Breast Cancer Support Group

I can only say that in my opinion there really is no way to prepare for chemo. The results very as much as the individuals who receive it are. I was very blessed I had chemo 1x every 3 weeks. My "cocktail" was a combination of 3 different medications. I suffered no bad ill effects. I was sick to my stomach only 3 times( In the very beginning). I was able to eat pretty much anything I wanted. I completely lost all my body hair in the 3rd treatment. I was very tired most of the time...Have you had any experience with the American Cancer Society? They are wonderful people with great compassion and lots and lots of information. I joined a local support group and it helped me a LOT!!!! There unfortunately are a lot of women who have "Been there and done that" these women are strong and very informed about what we are going through,will go through and survive through!!! Much Love to You and your family!!!!

It's been quite a few years, but my son had cancer and I remember that he was able to eat anything he wanted too. He had LOTS of chemo for 3 years, and whatever he asked for, I made! There were times that he'd have strange "cravings" but I'd go ahead and fix it. LOL. I was NEVER told anything at all about avoiding any kind of foods/spices, etc. All the oncologists were concerned about was getting plenty of food into him, and making sure it was balanced.

Unfortunately with him, his blood counts would go down drastically, so he'd lose his appetite frequently, and getting him to eat could be quite a battle.

It sounds to me like you have open season on your diet! Whatever you want, go ahead and have! And my prayers are with you, dearheart. I hope YOU come out as successfully as I did. God bless you! Hugs, Lee

HI CloudDreamer! Well I had AC as chemo starting last fall. The new drugs i got for nausea really helped and there really wasnt anything i couldnt eat. My biggest problem was having the energy to make food, so i made very high protein ( very cheap ) meals and froze them . I loved chili, and pea with ham soup, both very nutritious and easy to make and store. I didnt add any supplements to my diet. I also made sure a drank LOTS of fluids because the antinausea drugs made my mouth really dry and can cause wickedn constipation. I found senekot S was the only way to go for that one, as it is a stool softener and enhances gastric motility.
Fatigue was a really big thing for me. I htought i knew what tired was, but when yo0u have to have a nap to recover from having a shower, THAT is fatigue LOL. So, i made sure that i had everything i needed before i got comfy, and that i had easy to get to and prepare foods. And i made sure people knew how it was, so they werent offended if i didnt return a phone call or declined an invitation. The other thing i noticed was labile emotions, Lord, i would cry and laugh and cry and cry and for no apparent reason. And i had the weirdest dreams. Oh everyone told me to stock up on antibacterial handwash, and wipes. I bought it all and didnt use it, but i was lucky and sdidnt get even the sniffles. Freinds were very careful and still ended up in hospital with bad chests etc.
So, that is my experience, but it is so different for everyone, that you will have to chart your own course, Best of luck with it and you will do fine, Seems you prolly have some support system, which i didnt have. Take care and get well!!!

It depends on the chemo drug. I just finished with adryamicin and the foods of choice varied. I always kept diet ginnerale and cranberry juice on hand as that combo seemed to settle my stomach and remove the awful taste in my mouth. Also, ice cream - I could and did eat it for breakfast. Whole grains help, and I used oatmeal and quinoa as well as whole wheat anything for that. Fruit popsicles also taste good and I did find I craved protein more than carbs. I found my cravings of other foods varied from day to day and meal to meal but maybe that's just me. I lost my hair after my second treatment and I also have had problems with my eyes. With that and the fatigue factor it's a blast! Just hang in there and keep a good support group around you.

Hi CloudDreamer. I see a lot of coping strategies among my students. What seems to work best is having someone who knows what you're going through to lean on. The gals share advice and information, but what I see consistently is that it's the affection for one another that seems to be the real medicine. They also advocate one another and that's powerful. It helps to have someone go to your appointments and listen, and take it all in for you, and speak up when you just can't. IF that person is also a cancer patient or a survivor, then they're more in tune with what you need and what you're going through. And it gives the advocate a sense of getting her power back. She's able to help even as she fights her own battle.

There are groups in your area, I'm sure. The American Cancer Society is a good place to find one. Look for one that's proactive -- that does a lot of awareness programs. Groups like that are more often focused on "doing" than "reporting." Everyone needs time to give an update on where they are, but sometimes groups fall into the habit of reliving all the bad stuff rather than trying to help members survive and cope.

My heart goes out to you. Hang in there and keep us posted.

hi.. i just wanted to take the time to say thanks for the replies. I've probably done too much reading, because it gives me too much info to sift through. Hence, why I made the post in the first place.
I went in for my medi-port surgery yesterday. Seem to be more uncomfy after that than anything I've had done so far. Keep reminding myself there are nerves left there and there's a foreign body in my body now..... it's gonna take some adjustment! Will see how things go from here. If all goes well, will have first chemo treatment next Thurs. Still have necrosis healing well from reopening the mast. site the next day. Now another "owie" on the opposite side, so says one of my grandsons.
Yes, I've gotten quite a bit of literature from the ACS. I went to a BC support group right after diagnosis. There were about 9 women present, most significantly older than me, but a couple were in the same general ballpark (w/in 10 years above I think). Very friendly group of ladies! I hear tell that there is a second support group in town that meets at the hospital on a difft day of the week w/in the month. Almost feel like I'd be being fickle to even check it out though! We'll see. Would like to have someone my age, or real close to it, to be a comrade in arms with.
Haven't dealt yet w/ trying to figure out something for a wig. Have the name of the lady w/ the resource info. just haven't had time to call her. Closest ACS office is about 50 miles from here (which is also the length of the drive to deal w/ when chemo's over and radiation begins every day). Gotta love a fixed income, not. Yes, I know that medicaid will reimburse gas mileage percentages. Doesn't fix bad tires though! God will provide somehow when we get to that fork in the road.
again, ty for your responses. I've read so much and yes each individual is difft. I just wanted some personal stories. You know.. more than the text book answer of "well we have found that chicken works, fish works if you can tolerate it. Load up on veggies and fruits, if you can tolerate it." All those "if you can tolerates" can burn bridges when you toss your cookies as a result and find it an intolerable food, at least for that moment. Had read that due to the chemo's job to destroy cancer cells, that added supplements can or cannot be added to try and maintain normal healthy balance cuz it can work against the chemo (i.e. added vitamins, minerals, herbs, home remedies, etc).
Guess we shall see as we put one foot forward even more into this race.
TY again for all of your help/info... hope that ya'll are having a great day.

Ok I'm not a health professional, but because of what I do for a living, I tend to be overly cautious about giving specific advice. But you are clearly asking someone to just be specific, and I can see that you're not going to be annoyed if what they suggest doesn't work for YOU, or for you at some point in treatment.

So here goes . . .

What I hear most consistently is that popsicles are an absolute must have on hand. When chemo patients can't get anything down (or hold anything down) sucking on a popsicle seems to help sooth the mouth and digestive system. They're taken in slowly, they taste good, and they provides nourishment when you aren't able to manage a meal. They also help hydrate you. Try to get natural popcicles so you're not loading up on dyes and sugars, and other artificial ingredients.

Other food options that students mention frequently include: oatmeal, rice, grapes (especially frozen ones), certain fruits (excluding citrus and apples), mashed potatoes (you can hide some peas in there too), boneless skinless chicken breasts VERY lightly seasoned, pasta . . .

One thing I can tell you as a professional is that, contrary to popular belief, many cancer patients actually gain weight during chemo, rather than loosing. The reason? Your body attacks muscle mass (remember it goes for protein first) and you are left with more fat and less muscle when it's all said and done. Lack of muscle mass can make you lethargic and unable or unwilling to exercise, which heightens the effects of chemo.

You might consider, on your good days, exercising a bit. Really, I know what that sounds like. But more and more oncologists are recommending appropriate exercise, because it helps you fight depression, increases your appetite, helps you maintain muscle mass, helps you fight fatigue . . . the benefits are endless. Check out this link to an article in the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/...

Just copy and paste that into the address bar in your browser. Sorry I can't make it a hyper link inside of a message.

So there are some specific. I hope that helps. And in the mean time, you're in our prayers. Hang in there and do please keep everyone posted.

Hugs!

Calories are your friend when you're in chemo. Chemotherapy attacks muscle because protein is easier to digest than any of the other sources of energy: protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Your body goes after food sources in that order. So it's important to eat high calorie, high protein foods because that will help you preserve your muscle mass and will fuel your body for the fight.

Protein shakes (the sort athletes, especially body builders) are a good choice when you can tolerate them. Get a good brand though because if they don't mix well they're just awful. I recommend American Whey (you can get it online or at GNC). You can mix things with protein shake powder. For example, you can use almond milk in place of water to give yourself a boost of "good fats" and omega3 fatty acids. Add a banana and you've just boosted your potassium and brought up the calorie count in a very positive way. You can experiment with juices as a liquid base, but most people say citrus is tough to digest when you're in chemo.

Peanut butter is a good staple -- it's high in calories and if you can just lick it off of a spoon, a little bit at a time, it seems that you can eat more than you think. Again, this gives you the chance to eat something slowly over time.

Quick question????????
I see mention of probable avoiding citrus/apple. Am assuming that the issue there probably lies w/ the acidity??
What about TOMATO products???? tomatoes, sauces, marinara??????
Figured that there might be issues w/ tomatoes/oranges/etc w/ dealing w/ possibilty of sores in the mouth??????
Then I see where chili was a favorite for shaqua.. so it's like hmmmmm... perhaps????? w/ issues w/ tomatoes...
asking cuz on a fixed income we do a lot w/ tomatoes.. spaghetti, goulash, chili, etc.

It's common to get nerve damage with chemo - you may all be interested in the neuropathy group.
http://dailystrength.org/groups/ne...
Hope it's helpful.
:)

The things I can tell you are so easy. Your nose will alert you to un-appealing foods ..especially when nausea kicks in. Have some of your favorites that are easy; pudding, soups, rice..it really won't make a difference WHAT you eat, but more rather, WHEN. Keep your self nourished with food, but don't worry if you don't feel like it..you will eat as you feel like it or not.
Your meds will all be under the docs care and you should consult with your doc over anything you are ingesting, whether it be supplemental or prescribed.
Like cancerfree50 said each individual differs. I had a lot of bone pain and vurps (c(vomit and burp together) and was extremely tired. I had 8 chemos and 33 radiation. The chemo was every other week so I would have energy on the day of treatment, but sometime the day after and progressively (wekness and nausea) for the better part of the 2 weeks, I, generally, was not feeling well. I got about 4-5 good days out of a 2 week period. certain smells were very nauseating..I was lucky to have the "scent-free" clinic because you may find certain scents to be irritating.
Please let people help with meals and bringing them if possible (church group? bunco group?husbands work firends wives) most folks are happy to help. If you read my bio people came to us and it was helpful for my husband who was waiting on me hand and foot and getting tired too and the heavy weight of watching your loved one go through this. Keep your head clear on the fact that this is all doable, survivable and it WILL PASS! I can hardly believe that as sick as I was..I feel %100 not even two years later. I do have chemo brain and that means attention span and short term memory loss. They say it will pass, hope so. It will be 2 years since my last treatment of radiation.
get yourself a soft as ever fleecey (velvet even) to wrap around your head. Since your treatments will be during winter months, your head will get cold at night and hot all at the same time..so you can self regulate your head covering..scalps can be tenderish.
I had watched AMAZING RACE the year before and the woman who had to shave her head was my inspiration for the shaving of my head. first I cut thar short, got used to it, then the rave shave...a lint roller and it's no muss-nofuss the rest of the treatment. Wigs are nice, but can be hot. I liked a bandana/headband with a cap...as I began to be comfortable with my baldness..the cap came off. There is no reason on earth why it should be any different for women than men. It makes others more uncomfortable that you are bald and there are many ways to tie one large scarf.
Let others help and they will, even strangers! I got sick while waiting with a cartload of groceries..not enough checkers and I just couldn't do it. I broke into tears as I told the girl "I have to leave this, I am sorry". In the parking lot a woman stopped me and said she would be willing to check out my groceries (finish the job) come out to the car get a check for the amount ..LOAD all the groceries. I couldn't hardly believe it. I was so upset to loose my independence that day..I just sobbed I can't but thank you so much. I went home wthout groceries that day and that was one of the insults ofrr treatmen..relying on others...asking for help...IT IS OK..everybody needs somebody some time...
for the bone pain: a vibrating body pad (try to borrow or find a used one) the kind tht can do waves or constant. I found the constant vibration of my bones was better than the bone pain. don't be shy to ask for pain meds for this. Bone pain can be dibilitating as is PAIN in general if it is on going. I was lucky to be not working so I could rest relax think happy thoughts making the cancer unwelcome in my body. My mantra was "I don't have cancer, cancer has me...so WATCH OUT-YOU ARE SO GONE!" Your job is to survive..so think surviving thoughts and be at peace as much as possible therefore creating a self-bliss. I felt like I was on some magic carpet ride due to the prayers of friends and family. If you can..get on everybody's prayer list. I wish you well and you can contact me further if you like. I hopw this has been helpful and not confusing or discouraging..it is my intention to help with some truths of the matter.
Peace and Love my sista, I'll keep you in my prayers.
One other thing I did was string beaded bracelets. I wore them all up my wrist like a UBANGI (my sister called me) but if someone said they would remember me, think happy thoughts or pray...I simply slid off a bracelet and said "this will help you remember me.." I believe it for all the survivors!
don't forget to laugh!
ILAFF