As outlined in Bit On The Side, there are a few pesky side effects that may or may not occur during treatment for cancer. However, as I’ve discovered this week, there are probably fewer than you think. 

Waking up to find the pillow covered in hairs, for example, might mean that the last few remaining strands clinging to your scalp have finally given up the ghost. It might. Alternatively, it might simply mean that the cat has spent the night sleeping closer than strictly necessary to your face. 

Noticing a bit of patchy weird looking skin on your palms, might be the start of hand-foot syndrome. It might. There’s also a chance, however, that you’ve just got a load of chocolate dust on your hand from the outside of your cappuccino mug.

Discoloured nails are a real pain. When it turns out the discolouration is due more to a bit of residual staining from the bright yellow nail polish you’ve been wearing than anything more sinister, well, that’s not quite so concerning.