Building up for Rads - How to do it?

Sams_MominAtlanta

Hi,

Finished my round of A/C Chemo, had my masectomy and expander placed.  My health is still down from where I started 4 months ago.  After horrible thrush and GI tract shutting down after surgery, I am working diligently on diet to up calories and some exercise to avoid the fatigue side effects of radiation.

Will appreciate stories of what worked and what did not for you.  I am 55 years young and feel 75 at the moment

Hugs,

Sheila

Claire_in_Seattle

I can't think of anything else for rads other than eating a healthy diet and exercising throughout.  I did not get anything nearly as severe as you did during chemo, and although still recovering, went right into rads w/o a hitch.

In fact, my energy came up for the first 4 of six weeks.  Then I noticed that it wasn't quite as high.  Was a major bummer but nothing major otherwise.  I continued to exercise and even did a couple of cycling events immediately afterwards.

Make sure you get the sleep you need.   About three weeks after rads were over, I suddenly noticed a major change in energy.  I attribute this to chocolate-lavender macaroons which we had at a bakery as part of a Three Rose Garden ride we were doing.

As a reminder, you need to eat more protein than usual as rads do injure tissue...so a long recovery from that.  I am still recovering underneath (this is two months later) although skin is just a bit tanned.  I never had any major damage other than a bit of redness and peeling.

Hopefully, you are also eating yogurt with active cultures to help with GI issues and to heal from mouth to other end.

I am sure you know to use the aloe cream 2x per day from the get go.  I also used Bag Balm to supplement and to keep my skin healthy.  It worked, if a bit greasy.

Good luck.....eat well, get exercise and enough sleep, and use the gel.  You will be just fine.

ruthbru

After chemo (I did AC too), I found radiation to be a piece of cake!! If you are already watching the diet and getting some exercise, you should do fine. Make sure you use whatever lotion they recommend, religiously right from the start. Don't put any on in the morning before rads, but I brought the tub right into the dressing room and smeared it on right after and then again before I went to bed. I got red, like a sunburn from the inside out, but never peeled, blistered or anything. Best of Luck. You are on the home stretch!! Ruth

Sams_MominAtlanta

Thanks for sharing a positive experience, Claire.  What types protein did you find the most palatable and digestable?  What was your favorite exercise?

Thanks again,

Sheila

Claire_in_Seattle

I never had any major problems with food other than craving salty foods at the end of AC, and not wanting that much red meat at that time.  But that went away 17 days after my last AC infusion.  So my answer with protein was more meat than usual plus yogurt.  I ate a lot of free range eggs too.  And then it was fresh salmon season.  I like cheese.  You get the idea. 

I have been avoiding anything with soy protein as I am ER+.  This means I eat energy bars with fruit and nuts these days when I need them.  I did until about five weeks after chemo. 

I ate lots of veggies, fruits and grains throughout.

I am a cyclist and did that throughout chemo (picture is from Day 6 of first AC), so while I did need to rebuild stamina, my body never was that out of shape.  Otherwise, I walk and do a weights/crunches routine on weekdays.

I had some nasty tongue abrasions from a dental implant that unscrewed (don't ask) but otherwise didn't have any major GI issues.

In your case, I would try to eat balanced meals with extra protein.  If you can do eggs early in the day, this will help with protein.  Some people can't do eggs.  For me they were a godsend.

See if you can continue to up your walking.  It is probably too soon to do strength training, but you should be looking to strengthen your upper body in the future.  I had a lumpectomy so was able to go back to what I know worked for me in the past. 

In your case, I would get some professional advice on how to rebuild as I think a more complex subject.

Good luck.  I would say whatever protein sources taste good to you right now, and a balanced diet otherwise.  And walking.....you will get there.  My oncologist said "four months" after chemo to get my full energy back.  And he was right.  - Claire