January 2013 chemo group

Lauren, Juice counts as do all the popsicles, jello etc. As long as it doesn't have caffeine which dehydrates you. Figure in your other fluids. 1 ounce = 30 ml. 1 quart = 1 litre (actually 1.06 who's counting). Don't forget you can have broth.

As far as the food precautions, no raw fish, not a problem for me the only fish I like is breaded and deep fryed LOL. The skins of fruits and raw veggies can have bacteria on them.

Update for the fever, MO didn't want me to start the antibiotics (ABTs) because my temp came down with some ibuprofen and no other signs of infections like, sore throat, stuffy nose etc. Just keep monitoring and keep her informed. I am kinda glad even though I went and picked up the ABTs. I am one of the believers that we have done ourselves harm by over use of ABT. I would rather let the body do it's job to fight fever first, after all in normal situations the fever is the body doing it's job. She said it was probably from the Neulasta which kicked my ass with the pain. Top of head to toes, I swear.

Sheryl

Well for crying out loud!! Greek yogurt Fage is the only healthy habit I have. Now I have to research live cultures and chemo. You'd think if my mo could tell me not to eat raw fish she would have said something about yogurt since it is a staple of most women's diet.

S

Hey all,

This information came off the American Cancer Society web site, this is just a small amount of an overwhelming amount of information. Guess I will cut way down on my Greek Yogurt for awhile.

Food safety

Food safety is very important when your ANC is low. Infections can be picked up from food and drinks. A low microbial diet (low-germ or neutropenic diet) may be suggested if your ANC is low. This type of diet and these actions may help you reduce infection risk from foods:

• Do not eat or drink any raw milk or raw milk products, or any milk or milk product that has not been pasteurized, including cheese and yogurt made from unpasteurized milk.
• Do not eat Mexican-style soft cheese such as queso fresco or queso blanco.
• Do not eat cheese containing chili peppers or other uncooked vegetables.
• Do not eat raw or undercooked meat, fish, chicken, eggs, or tofu.
• Do not eat cold smoked fish, including lox, jerky, kippered, or nova-style fish.
• Do not eat miso or tempeh products.
• Do not eat hot dogs, deli meats, or processed meats (unless they have been cooked or thoroughly re-heated just before eating).
• Do not eat any food that contains mold (for example, brie, feta, or blue cheese, including that in salad dressings).
• Do not eat any uncooked vegetables and fruits.
• Do not eat uncooked grain products.
• Do not eat unwashed salad greens.
• Do not eat vegetable sprouts (alfalfa, bean, and others).
• Do not drink fruit or vegetable juices that have not been pasteurized.
• Do not eat raw honey (honey that has not been pasteurized).
• Do not eat raw nuts or nuts roasted in their shells.
• Do not drink beer that has not been pasteurized (this is most often home brewed and some microbrewery beers).
• Do not drink “sun tea” or cold-brewed tea made with warm or cold water.
• Do not drink maté tea.
• Do not drink unboiled well water.
• Do not eat brewer’s yeast.
• Do not eat any outdated food.
• Do not eat any cooked food that has been left at room temperature for 2 hours or more. If the food is left where the air temperature is 90° F or above, the limit is 1 hour.
• Do not eat any food that has been handled or prepared with unwashed hands.

Talk with your doctor about any dietary questions or concerns you may have, or ask to talk with a registered dietitian.

Colleen, no eating of the peelings, like apples. Any fruits or veggies should be peeled, washed really well, or cooked, that is what I have been told and read.

Sheryl

Colleen-Good luck getting those drains out-it was a relief when all 3 left my body-make sure you take a percocet incase it stings a little . My port was outpatient- I was in and out in 4 hours and my echo took longer than the 20 minutes because my implants kept reflecting the sonogram :-/  I didnt have to do a pet or Brain scan.  It seems like a lot but hang in there! xo Nikki

Not you mine too, must be an issue with the site right now.

Weird,

Not doing it on the other sites!

Thanks Nikki, my MO said that I don't need the brain scan, but I told him I want it. My dad died at 44 of brain cancer and I just think it will give me piece of mind. I will be 44 next month, so we were both diagnosed of cancer at age 43. Kind of strange. I wish we all lived in a little neighborhood together while going through this. Hugs to all!!!!

It's funny about parents and cancer.  My mother was diagnosed with BC at the same age (48) I am now.   A little scary, because she died of it five years later, but there is so so much more known about the disease now.

ablydec and NikkiLiz- I have the only BC in the family for as far back as anyone remembers. My father is a 10yr survivor of Prostate cancer. There are studies going on that say men with prostate cancer have a higher percentage of daughters with breast cancer. I have a sister that is 1 1/2 yrs older than me and she is fine. So, that to me is a crap shoot. I'll wait for some real data. My mother was a medical trainwreck with all kinds of health issues. Breast cancer was not one of them. I am glad medical science makes huge strides in helping us live long lives after diagnosis. I showed a friend of mine my new reconstructed left breast and she was amazed at how good it looks. I had to hold in the laughter (google images of TRAM Flap Reconstruction and you'll understand why I was laughing at her comment). I am amazed that they can take your tummy fat and skin and create a new breast. I can see how after everything settles down I will look very simmilar to what I used to look like. I do wish they would find the cause and a cure before more women are affected. I have 2 neices that are in their 20s. I hope they never have to go through this horseshit.

Sorry, I have fallen off for a few days after chemo (or was it the neulesta???! that stuff makes places ache that I didn't know I had!) Going back and trying to catch up on posts seems a little overwhelming at the moment, but I do have some questions.......

1.  I have had continued horrible gas-type pains in my ribs since chemo Thursday.  It won't go away despite imodium, tums, or zofran.  Any suggestions?

2.  I went back to work today and it was terrible.  I felt nauseated most of the time.....isn't that suppose to improve by 5th day.  I never want to work again and don't feel like being a nurse any more.

3.  My face is red and hot---looks like I just went tanning.  Is this still the steroids?

Kristin

Kristen, I too turned red from the steroids (that is my guess). I had horrible pain everywhere after the Neulasta like you in places I didn't know I even had feeling in. Didn't have the gas feeling but totally miserable. I had to call Saturday for pain meds, I had chemo Thursday and Neulasta Friday. Saturday was the day from hell, fuzzy head, ached everywhere. I don't know how you guys are working I admire you but truthfully I would have been dangerous to my patients. I would have kicked them out of bed and got in myself. LOL. Today I feel pretty good even though I woke up with fever 100.8. My mo said to monitor it no ABTs at this time. I don't know what to tell you except make sure you are getting 3-4 qts of fluid. It seems to fix most everything unless you have a bad heart or kidney disease.

Hang tough, Sheryl

I took the claritin Thursday got Neulasta Friday still taking the claritin daily can't imagine the pain if I hadn't because Saturday and Sunday were miserable much better today.

s