TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

moodyblues

HapB   Thank you.  I am on Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin.  Once every three weeks.  Feeling pretty good this a.m.  A tiny bit queasy so I took my anti-nausea meds immediately.

Deni  Thank you!  I am going to keep positive and try and remember all of the tips everyone here has given me and all that my ONCO nurse gave me. 

kae_md99

hi all. can you tell me your diet to help prevent recurrence? like no soy, no dairy products,etc.also any good book to read regarding it?

bareclaws

kae, the only diet change I've made is to eliminate my beloved wine and margaritas. That hurt, but I haven't had a drink of any alcohol since November. Having said that, I had what I think is a really good diet before BC-mostly vegan, with the addition of eggs and occasional fish. (Marijuana is a vegetable, right? 😎) I read about a recent study which indicates that soy is NOT a problem. Sorry, I don't have a link, but maybe someone else does. Not sure how much our diet has to do with it. Exercise seems to have the biggest influence in preventing recurrence.

wabals

Bareclaws I will never give up my wine.

Rarely eat sugar and meat

coachvicky

A friend with BC said to me "they let you drink wine?" I didn't ask. Some things I am just not going to change, LOL!

BTW, I did an interview for genomic testing. I said I thought it was medical malpractice to give us hormonal pills when no test exists to truly measure our levels and it was also malpractice not to give EVERY woman genomic testing if they wanted it. Got real quiet on the other end of the line.

C Vicky

kae_md99

so i know cooking meat by grilling is bad.does it also include broiling in the oven? i love broiled fish.:

ElaineTherese

wabals and coachvicky,

I've had a hard time giving up alcohol. I've focused on reducing the amount I drink. If I have only one small bottle of wine in the house and I share it with DH, I don't drink much, maybe a glass with dinner. Some days, I completely abstain. I'm like the person who tries to quit smoking by buying my cigarettes one box at a time......

PoseyGirl

Sportsmom, you are not alone with the depression. I was on Lexapro for seven months. I too wondered about Tamoxifen interaction, but haven't found evidence of any. I decided to wean off when the Spring came, and certainly had lasting side effects which led to more anxiety? I seem mostly in the clear now. I have five more treatments of Herceptin and felt a resurgence of dark feelings over the past week. I attribute this to a few things including getting off the meds, it being one year almost since diagnosis, to the constant reminders of what I have been through, and a dash of PTSD. We have gone through so much in a year, and there is a point where the whole crap storm catches up. I joined a bc dragon boat team and it's so great for various reasons. Make sure you are connecting with friends, getting out there, exercising. You are not alone!!!

On the topic of diet, I cut down on alcohol, cut down on red meat and generally eat better. Do I allow myself treats? Yup. I turn my head to increased activity and do Pilates now twice a week, dragon boat twice a week, and will hit the gym for weight lifting with my husband. I am comfortable with these decisions. Currently, I am trying to focus on anything that pays into my mental health, as it took a massive hit...we all know that. I won't personally monitor every small thing I eat, as for me personally, that will not positively affect my mental health bank. I guess we all need to find our own personal line there.

I should also mention that I started a local FB group for women with bc and there are 25 now. This has been so good for all of us... this coming week a few of us are running a fundraiser for our local cancer support agency. It's much like this group, but due to the local nature of the group, we can talk about doctors and programs we all know about and connect personally too.

shelabela

I am stubborn, I refuse to give up my occasional beer. Seriously... and Red meat, hell no! I love my steak, I could not live on what they dictate. I know they mean well but just does not work well in my life.

wabals

Hapb do we really know the science? I've been around a long time and it keeps changing

Tresjoli2

Shelabela...i talked to my OB/GYN and my MO about ooph versus ovarian suppression. (I was 40 at diagnosis, 42 now). My OB was insistent that I keep my ovaries, he said they offer a lot of others health benefits. So I take Lupron, 1x every three months. I had migraines the first two times I took it, but I adjusted with no real side effects. My MO didn't want any estrogen floating in my body period.

Sportsmom...i recently tried effexor to manage my depression and it was awful. I now have a meeting with my MO to discuss an AI as I really need an antidepressant. On Tamox, effexor is the only choice.

Hugs to all,

Pamela

PoseyGirl

Hi Pamela, it is my understanding that escitalopram is also ok when you're in treatment (anti depressants). So I would ask about that.

I attended a nutrition program at the hospital with other bc ladies and their stance is that you want a good, healthy, balanced plate of food. Washed well. They of course support lots of veggies and fruit, but their central concern with diet seems to be weight control. So I believe there are varying opinions about what the "best" diet should beonce a person has had cancer. Here in our region, the focus is on fresh and clean and balanced. So I'm trying to be good . But do I have treats? Ya, I do. I like popcorn. And cookies lol. But im gradually changing the way I do things

kae_md99

hi all,

just finished last TCHP.praise God! i did not think i could do it. by cycle 3 i was ready to quit.febrile neutropenia , cyle 1; hospital due to reflux and delayed gastric emtying ( almost passed out due to pain, morphine did not work; boils on butt cycles 2,3 and 4! so i was on antibiotic for 4 times including febrile neutropeia and the usual SEs, fatigue,D,nausea,peripheral neuropathy minimal. i did take l glutamine in the beginning but when my reflux and delayed gastric emptying got worst, i could not tolerate it anymore. i have 2 bottles, pm me if you want it and i will mail it to you. i even tried eating Gerber food ( anything for calories)for babies and putting sugar in my water as per my dietitian ( i know sugar is supposed to feed cancer cell but i need sugar also)... surgery july 14, 6 weeks PFC. thanks for this board for all the advise. i am on anti anxiety and sleeping pills.my GP said no need for referral for psychiatry yet. it wouldn't have been so bad had it not been for the reflux and delayed gastric emptying. they had to do an endoscopy by cycle 4..again thank you all and i will now prepare my body for the BMX and recon.it is neverending..lump not palpable anymore but pathology will have final say.first herceptin alone on june 23, and if you are familiar with my insurance issues, looks like we have to fight for the last 11 herceptin.enjoy the weekend y'all!

kae_md99

thanks HapB. if you are gonna get taxol,i heard its the gentle cousin of taxotere so its more manageable i think... God bless

ElaineTherese

Yay, kae!

I remember thinking that I'd NEVER get surgery. Ugh. Hope yours goes well and that your pathology shows that chemo worked!

kae_md99

thanks Elaine Therese

PoseyGirl

Hi all, I am starting on Femara soon and am hoping to hear what people have experienced in side effects

BellasMomToo

"Delayed gastric emptying". I think I had that during chemo but didn't know what it was called. I would eat a little bit of food and would feel so full that I couldn't eat any more. It was a very uncomfortable feeling. And I had terrible reflux.

Kae: so sorry you had to suffer through all that. I was pretty miserable with those symptoms, but not nearly bad enough to be hospitalized.

Herceptin only infusions have been OK. I still have a drippy nose, but I don't know if that's from the Herceptin or from allergies.

shelabela

thanks tresjoli2,

I will keep that info up front with that med.

kae_md99

Bella'sMomToo,herceptin causes rhinitis. i learned that from chemo class.

bareclaws

kae, you have my admiration and sympathy for holding the course and finishing all six. I couldn't do it, landing in the hospital after the first one and then switching to AC plus TH. (So I have at least a bit of an idea of the kind of hell you experienced.) TCHP IS hell, at least for some of us. You'll find the rest of it a picnic after that. Wishing you gentle healing

ElaineTherese

Poseygirl,

I'm on Aromasin, not Femara. I've been on it for over two years now, and the side effects have been mild: hot flashes and I feel a little creaky. KB870 is right that there's an entire thread devoted to Femara. I believe that Special K is on Femara; maybe she will chime in.

meg2016

I'm 40 and I was doing Lupron with AI. I was really having no symptoms of menopause and talked to my Dr about whether to keep ovaries. I went to three opinions and all agreed (mo, surgeon and ob) that I would be on ovary suppression for at least 10 years and goal was to sit then down, so the "benefits" of keeping ovaries were minimal since the goal is to turn them off permanently. I also know from previous tests that I have very high estrogen levels. I had mine removed and went through hot flashes, etc immediately (though it really wasn't bad.) Both drs thought this meant the Lupron probably wasn't as effective in my case. So I'm glad to have them out.

moodyblues

Queasy this morning ladies, I knew I had to eat, so I went with toast.  I'm hungry but nothing tastes good to me.  Nothing except peanut butter toast.  I love sweet iced tea, it is my love (ha ha), it tastes like crap now.  CRAP I tell ya!

Yesterday I had 1/2 ham salad sandwich and an instant mac n cheese, I know I need healthy foods.  I did drink plenty of water though.

What are your go to foods that actually tasted good to you and was healthy?   Salad with zesty Italian dressing tastes horrible, ranch tastes bland.  Salty foods don't taste salty.  Water tastes like spit.  Ladies, I need to eat!  Tips please!

ElaineTherese

moodyblues,

I forget what chemo regimen you're on, but if you suck on ice chips during chemo, you may be able to avoid the damage to your taste buds. During chemo, I ate a lot of bland foods, like scrambled eggs, chicken, chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, etc.. Yes, water tasted awful. I ended up drinking a lot of light lemonade and the like. It was trial and error. Hope you find something soon!

((Hugs))

moodyblues

Elaine.  TCH.  Thanks, I will try the ice chips next time.  I am surprised that in just one day how nothing tasted great or even good.....  I will try some of the ham and bean and potato soup I made Thursday although, it doesn't even look appealing right now. 

coachvicky

Moodyblues,

I just ate small amounts of whatever my DH cooked.

I keep homemade pimento cheese, chicken, fresh fruit, and chopped salad ingredients in the refrig. I found having everything ready to go made healthy choices easier. I had lots of nuts and gluten free chips in the pantry.

Typically, when I make a crock pot dish we eat one meal from it and the rest I freeze in individual servings. That helped too because we were not cooking big meals and trying to eat on the leftovers.

When I was really queasy, my DH made me a Banquet double crusted chicken pot pie just like my Momma use to ... ever so slightly over cooked top crust!

You have got this! As for that sweet tea ... think of all the sugar you are avoiding!

Have you tried the Elvis version of a peanut butter sandwhich with a banana?

Best wishes and hugs.

Coach Vicky

moodyblues

Coachvicky.  Thanks for your tips.  I try a variety of foods (just a taste) and am amazed how bland it all is.  Mmmm a pot pie with a nice brown top  sounds good!

coachvicky

Moodyblues ... it was more slighly burnt. LOL But it is the way I like them! Brings back fond memories and comfort.

I make a really great ranch dressing. Every time I looked at the jar I got sick. Trashed the last batch I made when I started chemo. It has only been in the last couple of weeks I can eat it again. Go figure.

C Vicky

moodyblues

Coachvicky.  Almost burnt is what I go for too, my  toast, choc chip cookies and potpie.   

My husband brought home a plate of squash, mac n cheese and chicken for me.  OMG soo good.  Finally something tasty!