More Tips (and a Shopping List) for Getting Through Chemo
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Stacie ~ We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our bc sister "rock" for this thread. She's the best!
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I bought everything on the list. My husband is at Lowe's now getting me a new cabinet to put in the dining room for my meds, supplies, and healthy diet items so I don't have to fish through 100 cans for the lentile soup or go to 10 cupboards to make a meal. A menu is on the fridge and all groceries are bought. My grandaughter and son are cleaning the house tomorrow.. I start TAC Tuesday. I am a "planner" by design and have left no symptom to chance. I will be home all day alone and who wants to drive to the store sick for a product? I'd rather throw awaygive away stuff I didn't need later than be more uncomcortable now. All that's left is that which I am powerless over. I SUPER appreciate this thread. I should have a cape and a "C" on my chest. LOLOL. Wish me luck.
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Good luck Stacie!! You can do this. Take good, good care of yourself.
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Bump for Nico! Bump for anyone!
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What Rock said - bump!
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Ladies ~ you are wonderful!
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Just following your lead!
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LOVE to see the "bumps"!
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bumping in honor of NWArtLady ! ! !
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* bump *
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Might I recommend LEMONHEADS. Post chemo when my mouth tasted icky I loved em. Mostly ate sugar free candy so as not to have too much sugar. But loved those Lemonheads.
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I just discovered this thread and I sincerely appreciate that you posted it. I am working my way through all the pages. In the meantime, I have a question. Why are soy and most vitamin supplements (in particular Vitamin C) to be avoided during chemo? Do they interfere with the chemo drugs working? Or is there another reason?
Thanks,
Jan
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Aw, thanks Nico!
jcb51, I'm afraid I don't know the answer to your question. Did your oncologist recommend that you avoid soy and vitamins? I would ask him/her why no soy or vitamins. Barring that, I always find the oncology nurses who give me my infusions to be wonderful sources of answers for questions like yours. Good luck!!
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NWArtLady, in rock's original post, it states: Some women recommend Vitamin C supplements but my dietitian said "No Vitamin C supplements for women with breast cancer ever." (I posted her explanation elsewhere on www.breastcancer.org.)
I searched for the explanation rock referred to, but was unable to find it. I was just curious as to why rock's dietition said "No Vitamin C supplements for women with breast cancer ever".
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jcb51 ~ I'm bumping this thread today in hopes that someone will come along to answer your question. I always thought Vitamin C was prohibited only during chemo because there was some kind of chemical interaction. Hopefully someone will enlighten us!
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bumping it up!
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Thank you ladies for all of the helpful information. I've been taking notes as I read through the thread. I'll be starting my TC sessions in early May and have already been stocking up on supplies. Lemondrops of any type seem to be impossible to find in my small town. They are either very popular and sold out, or shopkeepers don't buy them because local folks don't like them. I can't figure out which. I'll pick some up when I go farther afield in the next few days.
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GREAT Tips...I would add just 1 more. POWERADE ZERO. Onc, doc claims it kept my husband out of hospital for IV treatments and kept electrolyes balanced. I started with gatorade but qucikly realized it had a ridiculous amt of sugar.
He had so much powerade zero he cant even look at it these days , but somehow it really did seem to help the most with hydraytion and other issues.
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Great tip, purple32! Citrus flavored Lifesavers also help, Hortense, as well as peppermint candies.
Biotene gum saved me during treatment. Most WalMart stores carry it in the toothpaste section.
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Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. It protects cells from damage, and the concern about supplementing with high doses of Vitamin C during chemo is that it might actually protect the cancer cells. But other than during chemo, I've never heard of anyone being told never to take it after a bc dx. In fact, research seems to says just the opposite -- that it protects us from cells becoming damaged and cancerous: http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminC/
BCO's information is a bit more conservative. They don't say it's harmful or should be avoided; just that supplements may not be good as getting it from food: http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/nutrition/supplements/known/vit_c.jsp Deanna
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