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More Tips (and a Shopping List) for Getting Through Chemo

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Comments

  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited September 2017

    Bumping for Conceta ~

  • Neanie44
    Neanie44 Member Posts: 8
    edited September 2017

    Thanks to all for the tips, which I find myself now needing. I had my 1st chemo treatment almost a week ago. Plenty of nausea meds kept my stomach in tact, but morning after Neulasta, I started to feel yuck and now mouth is sore. I will try the Benadryl and Maalox - thanks for the tip.

  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited October 2017

    Thank you, NewNormal44, please stop by often and share your journey.

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,354
    edited October 2017

    This thread was so helpful. Hoping to keep it active for others.

  • scaligirl
    scaligirl Member Posts: 37
    edited November 2017

    I would like to add something for those of you going through chemotherapy... many of the chemo meds will make you lose your hair. A lot of us chose to buzz and/or shave our heads at some point. Since a lot of you will also be looking at getting wigs, save some of your hair. It's good to get a few samples of your hair for color comparison purposes. All you need to do is save around an inch-wide section of your hair. Cut it off at it's longest place, and if your hair is ombre, keep the color section you want matched. Then just tape it onto a blank white piece of paper. Most places that you can order wigs from online have consultants that will help you find the right color if you mail in your hair sample. They look at the wigs you are considering purchasing, and find the right color match to that manufacturer.

    I didn't do this myself but read about it on a few wig websites. I wish I knew beforehand as those online color pictures are very hard to tell what they will actually look like, and each manufacturer calls them something different. Anyway, I hope this helps!

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,354
    edited November 2017

    Good idea. Thanks for posting.

  • magari
    magari Member Posts: 335
    edited November 2017

    I kind of hate the title.... But this book was recommended to me by my nurse navigator, who said it had been recommended to her by several patients. And I have to admit, it has a lot of practical info and tips that I'd not come across elsewhere:

    "Chemo: Secrets to Thriving" (From someone who's been there), by Roxanne Brown & Barbara Mastej

  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited November 2017

    Thank you Magari and scalgirl ~ I hope everyone keeps adding to our list of tips!

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,354
    edited December 2017

    bumping for Daniz

  • Daniz1983
    Daniz1983 Member Posts: 84
    edited December 2017

    Thank you so much MinusTwo!!

  • ckmoss
    ckmoss Member Posts: 95
    edited December 2017

    I just had a friend diagnosed with breast cancer and remembered this list from when I went through it all in 2013.  It was so helpful..so here I am copying and pasting to email to her.  

  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited January 2018

    bumping for Lauren . . .

  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 3,293
    edited January 2018

    This is a very informative post and I can see why mods pinned it but it IS from 2008 and the information about soy is out of date.

    Our understanding about soy and phytoestrogens as a whole has changed since then and it is not flatly contraindicated, not even for ER+ patients.

    It's a bit disconcerting to see out of date info in a pinned post.

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,354
    edited January 2018

    moth - I think it depends on which studies you read, how much soy you're talking about, and how conservative is your MO.

  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited February 2018

    bumping for Bethany . . .

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,354
    edited February 2018

    Yay Nico!!!! Such good information.

  • urdrago71
    urdrago71 Member Posts: 500
    edited March 2018

    Great information! Do most eat light before chemo? looking for pointers on which foods 12 hours to 1 hour before treatment as my first will be next week.

    maybe it doesn't matter, just curious...

  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited April 2018

    Bumping for Anjeanette ~

  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited May 2018

    Bumping for Brooke . . .

  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited June 2018

    Bumping for Rachel . . .

  • JoanFree
    JoanFree Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2018

    This was super informative tread, I really thank you all for the valuable information!

  • moderators
    moderators Posts: 8,637
    edited July 2018

    Dear JoanFree,

    Welcome to the community. We are glad that you are finding helpful information here on the boards. We hope that you will stay connected here and receive support and shared experiences from our members. The Mods

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,354
    edited October 2018

    Bumping... So many good tips.

  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited October 2018

    bumping for Shanell . . .

  • moderators
    moderators Posts: 8,637
    edited October 2018

    Agree, great, great tips.


  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,354
    edited October 2018

    Keeping it active so new members will find these tips.

  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited October 2018

    Bumping for Kay . . .

  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited October 2018

    Bumping for Rose . . .

  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited October 2018

    Bumping for Jayla . . .

  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,152
    edited November 2018

    Bumping for Carmen . . .

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