June 2011 A/C & T Groupies Unite!

All fresh produce may carry dangerous bacteria or other organis that can cause food borne illnes. Definetely, avoid eating raw food in restaurants and use food safety guidelins for handling, all raw produce, incluiding organid, organically grown and feneral produce:

• Refrigerate fruits and vegetables promptly.
• Do not purchase produce that has been cut at the focery store (melon, cabbage, etc)
• Commercial produce rinses are nor recommended.
• Scrub produce using clean vegetable scrubber.
• Rinse leaves of leafy vegetables individually under running water.
• Packaged salads should be washed. Check for "use by" date.
• Do not ear any raw vegetavle sprouts.
• Trow away fruits and vegetables that are slimy or show mold.

Well, I know we've had this discussion before...and you all know that I am getting treatment at Dana Farber.  I have no restrictions at all on what I eat or where I eat it.  I asked my oncologist about this and she said that unless you are neutropenic, there is no reason to use anything but normal caution.  I've eaten salads in restaurants every week during treatment.  I eat fruits and veggies every day, incuding berries in my yogurt, apples, grapes, cherries, watermelon...you name it.  I am diabetic; fruits and veggies are a big part of my diet and I was very concerned about this very topic.  I was specifically told not to worry about it.

About the only thing I am self-limiting are things that upset my tummy, give me heartburn, etc.  And I am not drinking alcoholic beverages for the next 4 weeks.  I was NOT told not to drink alcohol, but I noticed that my liver enzymes were slightly elevated and I figured I didn't need to add insult to injury by having a drink that is not that big of  a deal to me.  Once the liver enzymes are back to normal after Taxol, I'll indulge again in my 1-3 drinks a week. 

Like everything else, opinions vary.

Michelle

Let it all out, Rose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@ Rose & luvmy2kids - I'm right there with you! I hate Chemo and I've been feeling pretty crappy this week! I also start Taxol this week on Friday and am scared, but know that we can get through this!

Yep! I'm joining the hating chemo bandwagon!!!!  It IS doable, and I AM staying pretty positive, but that doens't mean I can't hate it right? 

I haven't restricted anything fruits- and veggie-wise.  I've been eating everything from berries to plums, from peppers to salad.  I'm also doing neupogen shots to keep my WBCs up.  I figure if they help my immunity enough for me to hang around sick people in the nursing home all day, then a nectarine won't hurt me.  I would have gone crazy this summer without fresh produce; I am a dietitian and a bit of a locavore....

There's lots of us out there who seem to be feeling low.  We WILL get through this, friends!!!!

Michelle, you are a warrior! I have 10 more months of chemo, surgery, radiation, and herceptin. I'm sure I have some sisters here that have the same schedule. I felt like last week was my last days of life. I've always thought of myself as a tough cookie, but I'm just surviving a day at a time.

Going for labs today, and possibly neupogen. Kids start school tomorrow. Another reason to be sad. I love when they are home with me...

All I gotta say is AMEN Michelle!!  Wonderfully put.  I want to share a blog post I wrote once called "On Courage:"

I'm not going to pretend that I'm all of a sudden some expert on courage. I will tell you it took everything I had to walk into work the day I chose to forgo the wig for the scarf... and every so often, I need to tap into my reserves just to kind of get out there and live my life as normally as possible...

One of my fabulous co-workers gave me this children's book about courage (ETA: author's name is Bernard Waber - I show a picture of the cover on the blog post but haven't figured out how to do it here on BCO) when she heard of my diagnosis. It's awesome! I wish I could share all the pages with you, dear friends. The first pages read:

There are many kinds of courage.
Awesome kinds (illustration of circus performers mid-air).
And everyday kinds (illustration of little boy contemplating jumping off the high dive, then plugging his nose and going for it).
Still, courage is courage - whatever kind (illustration of a little girl riding her bike without the training wheels).

It's honestly too late tonight for any kind of big discussion about courage. All I know is that we all have it within us, and we all have to use it from time to time. The last line of the book says something like:

Courage is what we give to each other.

....I really can't say it any better than that!

 I got to chemo yesterday and felt like junk. my numbers were not totally tanked but due to my nueropothy and the bloody noses that I get daily and had blamed on my sinus cold n cough. Next thing I found myself being sent home with a week off. 

Apparently the bloody nose, issues with my feet and hands won me the day off and a z-pack. As well as a reduction in my dosage when I will return they are reducing me by 20%. I came home and cried and cried which only made things worse.

My end date is now 10-4. Had a melt down with my hubby he just listened and thankfully didnt try to reason with me. I cant tell 'normal' ppl why one week sent me over the edge like that.

I knew you would understand.

Laura 

Oh Larua, so sorry to hear about it all.  Big hugs to you!  

Paula, I have the neuropathy too.  It's annoying ain't it?

I had a meltdown yesterday too.. actually overnight... I couldn't sleep and just found myself gettinng more and more frustrated.  I tried holding it all in and that just made it worse.  Ended up sobbing - the kind of crying where your breath shudders and you hiccup through it.  I haven't cried like that in years!  I hate what this experience is doing to me - I don't want to be the crazy, sad person this makes me feel like sometimes!

That's my rant of the day.  Promise to bring positive vibes next time.......

Laura, I understand!  Even though I haven't been delayed, I sometimes worry about it.  I don't want that end date to change any more than anyone else.  My daughter came home early today with a fever.  Freaks me out a bit!  I over did it today with a PT appt and a bra fitting.  Just those two wore me out!  I was going to go to a support group tonight, but am passing because I'm so worn out.  I slept terribly last night, so that probably contributed to it.  

Kat, I sometimes get upset when I cry but ultimately that kind of crying is SO cathartic.  I try to embrace it because it is such a release.  I figure all that (whatever it is: pain, sadness, grief, anger) is just sitting inside me and the cry helps it flow out.  It's been a while since I had a melt down.  

With the neuropathy I've just been taking B complex.  I keep meaning to get the other stuff, but...  There is tingling almost all the time.  I was just thinking about how to describe it and to me it feels like my feet are a little burnt, like when you run barefoot across your blacktop driveway to get the mail. Subtle enough not to hurt but always feel it.  

My onc didn't say taxol wouldn't lower my WBC but said it shouldn't.  I've been getting the neulasta shot after each one; it really wasn't a question.   

Woohoo Bobbie Jo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 You'll be joining the Hair, Hair, Hair thread next! 

I talked to my Anthem BC/BS case manager today and learned that Anthem will no longer deny payment for Neulasta because of where it's administered.   Hallelujah!  My chemo nurse and the Financial Advisor will NOT have to fight that battle for me again, and I am going to beg to get it for the last two treatments. 

I really owe those two ladies...need to find the right "thank you" for my last treatment.   Any ideas, other than the usual cookies, cake, or whatever?  I'm actually thinking of flowers for the two of them, but I'd like to hear your ideas. I'm sure they've received it "all" by now, it'll be hard to be creative. And I am not a crafter so it won't be a handmade item unless it's something I write...hmmm...which may not be a bad idea.

Michelle

We are trying... I should be done with chemo round two the second week of November.  Perhaps somewhere over Thanksgiving..... We have kids in school so the dates will be problematic......

Laura...I know the feeling...I went last Friday for TAxol #12 of 12 and was sooo ready to be done. My counts were too low so they had to postpone. Good news is my counts came up just enough so I had my final Taxol today. Woo Hoo! Now I have an MRI and Muga scan Monday and then get a 2 week break before starting AC..boo..

Glad you had some good news to share!

Becky