My Cancer Journey: Tips for Coping with Chemo Side Effects 

Hi, I am from India. I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. and had to go through Chemo for 4 months. I went through all what you are mentioning here. Today, by God's grace, I am out of it and on my way to recovery. Be strong and have faith in HIM!

Dee, as a physician, living in the U.S., I cannot help but commend your wonderful approach to this most frightening medical experience. Your suggestions are not only practical, but, your light-hearted approach will certainly lessen the fear that these experiences generate. Thank you for sharing your most intimate experiences. I am sending you some of my warmest Hugs, and prayers for a joyous life. Blessings:)

Guy here. I go through my first infusion for breast cancer tomorrow and I’m scared out of my mind. I know about all of the side effects but I’m still terrified. You are quite an inspiration. Don’t ever care about what other people think or say. Screw them! Do what you want.

Honey, you don’t need hair with those amazing eyes and spirit!

Thank you for sharing I’m about to start my treatment my hair is my pride and joy I’m preparing my to shave my hair just listening to your story is making things easier praying God strength over me and all cancer patients you are beautiful with are without hair

I’ve been battling stage 4 metastatic breast cancer since 2014. I lost my long hair after my 2nd chemo treatment. No one understood me when I said “my hair hurts”. Just barely touching my scalp made me flinch. Thank you for sharing your journey. I’ll be on treatment the rest of my life. Every 3 weeks and PET Scans every 3-4 months. I keep my hair short now because it’s easier to manage. You’re beautiful and may God bless you always 🙏🏼🦋💜

You are beautiful. My wife was just discovered with cancer and will be starting chemo in a few weeks. Your video is great help to me to better understand what she is going through. I forwarded your video to her to watch. Thank you for putting this video together. My prayers and love for you.

I looked at what other people went through with going through chemotherapy and I was thankful that I didn’t get sick a lot or had a lot of pain I thanked God I didn’t have that and only lost my hair. Hair grows back eventually after you a through with your chemotherapy. Praise God I only lost my hair and that was it for really bad side effects from my chemotherapy.

I have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer and start chemo on Friday with 4 different infusions. I was in tears when I came across your video but the part about laxative candies made me laugh so hard lol so thank you for unknowingly pulling me out of my self pity and finding the humor for a split second

My round between 3&4 was rough too. I ended up in the hospital for a week with sepsis! It was awful! But I just finished my LAST treatment 2 days ago! 🙌🏾 My prayers for us ALL!!! 💞💪🏾

I am on day 16 of AC my hair is coming out. My head is so sore. I am sharing my journey as well. Thank you for the advice and sharing

I actually DO know a few ladies that keep their heads bald. They are healthy women, not taking medical treatment. They are unapologetic about it; and they look absolutely AMAZING the way you do. And being able to use wigs as a fashion accessory is kind of awesome too! But as a person that loves my hair, so hearing your journey through it is heartwarming. You are being so strong and my prayers are with you!

Thank you warrior for such a helpful and inspiring video. I just did my second round of Chemo and I am facing almost all these issues, so the info is helpful. I also love your positive attitude. A true warrior! We will win and conquer our battle.

Thank you for making this video. I am at the very beginning of my cancer journey and your honesty had left me feeling less scared.

From Cambodia, I had stage III of colon cancer, I might start my first round of chemo this month if everything okay after blood testing. Thanks for your videos sharing! I will fight with this.

Thanks Dee You’re a breath of fresh air 🌞 I have Multiple Myeloma (bone marrow cancer) and start chemo on Feb 2. Your video has really helped me 🙏

You actually are beautiful with or without hair. Speedy recovery and may God bless you. 💐

Dee Wow! I too want to thank you for following your heart and making this video! I love your courage,tenacity, strength and desire to help others by sharing your story. I couldn't help feeling how genuine, thoughtful and kind you are! I have to tell you it is so palpable that I could easily feel like you are not only speaking to me but anyone would love to be your friend! You honestly not only shared your initial fears, by showing your before and after pictures, but you are showing anyone going through this some obstacles that can become present and how to manage or jump over them! Thank you for demonstrating and being so transparent even when like you said, you don't feel well somedays as well. You are inspiring and so up beat! I have been a Registered Nurse for 34 years now in New York and share your heart for doing anything to help everyone! I have seen and been around long enough to see so much. i know that we are made up of body, mind and spirit. so that being said we should take care of all three of them that make us one whole person. I am also a woman of prayer so that I will hold you up in my daily prayers until you are healed! we all have a story to share.....keep us posted and know I look forward to seeing more videos .... .....just remember this is only a chapter in your beautiful story book! huge hugs to you!

Never heard anyone else describe the pain from the actual loss of hair! Thought I was the only one.

I have ovarian cancer. When I lost my hair, yes, your hair hurts but mainly sore head. I use the jelly part of the aloe plant or you can get aloe vera gel at Walmart and rub on your head. It's very soothing and cool. Love it for everything.

I was just diagnosed with breast cancer, and I want to thank you for giving a realistic, down to earth account of what one can expect during chemo, and things that can help. Thank you.

I understand perfectly. I start losing my hair, cut it short and I was afraid to wash my hair. I still have hair in my head I was lucky I had a lot of hair to begin with. Right now stop falling but I know at one point I will have to shave it. I still crying about. But your video made me thinking about it in another way. I hope you are better now.

I wish and pray for your quick recovery,you’re such a wonderful person even through your treatment and pain you have made a video on chemotherapy so others who are suffering same can understand what steps they should take.

Great tips. I had 5 months heavy chemo in my 24 month fight to beat stage 4 lung cancer. It initially helped but it stopped being effective after a few and 4 large life threatening tumours returned. Luckily other treatments then became available in my home state that help me reach remission. Wish I has seen this video during my long winter months of chemotherapy.

Have a speedy recovery Dee Doherty

I'm fighting also breast Cancer.. and now my 2 cycle of chemo. The same stories my dear.. God blessed us. All will be alright

I will be getting my port a cath in 2 days and chemo a week from then. I am nervous. Trying to learn from others' experiences. You are an awesome young lady. Praying for you. Keep being positive for yourself it does help others also.

I got so emotional while watching your videos. I will be having my 1st round this Sunday and was just searching videos on what to expect. Thank you for sharing! I love your channel!

You are very appreciated for making this video. For 2 years I've been struggling with swollen lymphnodes and had surgery to remove 1 mass on my neck in May 2018 it is now December 2018 and I'm to start chemo. I had a lot of concerns about the hair loss process and you've answered any questions I may have had. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family I hope you fight and beat cancer! thanks so much

Thank you for this. My mom starts chemo soon and it’s so good for me to know what to expect and be as prepared as I can. You look beautiful with a bald head!

Hi Dee! I want to thank you for sharing your journey with us all. I begin A/C tomorrow & am a bit nervous. I keep telling myself if I can make it through Oct/Nov the Taxol shouldn’t be as bad. I’ve purchased most of your items mentioned to help with side effects. Thank you again, you’ve given me hope! 💕

God Bless you for being so brave! I appreciate you sharing your journey with us! I start Chemo on June 8th. I had many questions and you answered most. Thank you. You are in my thoughts and prayers! Stay strong and keep up the fight. Take care of yourself Dee. Thank you!!!!

Thanks Dee for sharing your chemotherapy experience with us all, your really brave and it's great you have done this as it will help myself and others who are going to experience chemotherapy, your gorgeous by the way before and after. x

Thank you so much for this. I am just have just lost my hair, and shaved it. I loved your description of it feeling about your hair moving around in the follicles - I totally felt like this. I lost my hair almost within 6 days, then shaved it. Playing around with scarves and hats. Wishing you the best!!

Love your videos, I'm about to go through four 21 day cycles of chemo for stage 3 testicular cancer and these videos are helping me a lot. I'm shaving my head early just to get used to it fast and this video is helping me incredibly to do so. Thank you so much 💕💕💕💕💕

I'm in awe of your personality, you've been handed a serious situation. I'm soo happy you've got a husband and more importantly. A healthy child...I wish you nothing but the best .

Thank you for sharing and pray for you to recover soon. You are a brave woman!!

Thanks for sharing! I’m on my 2nd time around with chemo treatments unfortunately & I’ve had ALL same issues you have talked about! I appreciate you posting these videos with tips! God bless you! ❤️🙏🏼

Thank you for this video. Very helpful. I just started first round of chemo, and now I know what to expect. 😢 thank you for your help and great attitude. Will keep watching. ❤

You made my day! I bleached my hair 2 weeks after my first round of chemo last week just to rush the process but I realize im so not ready..periwinkle hair is everywhere in clumps and it makes me cry. I know I'm early in the process and more tears to come you made my day!!

Ohhh my goodness!! I have never seen such a beautiful bald headed person. How ANYONE could be offended by your BEAUTIFUL appearance I'll never know! Ok I'll carry on with the rest of the video now xxxx

I was having chemo from January 2018, I hope you are doing well now and yes i fully agree the head got very sore. But you look great without hair. My hair has now returned but i am tempted to get a buzz cut again, i actually liked it. Stay strong and sending huge huge from Northern Ireland xxx

It's so admirable and inspiring how you stay so positive. You're so beautiful and you own the bald head! ❤️🥰🌹

Thank you for your videos! I was just diagnosed with stage 3a grade 3 TNBC and IBC. just started my AC chemo last week. You give a lot of great advice. And I just love your spirit 💗💗

Thank you for sharing your experiences with everyone, you are a brave lady and I admire your courage , you put into words what I needed to here as going through chemo and about to loose my hair and was in tears hearing about what’s going to happen, but it’s a good thing as it’s preparing me for the next week when my hair will start to fall out !! Skin care is good advice again thank you , and thank you so very much for putting this out there your an inspiration!!

I love your sense of humor and beautiful accent. Very important tips for side effects of chemotherapy. I'm sure they are appreciated.

Thank you so much for your video. My mom will be starting chemo next week and I will be bringing her a small gift-pack of many of your suggested items. Still trying to educate myself on all of this. Never had to deal with it before so thanks again! You look fantastic with OR without your hair.

I'm soooo not looking forward to losing my hair. I'm having a bone marrow transplant in a few weeks, so I'll lose all my hair. This has helped me so much. Thanks so much xx

Dee - thanks for your reply about drinking cold water during chemo treatment to prevent those nasty cankers. perfect timing. Going today so just put a bottle of water in the freezer. I heard people eat ice chips during chemo but didn’t know why. Thanks so much. Linda

Great video. I'm glad you found some things that worked.

Just thank you. I’m here to find out ways to help my friend through her cancer journey. I’m crying a lot but you make me laugh. I need that. We all do.

Everything you say is true! I had the same experience! I crying every time I saw my hair falling out it’s very hard!! 😢😢😢but I got better after I shaved! Thank you for sharing your story 😊

Thank you for the info I’m currently on my 4th chemo and had some of the questions you addressed, feel better

I must say this channel has helped me and my wife go through this long process of chemotherapy through real life sharing!

Great job mann that u fightt and won such a huge battle with cancer

I'm so sorry you're feeling down right now when you posted this video I am just starting on my journey having been diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer a little over a week ago I will be starting my first chemo treatment out of five or 6 this coming Tuesday thank you so much for making this video and no I don't think you're a fraud at all I think you are just here to share your experience and I appreciate that thank you

I just finished my second round of AC. Thank you so much for your most helpful tips. Sending hugs your way.

I like the bald bead. You have a GREAT shaped head

Just got a lumpectomy yesterday and next week we build the chemo and radiation therapy plan. Thank you for all this information!!!

Thank you so much for this. I feel so much better for your suggestions.❤️

You are beautiful with or without hair! Hope your treatment went well.

Thank you so much for this video. Starting my chemo in a week and some of your tips were greatly appreciated. :)

Wow your attitude is so great. I hope I can deal with it as good as you. I was just diagnosed with lymphoma today. I'm used to being very active, and the thought of being sick from the treatment is scary because I live alone.

Thank you for sharing the tips. I have to say that it makes me emotional to watch this. My mother is starting chemo soon and to even think of what she will go through pains me. I am watching videos and reading to educate myself and see how i could help her and make things easier for her.

Never hide your BEAUTIFUL SELF! 😉 Loving the baldness ❤️

Thank you! I am triple-negative breast cancer and just lost my hair! yes, it feels so strange that hair can hurt. Thank you for your spirit and energy. Women like you empower us on our journey to evict the cancer cells in our bodies.

Thank you for sharing! You are lovely. God bless you Dee!

Thank you everything you said was so well described.

Loved this video, great information, but more than this; what a great attitude and smile!

I think you're amazing. Thank you for your upbeat approach

I appreciate all your videos regarding cancer! It's made it less scary. Thank you

Absolutely so enjoyed your video!!!

I am glad to have stumbled on your post. I had my first ac treatnent and i am in the process of losing my hair. My scalp is sore as if i bruised it. I was going on as no one had warned me about. This was reassuring. Thank you

There are also diff levels of pH in water. Cancer cells love an acidic environment so avoid most tap and bottled water EXCEPT FOR EVIAN and FIJI water which are Alkaline. Thank you for sharing your most courageous journey with the rest of us. I wish you a prompt and lasting remission. {{{God bless, guide and protect you and yours - ALWAYS!!}}}

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!! HAIR OR NO HAIR!! JUST BEAUTIFUL!!GOD BLESS YOU

You are so helpful and positive about this experience! Thank you for inspiring me and others! God bless!

Thanks for your video. I’ve been through a couple rounds of chemo this year and had a bone marrow transplant. I found it it interesting you explaining about the exfoliater, I just ordered one online so when I get home I could use it but I didn’t think about it irritating my skin.

💖 your insight, I am starting chemo today and your tips are great and helpful.

I will start my chemotherapy soon. I like your positive attitude..

I love your video! Your "bright-side" for not having hair, is pretty much the same as mine after I cut my hair off.....my daughter laughed when I said......"I can now wash my hair in 5 minutes instead of 5 hours" :) It is really good to be able to find something positive that can make you laugh during such an awful experience. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you on my 2nd round of chemotherapy and having problems with dealing with my hair and afraid .and nausea is the worst.. .you are beautiful 💪

Thank you Dee for this video, I had my first chemo 4 days ago. They tell you what side effects to expect but not in the detail you've just given me. I'm taking it all on board. I still have my hair, they said 10 - 14days so I've already had it cut short, great to know what to do next. Thanks again and take care xx

Dee, you have such a wonderful attitude, ❤❤❤

hi Dee, thankyou so much for this video, i just watched it, i know its from 2018 and i sincearly hope that you are well now and enjoying your life! we are going through this at the moment, i am supporting a loved one, she was devastated about losing her long blond beautiful hair but is using cold caps and though has lost quite a bit, because it wasnt done properly at the clinic, unfortunately they have no experience with cold capping here!...she has just has her 2nd chemo and still has quite a lot of hair, at least much more than i think she would have had without the cold capping.....personally i think women look just beautiful in the hair scarves and caps, there are so many very pretty things you can wear on your head and even without, people look just fine with no hair....we have to stop hiding cancer and chemo because its not something to be ashamed about and we should be more open about it, especially as so many people are suffering.....again, thankyou for the very upbeat video, positivity is everything and honesty about the side effects is the only way to go....bless you

You are a beautiful lady inside and out. Thanks for the video.

You are truly lovely. May God bless you and your family

I’m sorry for you having to go thru this. My wife is just getting her port install today. Thanks for shearing.

Super helpful. Starting Chemo therapy this week for the first time and now I have my shopping list. I loved your description of cutting or shaving your head before the hair starts falling out because emotionally as well as feeling sick, you did not have the band width to deal with it later. I will take this advice.

You are beautiful 🤩 thank you so much for sharing this video. I am watching a ton of videos to learn as much as I can to help my mom who is in her first treatment of chemo.

My father just diagnosed with leukemia. I am bing watching these videos for hope. ❤️🤞

Thank you! Your tips will be helpful for me. You look great! I thought about getting my hair cut short before the chemo starts.

I just watched your first video I am amazed at how spot-on you are with everything I get my 3rd chemo treatment on Thursday I was Enlighten by the hair part of your video a lot of good tips that I plan on trying thank you for your video and I wish you all the best God has to give you in the rest of your

Thank you I start chemo soon..my hair is everything and I know I’m going to lose it wow…glad you are making it through…new sub the info on how you feel helps

First of all you are absolutely adorable 🥰 …. Second , so so helpful ! Thank you 🙏🏼

Thank you for sharing your experiences.

I understand about the tenderness . Embrace it, that's right! I cried as well and cut it myself. Stay strong!

Amazingly well done. Hope that you are doing well 🌷🌷🌷

I didn't know how many side effects there were and how bad they are so this has given me a new view on things so thanks for that and stay strong!

Thanks for this. You look amazing.

Thank you for making this video..... I knew I was going to loose my hair, but seeing it come out at such a fast rate shocked me..... I thought I was going crazy feeling like my "hair" hurt. Nobody understood. God bless..... ❤ prayers.