I had many questions. I’m healthy and fit, so how is this possible for someone my age,” Pieters-Mekic said.
The reality TV star said she is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is an effective tool for oncologists to help treat cancer by stopping cancerous cells from growing, dividing, and spreading to other organs. Chemo works by traveling through the bloodstream, killing cancerous cells. However, the process also impacts healthy cells, leading to side effects.
Enduring Chemo on a Breast Cancer Journey
Pieters-Mekic is experiencing many of the struggles associated with chemotherapy and its side effects, beginning with hair loss. She shared a photo of herself wearing a scalp-cooling device to preserve her hair.
“Normally, 60% to 80% of your hair goes after your second infusion and, if you’re lucky, into your third. I was prepared for it [hair loss],” Sidner said as she held up a strand of hair she’d lost so far.
WATCH: What is a scalp-cooling device?
Scalp-cooling devices have recently been approved by the FDA, first for breast cancer and then several other cancers. That means wearing cold caps or special cooling caps before, during, and after each chemotherapy treatment. The caps, which are tightly fitting and strap-on helmet-style, are filled with a gel coolant that’s chilled to between -15 and -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
The caps “cause vasoconstriction, or a narrowing of the blood vessels bringing blood to the scalp,” Dr. Renata Urban, gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington, explains.
By constricting the blood flow to the scalp, the caps limit the circulating chemotherapy that reaches the hair follicles, protecting them from some of the chemo’s damaging effects.
The cold also decreases the activity of the hair follicles, slowing down cell division and making the follicles less affected by the chemotherapy medicine.
Coping With Hair Loss from Cancer Treatment
Hair loss can be an emotional stage of anyone’s cancer journey. SurvivorNet has tips and resources for anyone facing this side effect and struggling to manage it.
“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. To start with, the dread of losing one’s hair can lead to some sleepless nights and feelings of anxiety,” Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, told SurvivorNet.
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment.
WATCH: Hair loss during chemo.
It happens because this treatment targets quickly dividing cells throughout the body. That includes cancer cells but also hair cells.
Radiation is another treatment that can lead to hair loss if the hair is in the path of the tumor being treated. For example, radiation for a brain tumor may cause hair loss on the head.
“If you do lose hair, it will regrow several weeks or months after treatment,” radiation oncologist at GensisCare Dr. James Taylor told SurvivorNet.
“Fortunately, for most patients, hair loss is not a concern when having radiation therapy.”
Most patients can expect regrowth four to six weeks after treatment. However, it is possible when your hair grows back, you may notice some changes in its color and texture.
Dr. Boardman suggests connecting with others experiencing cancer treatment like yours and asking them for first-hand advice.
“Talk to people who have been through it, get their advice, voice your concerns to your caregiver, and see what they can do,” Dr. Boardman added.
If losing your hair is a concern before cancer treatment, know that you have options like wigs, hats, wraps, and more.
Managing Other Chemo-Related Side Effects
Chemo patients almost universally experience fatigue, often alongside gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea. Doctors have many effective medications to combat chemo-induced nausea. “But mitigating that fatigue often depends on the patient,” Dr. Urban said.
“Neuropathy is probably one of the most challenging side effects,” Dr. Urban continued.
Neuropathy results from damage to the peripheral nerves. It usually resolves after chemotherapy treatment, but sometimes symptoms can persist. While it’s typically characterized by numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation in the hands and feet, neuropathy can have several different symptoms, including:
- Weakness in the hands or feet
- Stabbing or burning pain in the hands or feet
- Difficulty gripping, such as when holding a fork
- Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning a shirt
Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy. When chemotherapy affects the rapidly dividing cells in the stomach lining, the resulting cellular havoc in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to side effects such as nausea and vomiting. However, doctors can help patients mitigate the hit with various medications before, during, and after treatment.
“Part of the chemotherapy prescription includes a set regimen of anti-nausea medications…We also ensure patients have medications at home that they can use should they develop nausea after treatment,” Dr. Urban added.
Tips to Navigating Chemo Side Effects
Doctors don’t have an arsenal of prescription medications to combat fatigue. However, you can do several things to help minimize the hit and restore your energy.
- Exercise: While it may be counterintuitive, physical activity can help alleviate side effects, especially fatigue. “Although ovarian cancer is not common, we often draw upon the experience of patients with breast cancer and colon cancer that have shown that physical activity can not only improve quality of life but may also have beneficial impacts on cancer outcomes,” Dr. Urban says.
- Eat well: Even though nausea may interfere with your ability to eat a healthy diet, it’s essential to ensure you’re eating appropriately, getting enough protein, and not losing weight. Not only will nourishing your body support your recovery, but it may also help you feel more energized.
- Sleep: Want to mitigate fatigue? Be sure to maintain your regular sleep-wake cycle while on treatment. Sticking to a set sleep schedule helps reduce fatigue by ensuring enough hours for your body to heal and restore itself each night. It may also help you recover more quickly by keeping energy levels high during the daytime.
What To Ask Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have questions about keeping your strength through treatment. Here are a few questions to help you begin the conversation with your doctor:
- What treatment will I be receiving?
- What side effects are associated with this treatment?
- Are there steps I can take daily to help minimize these side effects?
- What physical activity routine do you recommend for me during treatment?
- Do you have recommendations for someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise?
- Can you recommend a dietician who can help me with healthy eating tips and weight maintenance?
- I’ve been having trouble sleeping. Do you have any treatment recommendations?
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