Sites that list specific chemo w/ helpful supplements?? TIA

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juliebb
juliebb Member Posts: 140
edited June 2014 in Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment

Can anyone recommend a site(s) that has specific lists of supplements that go with a specific chematheapy medicine? I thought I found one last year and now I can't seem to locate any on the web. My mother, 76, will be starting on Xeloda next month. This is, if it is approved by her insurance. I read that she should not take folic acid and a few medications. But, I also really would like to know what would help keep her strong and ahead of the side effects. I understand nothing is 100%, but I'd love a little information that could give us more hope. She had a terrible time with Taxotere which induced severe pulmonary toxicity and permanent lung damage and now has to use supplemental oxygen. With Navelbine she developed neuropathy (as she also did w/ Taxotere), and w/ Gemzar she began retaining fluid like she did w/ Taxotere and could barely breathe. Now it's Xeloda. Any sites or books? Thanks!!!!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007

    I took Xeloda for six months.  I think I was advised to stay away from any supplements while on this drug.

    Make sure your mother slathers plenty of Bag Balm on her feet and hands to hopefully ward off hand/foot syndrome.  I used it several times during the day.  Also, make sure you have Immodium handy in case she should have diarrhea.  My ond said if I should get diarrhea to ignore the insert in the Immodium and take it everytime I had a bowel movement.  However, ask her doctor about this first.

    Shirley 

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  • juliebb
    juliebb Member Posts: 140
    edited October 2007

    Thank you Shirley, for your quick and very helpful response. I will share this with my mother. How are you doing now?



    Sincerely,

    Julie

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007

    I'm doing fine as far as I know. LOL  I had neoadjuvant chemo.  It shrunk my tumor to almost half the size.  However, I did have 5 positive nodes out of nine.  That's why I think after my mast and rads that my onc wanted me to do Xeloda.  I am on Arimidex now.

    My first onc left and went to Oregon.  My "now" onc does not agree with his protocol.  She would have skipped the Xeloda.  I said that since I still had five nodes postive after chemo that's why he wanted me on the Xeloda.  She didn't agree and said that the Arimidex would have done the job.

    So, who knows?  I have to trust what he did.  And, I did love him to death.

    Hope your mom gets some relief.  This is certainly no fun for her and surely isn't fun for you.  Being a caregiver is one of the hardest jobs (yes, jobs) around.  I hope you are taking good care of YOURSELF.  God bless you for being there for her.

    Shirley

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  • juliebb
    juliebb Member Posts: 140
    edited October 2007

    Shirley,



    I am so happy to read you are doing fine. I Think your previous doctor was taking the extra step for you, especially since you have positive nodes. I worry that this new one doesn't agree and well, maybe she won't be going the extra mile for her patients. Can you get more recommendations for another onc.? Maybe you don't feel you need to, it's your decision, and frankly not my business. I just would demand the very best. Well since you loved your previous one so much, I don't know.......I should but out. You could call the oncology floor at a teaching hospital or your hospital and ask the head nurse who she would go to.



    I am sure happy to see you are still on the atlernative board. I remember you from other visists to this site. I cannot get my mother interested in altering her diet much and it feels like I have another child sometimes. She eats so much ice cream and candy. I moved my family in here May 2006 right after my dad passed. My mother had been hospitalized 5 times before the 1st anneversary of his death. I was very close to my father and promised I would take care of my mom. It has been very stressful. I am 41 and have a 4 year old daughter. My husband and I would like at least one more, but it has been so stressful I can't imagine how.



    What have you done Shirley as far as trying to incorporate a healthier lifestyle? I would love to know. I went out yesterday and bought my mother the Bag Balm......your suggestion :). The Xeloda was approved and she will start Sunday. We have the Immodium. I told her nurse that you had given me the tips!!! Big Balm.... does it come in a tin? I feel like I'm going to open it and it's going to be a Christmas candle...LOL!



    How long do you take the Arimidex? I love sharing this with my mom. You've been such a help!



    Hope to here from you!



    Sincerely,

    Julie



    PS. Okay, now where is the spell check button? LOL

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  • abreast_of_life
    abreast_of_life Member Posts: 44
    edited October 2007

    Hi,

    I put this site together in memory of my mother who was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2002.  After her diagnosis I myself discovered that I needed a mastectomy which I had 4 years ago. 

    It covers a great deal including healthy diet, personal care, how to heal and supplements specifically relating to breast cancer and which are recommended pre and post surgery, chemo and radiotherapy. 

    It is www.abreastoflife.co.uk  The American sister site is coming any day now.  Hopefully many more sites will blossom around the world in different languages because this is now global.

    Good health.

    Love and blessings,

    Deborah  

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  • juliebb
    juliebb Member Posts: 140
    edited October 2007

    Excellent Deborah!



    Thank you so much! I'm going to connect right now.



    What a great thing you have done.





    Sincerely,



    Julie

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  • juliebb
    juliebb Member Posts: 140
    edited October 2007

    Deborah,



    What do you think about the fungus and candida connection also w/ cancer? I like Ty Bollinger's book Cancer Step Outside The Box. Have you read this one? I also read alpha lipoic acid is helpful after radiation? I will show your site to my mother. She can read about the environment and cancer. Maybe then she'll stop heating things in the microwave that are also wrapped in plastic! UGGG!

    Thanks for sharing your site.



    I am sorry about your mother, I know she is proud of you.



    Sincerely,

    Julie

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007

    As far as my new onc she's at the same hospital as my old onc who passed me to her.  I go to Duke and this onc is very smart.  I just haven't "bonded" yet.  I believe for ER/PR+ women the thinking is that the hormone treatment is even better than chemo.  It's a new way of thinking so I'm think that's where she's coming from.  Like most of us say, it's a crap shoot.

    I do take supplements, but you really need to talk with your mom's onc.  When you get the Xeloda make sure you you read the insert.  You are right about not taking folic acid while on Xeloda.  I wasn't told that, but read some of the insert and found it there.  Therefore, I stopped my multi.

    The supplements I've been taking AFTER chemo is CoQ10, green tea, tumeric, grapeseed extract (when I have it), Vitamin D, calcium citrate, magnesium citrate, (you might want to talk to the once about your mom taking calcium, magnesium and vitamin D during chemo), fish oil, and glucosamine chondroiton with msm (for the achey knees hopefully due to AIs).  Is that enough!!?? 

    My diet...I'm ashamed to say that I haven't done much.  I think the AI is giving me a sweet tooth.  However, I don't eat a bunch of candy and ice cream.  I do indulge every so often.  However, my sugar problem is in my tea!  I'm a "tea-aholic."  Cry  I try to remind myself to drink water instead of tea every once in a while.  I need to do that at least every other time I drink something.  That would cut a the sugar quite a bit.  Perhaps I could wean myself off. Laughing

    Will your mom eat fish, chicken, tuna...she needs protein in her diet.  It's really, really hard to change.  I was watching Discovery Health, "what does survivorship mean to you."  I don't know if that's the exact title.  Anyway, it was really good last night.  One gal was really changing the way she ate.  She had a rare form of liver cancer.  However, it was not progressing at the time and she even got married!  It's one every night this week (different people with different challenges) at 8 PM.

    Julie, you can only do what you can do...you can't MAKE your mom eat correctly.  Being there for her  is a big sacrifice.  That is the best thing in the world that you can do for her.  Like I said, it's a darn hard job.  She is extremely lucky to have you.  Stressful isn't even close to what you are going through.  You and your hubby need to have "date" nights.  You NEED time just for yourselves.

    Good luck, sweetie. 

    Shirley

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  • juliebb
    juliebb Member Posts: 140
    edited October 2007

    Thanks so much again Shirley for your suggestions and response. I will ask my mothers' doctor tomorrow about the supplements, she has an apointment. You are really learning a lot about your health and I think that is so great! My mom is er- but pr+ . I wish I could learn more about that. I have a lot of books on cancer and nutrition etc. My mother isn't that interested in reading them. I know I can't force her to do anything.....no way. But, I wish she'd try. I am tired and my family hasn't had a vacation since summer of 2005. (Tonight is our anniversary, my husband sent beautiful flowers.) Any mention of assisted living puts her in tears. My brothers and sisters are all for it because they don't want to help. Well, most of them anyways. I am a mess. I am waiting for a sign from God. Maybe I should go talk with our priest.



    I will tune in to the show tonight, if I can find discovery health. I'm not sure if we get that channel.



    I hope you and your doctor "bond" , I know it's more than just nice to feel that connection.



    Take care and thanks for "listening!"



    Sincerely,

    Julie

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007

    Julie, I just bumped a thread called, "What do you eat?"  Some very good ideas there. Wink

    Shirley

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