March 2012 chemo

1marmalade1: thankyou so much for popping in. It helps so much to remember that this isn't forever, just a chapter (I keep telling myself), and that we can imagine ourselves healthy and whole and strong and powerful out the other side of treatment. Thank you.



Brax and tc9876: re exercise. One of my concerns has been, since my lumpectomy and SNB, the risk of lymphodema. I NEED my arm to remain normal, or my career is out the window (pianist). I have worried that taking back up too much too fast could be an issue, but I have read on some threads here that as long as you start with v. low weights and work up v. slowly it is in fact good.

Any thoughts?

Also, re exercising in general through chemo: I have been trying for just a walk each day (missed day 2), to start. I know it's supposed to help lift the fog, right? But I have to pull myself out of the fog, zombie land, my couch, just to get out the door. But I will try to see it as my job now, part of the healing, to be good to my body.

Pre diagnosis, just so you know I was no major athlete or anything! But I was very proud of myself to have finally started jogging last summer, and for the first time ever had been able to keep it up. Not fast, not long, but consistent and I felt so proud of myself. So this f-ing BC had taken that from me and it

Pisses me off.

So if we can mention our exercise efforts her, minimal or major, I say let's share. I feel alot of inspiration from you ladies, so I bet we can pick up bits of good energy about this as well.

Hugs to all today.

Debbie T/C x4, start 3/23

KatyCB:  With respect to lymphedema, my surgeon told me that exercises helps to prevent.  I was very nervous at first and I took it slowly but now I am back to my original exercise plan (lifting weights).  I will continue to take other precautions (no blood pressure or blood draws on affected side, wearing a sleeve/gauntlet when flying, trying not to lean on that arm) but my exercise life is mostly normal.  Lastly, the number of nodes removed is supposed to be related to lymphedema chances.

With respect to raw fruits/veggies, my Dr. never mentioned anything to me.  However, my mother, who is undergoing chemo also for ovarian cancer (when it rains, it pours) was told to cook her veggies.  Her neutrophils/WBC has been consistently low though...she doesn't get Neulasta.  My counts are still pretty good so I have been eating a lot of salads/etc.  I LOVE them!

 Onvacation:  I'm sure your cousin was trying to be helpful but you may not want to talk to her too much, at least about cancer treatments.  Negativity can be damaging and yes, the mind is the most powerful part of healing.

On vacation

Everbodyis different with different outcomes and attitudes. I sat in chemo with a Triple negative yesterday that was 14 years out. She was first diagnosed in 1995 with no hope.  She said chemo then and now is completely different.  Chemo today does not steal our lives away.  We may have some uncomfortable days but it is completely doable.

Brax

Thanks for the peanu tbutter note.  I love peanut butter. 

Bummer on the fresh fruit and salad Ilove them and my counts are low.  I have some v8 and tomato juice.  Not really fond of the V8 but I can do it.  Is there any problems with juices?

Bev

Onvacation:  How long have you been vegetarian?  Are you a mostly fruit/vegetable vegetarian?  I'm asking because my sister is also a vegetarian and she eats more garbage than a regular meat-eater.  Did your diagnosis change your eating habits any?  I gave up all meat/poultry after my diagnosis (really only ate fish/chicken before) but now I'm wondering if it even matters.  Do you take any supplements?

I am celebrating this morning...it must be the Irish in me. Today is my Day 9 and it is the first morning I have woken up and not wanted to crawl back under the covers and cry. I don't feel like myself, but I feel SO much better than I have for the last week. I see projects in my future today! : ) My mornings since my treatment have been awful and it takes me hours to get to some sort of normalcy. I think I wake up depleted and dehydrated, so I'm going to have to come up with a strategy to avoid that with the next round. Any advice would be really appreciated!



Brax- if you are prone to headaches, pretty much everything they give us will cause them. I believe you are getting cytoxan? That is a major side effect for that one as well. I wouldn't skip the zofran for fear of a headache unless you have something else you can take instead. I know personally headaches are just going to be part of my life for the next few months, but at least there are things I can do to reduce them to liveable. I've had one for the last three days that includes a blind spot in my field of vision which is driving me insane. Wish that part would go away...



I'm totally in for an exercise thread...I would vote for separate though...with as many of us in this groups as there are and without any option for sorting the posts, I think it would be hard to have a specific discussion in the midst of general support posts. I was an exercise junkie before my diagnosis. I was bound and determined to keep at it throughout, but then painful procedures and now crappy chemo have completely derailed me. I'm far enough out from my surgeries that I'm allowed to lift small weights again, so I'm itching to start back to it. I'm a little more worried about my ability to run since walking makes my heart beat through my chest and I get out of breath walking up the stairs! Just thinking about exercising gives me that little endorphin boost!



Karri- I may need your advice soon. I am developing quite the lovely seroma at my ALND site. It started a couple of days ago (10 days after having the drain removed?!?!) and my MO didn't think I needed to worry about it since I have a check up with my PS onTuesday, but today it's puffy enough that it is annoying when I let my arm hang normally. Like having a sock stuffed in your armpit. I can only imagine what it will be like after another three days. After everything you went through last week I am dreading having it drained. Anything I should do proactively before I see my PS?

Hey girls. I mentioned peanut butter about a week ago. My blood counts were normal after 1st chemo. Toast and peanut butter every day and lots of beans. Chili with extra beans...borscht with extra beans. Put beans in everything! I also drink an Ensure with extra protein for breakfast every day.



Sign me up for an excercise thread too. A friend of mine has a yoga studio...she said they have a restorative class. Usually its for if you have an injury and have to modify poses but she said it would be good for chemo/surgery people who may have limitations or need more help from the teacher.

Masserz - after my drains were removed, I also developed quite a bit of seroma on my ALND side. During the first 3 visits to my PS for fills, he aspirated the seroma and it gave me tremendous relief. I felt like I had a baseball growing under my armpit! He told me that once the TEs got to a size that better fill the pocket left from my breast tissue, the seroma accumulation wouldn't be an issue. During my last appt with him, there was barely 20cc in the syringe. I hope that will be the last aspiration! Luckily for me, I still don't have much sensation in the area where he puts the needle so it isn't too painful. I hope the same for you! 

TC, I'm not on vacation, but I am a long time veg (25 years vegetarian, the last 10 mostly vegan). A veg diet doesn't automatically mean a healthy diet, that's for sure! I eat this way primarily for animal rights reasons, but also because of environmental and health reasons. I have no idea if it helps with cancer, but it is for me the right way to eat.

Hi ladies, just want to wish all who are starting next week good luck!!!  I start Tuesday and am ready to kick those cancer cells in the A$$!!  Also I have emailed a nutritionist (wife of my husbands work associate) who worked for sloan and asked about the veggies.  I will let you all know what she says.  She did tell me lots of protein and our bodies need calories to replenish itself.  She told me for mouth sores there is a product called ulcerease that works, should be by pharmacist if not told me to ask pharmacist for it they may have to order.  Hope all of you are feeling well.

Hi Karri I know someone that has gone through this twice before and said to be careful eating out when on chemotherapy, she got food poisoning twice! But that did not stop her she just went to places she trusted. I was curious about this also I hope we get more responses. I would assume no buffet places and like someone said before no salad bars. I would hate to not be able to order take out or go out to eat:-(

Kim, I love cheese too!  I am not a huge meat eater but the problem is I just don't "like" anything as far as veggies, sigh... I am very picky and have a very limited palate for what I like...I guess I am going to have to learn.  I cannot live on cheese pizza and potato soft tacos. The main thing Ihave done so far since dx (and through all these surgeries) is cut back on coffee and diet coke (not eliminated but cut way back), increased my water, and just cut down portion size on the crappy food I do eat. 

I haven't seen the documentary but I have heard of her and I think I have even been to her site.  

Onvacation: I might just try that, looks good!

See I think I could do the smoothie thing too - it is the texture of veggies and fruits that I take issue with a lot of times, rather than the taste!

Kim, I've had difficulty with smoothies that are mostly green. I can do green juice, but can't take all the pulp. I'll give this recipe a try, though. Maybe the apple and banana will balance some of the "greenness."