raw fruits and vegetables

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katymom
katymom Member Posts: 141

What are the guidelines for eating RAW fruits and vegetables while on chemo? I know you're not supposed to when white cell count is down, but how do you know exactly when that is?

Comments

  • mibriggs
    mibriggs Member Posts: 79
    edited May 2007
    That is a good question

    Well I ate raw fruits during chemo not realising that it could cause a problem.... I think somewhere around chemo #4 when I hospitalised I was told off for bringing in fruits. My doc never warned me before starting chemo.

    Good question really... how would you know when counts are down?

    I know I wasnt much help, hopefully one of the other ladies will come along soon, with a more helpful answer.
    Best wishes with your treatment.
    mel
    xoxo
  • QueenSansaStark
    QueenSansaStark Member Posts: 207
    edited May 2007
    After my first TAC, I developed neutropenia, a systemic infection (despite the Neulasta shot!) and was hospitalized. I was told, therefore, if I can't cook it or peel it to not eat it. I miss my salads. However, not everyone is as susceptible to neutropenia as I am so you might be permitted a wider range of foods.
  • glaveg
    glaveg Member Posts: 31
    edited May 2007
    You'll really be able to impress your oncologist when you know this info. Your counts are the lowest seven to ten days after your treatment. That period of time is called the Nadir. I am a nurse and gave chemo to children, so that's the only reason I know that term.

    My onc told me to stay away from raw fruits and veggies during my nadir...I was glad because I had forgotten that little tidbit.
  • booklady
    booklady Member Posts: 70
    edited June 2007
    I'm surviving mostly on fruits and salads, since I can't tolerate most meats. I take neulasta shots 6days a week and am on oral chemo and infusion weekly. When can I eat raw fruits and vegetables? Cucumbers and tomatoes have become my favorite foods since I started chemo.

  • acgw
    acgw Member Posts: 286
    edited June 2007

    I ate uncooked fruits and vegetables throughout my chemo; nobody told me not to. I would think that as long as you wash things thoroughly you would be fine.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2007
    I was told not to eat anything raw and, if I chose to (some of us have reputations for being rebellious !), I should wash them thoroughly with dish soap and rinse well or use the spray stuff you can buy at Whole Foods and other natural food places. I washed everything, injected myself with Neupogen, and was fortunate enough to stay healthy. You should also avoid sushi, sashumi and all other dishes with raw fish or meat (steak tartare, for eg.).

    Marin
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2007
    I even ate salad off a salad bar. That's a big no no. However, that was only done once the day of chemo. I believe my onc said I could have fresh fruits and veggies. My WBC was always up due to Neulasta (well, they were up when blood work was done day of chemo). I ate no rare meat. Heck, I can't remember what I ate!
    Shirley
  • Ter
    Ter Member Posts: 357
    edited June 2007
    I was told by my onc that if you are on chemo, "if you can't peel it, dont eat it...hmmmmm I could peel a banana, apple, pear, Lettuce? no, strawberries, NO.

    I live in a very large agraculture area where lots of veggies, adn fruit are plentiful, and I had to be really picky, and back then I didnt have an appetite at all...as I couldnt keep anything in me...foumd out that boiled potatoes were filling and tasty, especially red potatoes, but those litlle buggers are hard to peel...one reason why I never make mashed potatoes, hate to peel just those things, carrots no biggie. But you don't have to peel chocolate! LOL

    Ter
  • chumfry
    chumfry Member Posts: 642
    edited June 2007
    I found out the hard way about raw fruits and vegetables a few weeks ago. My first bout with BC/chemo was in 2005 and I ate all sorts of salads and fruits with no problem. (Dose dense AC/Taxol with Neulasta shots.)

    This time, I'm on weekly Taxol/Carboplatin. Three Fridays in a row, then I skip a week, for a total of 12 treatments.

    The first day I went back to work half time, I had a Subway sandwich and had them put spinach on it because it has more nutrition than lettuce.

    That night, I had the worst diarrhea of my life. Like every 15 to 20 minutes for several hours, then it backed off to every half hour, then every hour, then every two hours. I didn't get to sleep until 5 a.m.

    I called the onc on call around 9 p.m., asking if it was OK for me to take immodium and he agreed that I'd picked up some sort of bug.

    I don't get Neulasta this time, which is fine because it gave me terrible bone pain in 2005. But I think my white cell nadir is on Sundays and Mondays, because I feel so tired then. I ate that spinach on a Monday.

    No one had ever told me to avoid fresh fruits and vegetables, but now I do. I eat a lot of cantaloupe and canned fruit. And I make sure all the vegetables I eat (especially at restaurants) are HOT!
  • dpbrown523
    dpbrown523 Member Posts: 40
    edited September 2007

    I ate fresh fruits and veggies throughout chemo too.  Nobody ever told me not too.  I think if your white count is <2 then you may be at risk.  Mine never got down that low.  My cancer center nurses always give me copies of my labwork.

  • beachdayz
    beachdayz Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2007

    I am on my 2nd chemo for breast cancer and the nausea is horrible. I love raw carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, but, noticed that the blogs are saying that raw veggies are not good. RUH ROH!!  What is the "recommended diet" for breast cancer treatments while you are doing chemo? Fresh veggies, fresh fruits, no red meat, only chicken????  help? does anyone know what a "good" diet would be? thx

  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited October 2007

    luvsandlz - There are numerous anti-nausea medications you can take in combination. Usually alot of patients have good success with Emend (Merck drug) which is taken for 3 immediately during treatment start. If you go to the Chemo forum there should be numerous posts to help with nausea.

    Regarding raw food - my onc told me to avoid eating raw foods unless I thoroughly washed everything. This is critical to avoid getting a stomach problem.  I did my chemo last June-Sept 06 during the summer months and I CRAVED RAW fruit and veggies!!  SO I eat them after washing all completely and did not encounter any stomach problems due to contaminated food.  (Problems due to the chemo instead!)  Anyway I was determined to eat healthy food and not junk to help me recover from the toxic chemo effects.  IMO this worked very well for me and I continue to eat this way.  I managed to loose 16# which I needed to get rid of and am very happy with that result. Joann

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