More Tips (and a Shopping List) for Getting Through Chemo

Nico1012

rock ~

Thanks and same back atcha!

Several sisters have posted that vitamin B6 helps with neuropathy from chemo.

Does vitamin B12 help with muscle aches or also with neuropathy?

Nico

crazy4carrots

Re neuropathy;    I've discovered that the best remedy for this is L-Glutamine.  My last tx was in July (and last 3 tx were taxotere).  Because of numbness in fingertips and toes, I started using L-Glutamine (50mg/day, taken before bedtime) in October. Numbness went away, but came back again after I'd finished the bottle and before I'd had a chance to get another one.  Now, after a couple of weeks, the numbness has disappeared again.  Well, it works for me!

For anyone starting taxotere or taxol treatments, I'd recommend trying either ice mittens if your centre has them, or taking a pair of mittens and putting frozen veggie packs in them (and try it with socks as well).  While not absolutely proven to be effective, the theory is that cold fingers and toes do not let the taxanes circulate there.  And if that is so, you'll manage to keep your nails!  Of course, you'll have to check for frostbite every 10 minutes or so.....!  I had my tx in the summer when the a/c was going full blast.  I wore sandals and my feet were always cold.  Didn't have any trouble with my toenails, but did lose a couple of fingernails (no, it doesn't hurt -- just looks awful!).

All the best for 2009.......Linda

Nico1012

Thanks for the info Linda!

Nico

crazy4carrots

Oops, made an error re the L-Glutamine amount.  It should be 500mg/day, not 50. Sorry about that!

principessa

thanks so much ladies.... i start tomorrow- just took my first dexamethasone.... i'll be so happy when this is all behind me! 

a

Nico1012

~~~~~~ BUMP ~~~~~~~

Nico1012

lindasa ~  I found the L-glutamine in capsule form today at GNC. 1500 mg was the rec amount

per day. Does this seem to be too high of a dose?

Nico

ddlatt

re:product for nail discoloration and nail loss due to chemo

not sure if this has been mentioned before, but my medical onc recommended i use Nutra Nail Green Tea nail, cuticle, and fingertip creme to prevent nail loss and discoloration due to chemo. i'm supposed to rub it into the fingernails and toenails in the morning and night.  i found this at wall-mart (hate shopping there but it's the only place i could find it) for about $4. here is a link to the product and discount coupons (look at the top of the page at menu bar):

http://www.nutranail.com/br-amy.shtml 

nico1012: i will be starting AC/T tomorrow.  i have been taking L-glutamine since my diagnosis in october, 5g/day.  if you look at the label on L-glutamine, you will see that the mg refers to the size of the scoop, but on the label you will see the grams of the actual L-glutamine in the scoop (at least this is how mine is, since i have L-glutamine maxim, which includes other ingredients). my dietitian recommends i have 10g/day in my smoothie during chemo. 

KM47

Just want to say thankyou to Rock and to all the other posters on this forum. I start chemo tomorrow  (FEC) and am terrified. However, this board has helped me at least do some preparation, which makes me feel like I have some control, which helps for some reason. Today I'll be buying crackers, hand sanitiser, breath mints, cottage cheese, popsicles and lemons! Don't think I've ever had such an eclectic shopping list! Thanks again to everyone who has given advice - I hope I'll be able to help others once I've been through it.

Sister3

Thanks to all of you for the tips & list.  Chemo starts in the next week & I didn't know where to start shopping.  I made it through breast cancer 13 years ago without needing chemo (just lumpectomy & radiation), but have no choice with this recurrence.  Again, I thank you for the help.  So glad to have found all of you.

crazy4carrots

Hi Nico:

Sorry for being so slow to answer you -- just didn't get around to checking out this thread.

Someone here said she was taking 1,000 mgs of L-Glutamine per day, and I've also read that others have been recommended much higher doses.  So, I'm sure 1,500 mgs is fine. 

On another note:  I was told that with FEC, I'd probably experience a crummy taste in my mouth so I purchased both ginger and cinnamon candies (really strongly flavoured ones).  Guess what?  Didn't need them!

Good luck to you all.  As I'm sure you've read, chemo isn't necessarily the nicest way to spend your next few months, but YOU WILL GET THROUGH IT.  We did!!!

Linda

rock

Hey, new women! Just a quick shout to wish you all the best.  There will be some rough moments but overall, I found that chemo was not the worst thing in the world. You WILL figure it out! 

All the best,

rock (aka rockthebald)

P.S. Constipation is NOT your friend, so please make sure to take in a lot of fiber (e.g., fruits and veggies, oatmeal, nuts) and  water, etc. 

Nico1012

Hey Rock ~

Been reading your posts from CT ~ always good to hear from you.

You are so right about constipation, our mantra should be...........

Fluids, fluids, fluids, fiber, fiber, fiber!!!

Nico

NanaOfTen

Now that I understand doin da bump, i'mma bumping for those starting chemo. I sent this list to my daughter so she can pick me up somethings if she wants to. I will be starting soon. Got my surgery date today, will be jan 29, next thursday.

Nana

Nico1012

Bumping for the newbies.

Nico

crazy4carrots

Hi Everyone;

Just want to tell you all that you are fortunate to have found this site at the beginning of your bc journey.  I didn't -- had the lumpectomy and then mastectomy last Jan and Feb, then started chemo in April, and didn't find this site until August.  And oh, how I could have used the support and knowledge so much earlier from everyone going through the same thing!

Find a thread (e.g. Starting chemo in Jan, Feb, etc.) and JOIN IN! 

My warmest wishes to you all,

Linda

Nico1012

Thanks for the info, lindasa! I also tried candies called "GinGins" and they worked like a charm. Whole Foods has them. They also help with mild nausea. Better than taking the heavy anti-nausea meds all day long! Best of luck to our sisters who are just starting this journey! The tips on this thread will make dealing with the se's SO much easier.

Nico

kelty

great post. I need to mark it.

Nico1012

Bumping to the top!

rock

bump for nico, for old time's sake.

MsKarin

Just thought of something to add.

For those without a port wear a poncho type sweater so your arms are free to move with out constricting IV lines.

Nico1012

rock, you really ROCK!!

Nico

otter

Hi, Nico!  (Hi, rock!)

Hey, Karin, I am still admiring your pole-dancing pic.  Right away I noticed that you were wearing a soft, knit poncho/shawl, and I realized what a terrific idea that was.  And, it would be something friends could make for friends needing chemo. 

otter 

Nico1012

GREAT IDEA, Otter. Another comfy thing that I found handy were those thick fluffy knit socks that have non-slip treads on the bottoms. Since I used ice bags to keep my hands and feet chilled during the infusion (to help slow blood flow and ward off neuropathy) the socks helped warm me up quickly afterwards.

Nico

EvaPerone

Nico: Have the ice bags worked during Taxol? I still have 2 more doses A/C and will then start T.

I'm also looking for tips on dealing with pain in feet and hips after neulasta shots.

Eva 

Nico1012

Eva ~

Yes the ice bags worked. At least I have had no hand or foot neuropathy.

The other things I would suggest are L- glutamine 1500 mg capsules available at GNC and Alpha Lipoic Acid capsules, the best brand is Jarrow Formulas, available online. Vitamins B6 and B12 are also helpful.

Many women on these boards took Claritin for the Neulasta se's and said it worked well. Supposedly the se's are actually an allergic reaction and Claritin is an antihistamine, thus the relef from synptoms. That is plain Claritin and not Claritin D.

Wishing the best for you in your treatment. You will find so many caring women on these boards who are willing to help in any way they can.

Nico

EvaPerone

Question about A/C +T: round 3 tomorrow of the 'red devil' but haven't lost body hair or eyebrows and eyelashes. Will I? I lost the hair on my head ~day 17.

I saw posted that soy isn't good for ER+ --- I do drink some soy milk, can anyone explain?

Dreading tomorrow, Eva 

rock

The bulk of my eyebrows and eyelashes hit the ground the final weeks of chemo and the few weeks after chemo ended.  The body hair disappeared at some point, but I didn't notice it going so can't say when it happened.

I guzzled soy milk during the 2 years before I was diagnosed. Needless to say, I have sworn it off completely post-dx.  (I did have a moment in the grocery aisle, one day, as I bid  a teary good-bye to my soymilk habit. I'm a serious! I found myself CRYING in front of the soy milk section! It didn't help that there was some sappy muzak song playing.  My then-boyfriend thought I was nuts, but I think it was also the moment when he realized how hard cancer can be, not just in the big ways -- chemo, life expectancy, tests -- but in the little ways like soy milk as well.)

Eva, I'm sorry you're in a state of dread.  I hope you can figure out a special treat for yourself for tomorrow or over the weekend.  And if you haven't already, make sure you have flattering lighting in your bedroom and bathroom!  Trust me, it makes some tough weeks ahead a little less tough.

xo 

Hi, Nico!!!!!!

EvaPerone

Thx Rock, sorry to be such a newbie but I have loads of questions...Can anyone tell me what to expect as far as my periods go? I already had my first night sweat a few days after round one of A/C.

Then terrible menstrual cramps after round 2, but no bleeding. What else can I look forward to as I slam into menopause???

And I get the crying...I seem to have lost all control of my emotions! So glad I found this site and a place to ask the questions that my drs/nurses cannot answer...

As for lighting, I cannot see during my first week, but vision seems to return 2nd week (I'm on dose dense) so flattering lighting is out or I'll be falling over things!

Just bought some claritin, thanks to Nico!

Nico1012

Eva ~

I had a hyst pre-bc so cannot answer questions about periods. Someone will be along though who can answer them. Also only had Taxotere and Cytoxin, no red-devil, but there are lots of threads on just AC so it would be a good idea to post questions there as well. Almost every question I had was answered by reading the May '08 group thread. AWESOME ladies! IT's a long one but well worth the read.

Nico

Hey Rock!