Survivors who had chemo etc and are into Complementary medicine

Good points, Claire.

Here is information on low-fat vs. whole dairy.  Interesting stuff:  http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2010/s2973507.htm

It would be so hard for me to give up soy sauce. I love all Asian food. Japanese (sushi), Korean, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese. In grad school they would tease me and say I would chop up my hot dog so I could eat it with soy sauce. I do even cook this stuff.

But I don't eat it every day or even every week. Moderation is key unless of course it's cigarettes or crack.

kmmd try sauteing spinach in garlic and olive oil. Broccoli tastes awesome with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Grilled asparagus taste great with a honey, mustard and a little olive oil. Finally baby bok choy stir fried with a little peanut oil, chicken broth, chopped garlic, a touch of soy sauce and a small amount of sesame oil.

If you want my hot peanut sauce recipe (I think I have 2) pm me your email address.

Lago, will do, you're making my mouth water.

http://www.slate.com/id/2297795/ 

I found the above article on chemicals and later potential breast cancer risks quite depressing

kmmd - I remember the DDT trucks spraying our neighborhood and us kids running around the yard as the clouds blew past us....... 

OK what is this TSH and T3/T4 levels? Are these tumor markers? My onc doesn't do these.

No lago, they are to do with thyroid function. My onc didn't do this test every time. I notice that it hasn't always been included by my PCP as part of my annual bloodwork either, though that might be an oversight on her part.

TSH is thyroid stimuling hormone. It's made by the pituitary and high levels might indicate that the thyroid is underperforming (hypothyroidism). 

Mary

PLEASE NOTE:  those levels you cite are NO LONGER accepted by the American Society of Endocriinologists.  The suggested level of  TSH ( thyroid stimulating hormone) is BELOW 2.5

If you were seeing the endocrinologist I've been seeing since I finished Chemotherapy with a  5.9  you would be prescribed medication to support your thyroid.  And yes, I DID lose weight when I started taking the medication and ENORMOUSLY more energy.

You can Google this information, it's becoming more well known.

Yes I know but both are serious issues if not treated.

lago:  You are making me hungry.....   I decided to limit Balsamic as it has sugar in it - boo!  I use to eat it a lot on salads but now I use Red Wine vinegar instead because it has no sugar.  I do balsamic sometimes but not as much. 

As far as calcium, my holistic MD said not to take calcium pills, it is more effective to get it from broccoli.  So I don't take any calcium and I eat maybe one serving of dairy a day.  In fact my doc also said to avoid dairy (I am sensitive to dairy) all together if possible. 

I agree with others when they say make your own foods.  We rarely eat out.  If we want pizza, I make it with tons of fresh organic sauted veggies and a little organic cheese.  If we want burgers, I get grass fed beef and make them or do hormone free ground turkey.  If we do really want something quick and eat out, I head for Chipotle.  At least they have hormone free meats and use some organic ingredients.  We hardly even go there - but every now and then we do.  I think the biggest part about staying on track with eating right is planning.  If you plan ahead and have foods on hand that are healthy you will make better choices.  When you walk in the door at 5:30pm tired and starving and have nothing started for dinner - that's when you get in trouble and grab anything. 

I'm on snthroid as well. I was on it before chemo, but the dose had to be increased after chemo. I've also wondered if there are some suppliments I should include.

kmmd, You made a comment about weight bearing activities, is there some reason we should worry about our bones with the synthroid meds? I know the Femara can cause bone loss plus of course chemo.

I always check the nutritional charts of the restaurant before we dine out.  It really is an eye opener.  It is always the food you least expect that is the worst for you.

I am probably the only discussion forum participant on the entire internet who doesn't know the answer to this, but could someone please tell me what ":-D" and ":D" stand for? Thanks!

Thank you.