Mum's key change to daily routine helped her get through aggressive chemotherapy
A mum-of-two has shared the key lifestyle change she made that allowed her to feel more "in control" mentally and physically while undergoing a stem cell transplant and chemotherapy.
Linda Elliot, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2015, but has since relapsed and had to undergo aggressive treatment in a bid to halt the symptoms from progressing further.
The 51-year-old, from Bournemouth, knew the treatment would be gruelling and that her skin would take a hit as a result, with chemotherapy side effects including dry, discoloured, sensitive, red, sore, or itchy skin. But by making one big change to her daily routine, she claims to have been able to improve her physical and mental well-being and regain some control over her body in the process.
Linda before having her treatment (Linda Elliot)
The mum underwent stem cell transplant and chemotherapy (Linda Elliot)Linda told the Mirror of the key role that using medical-grade skincare played in her recovery as she opened up about her battle with MS. She said: "I was diagnosed with MS in 2015 after an initial incident that affected my speech. I knew what I wanted to say but I wasn't in control of the words that were coming out.
"I thought I'd had a stroke. Shortly afterwards my vision was affected, and my eyes felt like they were vibrating. I had constant nausea and couldn't stand up straight. MS is a progressive disease, where you may recover in the short term, before relapsing. To try and treat my symptoms, I joined a trial for a stem cell transplant, which aims to halt the damage done to my brain from progressing further. Historically it is a treatment for leukaemia.
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"The treatment happens in two stages. I had one round of chemotherapy in February before my stem cells were collected and stored. More rounds of aggressive chemotherapy then killed the rogue cells, before the new stem cells entered my body, to grow a new immune system for me."
Linda was discharged from the hospital in mid-June and is currently being closely monitored at home, as she has a brand-new immune system. She continued to explain: "About four years ago, before my latest MS relapse, I thought my skin was starting to look a bit dull and aged. I know a dermatology doctor called Dr Rayhaneh Zahedi, as our children went to the same school. I decided to book a consultation, and established a personalised skincare routine, using medical-grade skincare called AlumierMD. Before my transplant, I went to see Dr Rayhaneh again to prep my skin before the treatment. I knew looking after my skin while in hospital would help me physically, and mentally too."
The mum went on to share how the skincare made a big difference as during her chemotherapy she only experienced some "minor tightness" in her skin and nothing else. She claims even her transplant doctor and haematologist were impressed with the condition of her skin, with one medical professional desperate to know what she'd been using as she looked "fantastic" given the "aggressive treatment she'd been undergoing".
She used medical-grade skincare (Linda Elliot)
She's received a number of compliments on her skin, even doctors were impressed (Linda Elliot)"It's nice to receive compliments like that," Linda added, before sharing the way self-care also aided in her mental recovery. She explained: "It's nice to have that time to pamper yourself and give yourself a treat. During the transplant, doing my skincare routine made me feel more in control.
"You have you give your body over to the doctors, so being able to control how my skin looked, really helped with my recovery. If you feel confident about your skin, that gives you a feeling of positivity that I think really helps you get better.
"I've had so many compliments about my skin since I have used the products. My complexion is so much brighter and plumper, it makes me feel really good about my skin. Since I've lost my hair, I feel very exposed. You have nowhere to hide. Using AlumierMD has made me feel really confident. I feel brighter using it, it makes me happy."
The mum went on to impart some words of wisdom for anyone who might be going through similar treatment, saying: "My skin was in great shape before I started chemotherapy. Preparation is really important. You might not feel great, there are lots of changes within your body, but looking after my skin meant there was one less thing to worry about. I didn’t have any horrible side effects like skin peeling, and I put that down to my AlumierMD products.
"Make sure your skincare advice comes from a medical professional. I felt so reassured that Dr Rayhaneh was a doctor – she understood my medical condition and understood the procedure I was about to go through wasn't an easy one, it was very aggressive. It was very reassuring to have that kind of professional knowledge."
Dr Rayhaneh, a dermatology speciality doctor at Quality Health Care, was able to draw on her medical training to personalise Linda's care. She added: "When Linda first came to see me, she was keen to improve her skin tone, look fresher and more rejuvenated. One of the main benefits of retinol is to boost the skin cell turnover revealing smoother, glowing skin underneath. Linda was using AlumierMD's Retinol Resurfacing Serum 1.0, and tolerating it well, but during chemotherapy, we stopped the retinol. This was because the common side effects of chemotherapy medication include dryness, itching, increased sensitivity, rashes, redness, and discolouration.
"Moreover, chemotherapy weakens the body's immune system which is responsible for fighting off infections. Using retinol on skin that was already at risk of being sensitive and dry could have caused excessive 'shedding' and compromised the skin's protective barrier by creating openings or breaks that could have served as entry points for bacteria or other pathogens. It is important to take extra care of the skin during chemotherapy and follow proper hygiene practices to minimise the risk of infections."
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