Sept 2012 chemo

Happy weekend everyone!  I wanted to share some information that my ex-husband summarized for me tonight over the phone.  He is a voracious reader with a keen intellect and great critical thinking skills.  He's done a bunch of research on diet and disease (about two years' worth), particularly foods which may promote cancer growth, specifically breast cancer, which I will summarize in the most brief manner possible.  I know we have had a lot of posts about what should we eat, or not eat, are supplements good, etc.  For what it's worth, I wish I could download all he said that was so very compelling and reasonable, I'll just say I have a lot of cupboard cleaning etc. to do in the morning in response to these suggestions.  He told me that when he first truly grasped about how strong the links between diet and cancer are - and how well known but "suppressed", he cried.  He lost his dad to multiple myeloma several years ago and really feels some of this could have given his dad some more time. 

1) Eliminate dairy from the diet.  (my nickname is Cheesey, so guess who's going to be crying tomorrow?!)

2) Eliminate meat, fish, pork, eggs - all animal proteins.

3) Go vegan - fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, non-processed soy if not overly sensitive to it

4) Do not take supplements - the body will excrete them and some, like anti-oxidants, can fuel cancer growth.

5) Walk as much as possible, outdoors preferably.  Cancer does not thrive in a well oxygenated atmosphere. 

6) Eliminate sugar and artificial sweetners - especially look out for high fructose corn syrup - only the kind that comes from fruit (not the kind made in the lab) is "non toxic".  Children are showing up with cirrhosis of the liver, doctors believe it is due to the HFCS effect on the liver.

He just spent the last five years living in Portugal where he walked everywhere and ate a nearly vegan diet.  Mike and I have not spoken in five years and I believe there is a reason we have re-connected now when his knowledge and experience might be helpful to me and other patients.  Kismet.

Bon soir, mes amis!

Robins Robert journey!!!!! 20/20 abc

Thanks jojo I will be putting my order in soon!

Tonight me and the hubby are watching a marathon of duck dynasty!

Amy~Duck dynasty...ha ha...I secretly like that too. They intrigue me! Kinda like construction workers!



Kelly..That is very cool that you and your ex have reconnected! Yes, I have read most of what he said as well. Walking outdoors seems to be almost number one. I've heard that getting all that oxygen outdoors kills the cancer cells. I just had an appointment with a counselor/nurse on living life after cancer and she gave me a ton of stuff to think about and do. Maybe later tonight I will share some of her insight.



I missed Robin Roberts comeback!

Hope & Kelly great stuff for our health I will start my diet again ... I will juice 3 times a week oatmeal and quinoa 1 days wheat cereal 1 time .. So my mornings are set... I love legumes expect hummus... Will add grain rice... Love fish but slowly let go soon tilapia is great or salmon to me..... my smoothly consist of blueberries blackberries strawberries honey flaxseeds and cinnamon power ....

The rest will be good salads olive olio and vinaigrette...



I hope we all can keep this diet and the walking ..... I do miss my morning run while the wind would comb my hair

Hope and Amy- my husband is obsessesed with duck dynasty....watch my first episode with him last night, was tired and went to bed before it ended, but he swears if I watch a couple, I will be hooked....wasn't so sure, but since I woke up to your posts, I think the universe is trying to tell me something



Kelly, thanks for the information....I really wished I didn't like so many things on the list, but have been making changes toward that direction. I just wish there would be a study that comes out saying cheese, chocolate, wine, and plenty of rest will ward off cancer....ahh wishful thinking.



Love Robin Roberts! And love your posts Patricia!



Jojo- you are so right about being outside, and yes yes yes bring on the spring...love the butterfly image.



Hope and jojo- hair is looking good! Mine is coming along, even my 3 year old commented on it is growing.

As each of you is emerging to the next phase of treatment or finishing treatment, you may want to schedule an appointment with a dietitian to help you plan your diet needs.  Everyone's body is different and will need protein and other nutrients to help the healing process.  Hopefully you will have blood work once you are finished with chemo so you can see where your counts are, especially the red blood counts.  For me, I haven't gone to a vegan diet, primarily because my onco and the oncology dietitian said it was not a good idea it at this time since my blood counts are not all in the normal range yet.  I am 6 months PFC and do not take any supplements or vitamins.  I did not take any of those during chemo.  My onco said she did not want me to take those since she believes it is better to get what the body needs through healthy foods.  I know each of you is probably anxious to move forward; and that is a very good thing.  Please don't think I'm telling you what kind of diet to be on; just make sure you are getting enough healthy foods to help your bodies recover. 

Have a wonderful weekend. HUGS to all!!!!

Hopex3: that sounds like fun! I have no idea how to clam dig so please fill me in...why can't you clam? What is spotting? But here is what I DO understand: never say no to a good cheeseburger!!!

My cold finally seems to be going away...right in time for DH to get one. I really fricking hope this is one that I had and not yet another one coming my way!!!!! I have started just this morning to juice half a lemon and add it to a cup of warm water first thing in the morning. Thanks for that note about the dietician, Melrose. My last bloodwork came back showing everything was ok. But I am really craving meat. I try to ensure I have a little protein with every meal. I am trying to get in the habit of having a smoothie every day with hemp hearts in it. This morning I also added spinach to it. I didn't find that it affected the taste at all but it definitely changed the colour!! I'm just not a fan of the cold drinks...would much rather be sipping on a big latte.

Mariposa: I get my hemp hearts at Costco. I put 2 tbsp in each smoothie. Ooo, cherry blossoms. I am jealous. I heard the groundhog did NOT see his shadow this year so spring has just got to be around the corner. Please let it be! We have a neighbour that is, in his own words, a gardening nerd. His garden is huge. He is going to help me plan out my veggie garden this year and give me some advice. He said that he has already started planting inside.  What?? I guess I'll be buying seedlings this spring because I am just not that prepared to get stuff going inside!!

I had my taxes done today.  I brought all my information regarding insurance, what I've spent, etc. and they were able to take approximately $550 as a deduction.  It helped me a little bit with getting a refund.  Every little bit helps.

I'm right there along with all of you regarding the anger.  I found myself yelling at Siri (iphone) when she didn't connect me with the phone number I requested.  LOL.  I guess it's better that I yell at her than at others....

I recorded Robin Roberts' journey ... plan to watch it tomorrow.

CONGRATUALTIONS PatinMN!  What a huge accomplishment with the rads!!!  Yippppeeeee!

KelleyB - Great information on diet/exercise - thanks so much for sharing!  I'm trying to incorporate some of these things already.

Jojo & Hope - Your hair looks great.  Mine is coming along slowly but surely.

Mariposa - I hope you feel better each and everyday!  I'm right with you - forget what I am saying in the middle of a sentence and I have lots of word confustion too.  I forget everything unless I write it down.  I have notes everywhere.  It drives me crazy!  I really like your new picture.  Once you get things in order around the house, you will feel much better - you are taking control.

Hope - Thanks for the encouragement about chemo brain.  I can't wait for things to come to me more clearly.  I'm still having problems with my feet too.  I have several toe nails that are turning white.  Weird.  I hope you have a great time with the clam digging.  Sounds like a lot of fun.  Enjoy!!!

Forever - Why did the nutritionist suggest the lemon juice and warm water?  What are hemp hearts?  Where do you find them?  DH and I do smoothie fruit drinks a couple times a week.  I plan to add some kale.  Would like to get suggestions on other things to add.

I'm off to watch a movie with DH and sis-in-law.  Hugs to all!  : )))

Marian- great video, you and your family are so cute

Marian,

 Nice video!  I'm glad that you are finished chemo.

Hopex - I envy you your clams, and the warm weather that comes along with them.  Enjoy!

Mariposa - I saw one of your earlier posts where you mentioned the Bay Area has an unusually high incidence of breast cancer. What do you think is behind that?  

Forever - Have fun with the garden this year.  I think some gardeners have as much fun planning their gardens as they do planting them.  My uncle is a nut about gardening, and he's already got plants growing in his basement, and has his mail-ordered worms helping to prepare his soil!  

Question to those getting Herceptin treatments, if you don't mind my asking.  I don't know anything about that drug, except that several of you are getting that targeted therapy.  Since it's called a "targeted therapy", does that mean it's not considered chemotherapy?  How is it different?  And how long, generally is the treatment?

My nutritionist suggested that I have the juice of 1 lemon in a bit of hot water first thing every morning - she told me that it is a great liver detox. I try to do it most mornings, but if I don't put the lemon out the night before, I generally forget. Anything that helps get rid of the toxicity of chemo is a good thing in my opinion.

PatinMN--Woohoo!

Kelley--thanks for the info from ex-hubby.  It helps to reconfirm what a lot of us trying to do to stay healthy and not have to deal with this again.

Marian--thanks for sharing the video.  Made me smile!