Calling all TNs
Comments
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I am wondering why I am not doing Taxol? Seems a lot of ladies on this board is doing AC then taxol. I am doing T/C then radiation. What is the taxol supposed to do?
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Babs37 you have made me feel so much better. I find the four days really debilitating. I don't want to do anything, in fact can't do anything except try and sleep. Yesterday stayed in my dressing gown all day and was so tearful. With my fear of sickness this is a nightmare for me during those times as I wonder if I am going to vomit yet at the same time I manage to eat my meals that my dear husband makes me. Everything feels like lead and the constipation fills me with dread as I worry about a bowel blockage. I take the pills but they don't seem to do much. Just make me wonder whether to carry on with it feeling like this. Geez I sound, look and feel like the wounded dead don't I. Thank you so much for your help. Annie
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On vacaton I had TC too not TAC but the T is taxatere which I understand is like taxol.... I think it depends on your stage adn where you are getting treated. MGH would have given me TAC. I wish I had gone with them but they said I would get the same treatmetn at Mt. Auburn, a HArvard teaching hospital...well it wasn't and as soon as my chemo fiasco ended I switched to MGH. MGH wouldn't let me switch midstream. You can PM me if you want to discuss it more.
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Oh I wondered if taxatere was like taxol - no big deal I just think it is interesting there are so many ways to treat it. I am stage 1 no nodes. Thanks for responding!
have a great evening!
Kim
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Painting-I love your art!
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I am new to this site although have been posting on other boards. I am 33 years and TN. I have my LAST chemo on Thursday. So looking forward to that day. The whole TN thing scares the crap out of me. I am looking into diet and things post chemo if anyone has any ideas let me know.
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onvacation - I also had TC (Taxotere and Cytoxan). I think it's a pretty common regimen these days for early stage, node negative. The Taxotere is similar to Taxol (they are both taxanes). Hope all is going well with your treatment.
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Thanks Sugar! Yea borntosurvive on your last chemo! I am counting down to that day!
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Oh and I've been reading lots about diet and exercise after treatment. Though I am a bit confused why they don't focus on what to eat during treatment. I guess they just want you to eat! From what I've read a low fat mostly plant based diet and exercise is the best thing we can do for TN. I am trying to eat as many veggies as I can during treatment and drink green juice, but I also eat what I feel like or what I can taste! Good luck!
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Onvacation - My MO said the best way for TNs to ward off recurrance is through diet and exercise....and she meant a lot of exercise - like 45 minutes a day, 6 days a week - a gym rat! LOL. I hate to exercise and barely went to the gym. So, in addition to losing about 30 lbs, I'm gonna eat a lot better - a lot less carbs, and go to the gym a lot more. Ugh. But, I want to keep this away for good, so I'll do what I think I should....but I will eat pizza and drink wine and have an occasional vanilla milkshake!
As far as eating during treatment, my sugars are very high, so I have to have a low-carb diet. My MO said if I have a vanilla milkshake (which I crave), I could end up in a diabetic coma!! The last thing I want when I feel lousy lots of veggies, so I'm trying to eat "good carbs" like whole grains and protein. She is ok with me losing weight on chemo but said I can't lose weight while getting radiation.
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Charb22 - you might talk to your MO about reducing the steroid dose to keep your blood sugars in check. I am diabetic and went through the same chemo last summer. I took just 6 mg of decadron on treatment day along with my other pre-meds. My sugars were slightly elevated the day of treatment, but returned to normal the next day. Getting plenty of protein (about 100 grams) helps your red cells to recover and will keep you from being overly fatigued. You might try some no-sugar-added ice cream blended with a little milk and some Greek yogurt and ice for a high protein milkshake that should satisfy your craving.
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Pre Cancer I had cleaned up my diet, so I already kicked the sugar habit and ate a lot of veggies, so just have to work on amping up my exercise and eating the good fats! Scary to have diabetes on top of this! No diabetic coma for sure! Oh and I LOVE PIZZA!
My MO told me he didn't want me gaining weight during chemo - which surprised me because I assumed I would lose weight! I have lost a couple pounds but I think it is because my taste buds have been off. I figure if I have to go through this I might as well get to my goal weight! LOL
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I gained 25 pounds on chemo..but I was too dang skinny to start...too nervous to eat once I was diagnosed I guess...I weighed 125 lbs. to start..got up to 150..now down to 138 and plan to stay there..I think that is my healthy weight..I eat what I want...and try to exercise too.
I think any exercise at all is good...I either walk or jog 2 miles per day..that's it..I don't know about the studies that much but the exercise just makes me feel good...plus like I said when I'm alone jogging I talk to Laura, Mary, and Suze...just this crazy lady out jogging..lol.
It can't hurt..never heard that exercise causes cancer..
Oh I hear ya Tiff about KU...good luck with Kentucky..I will be cheering for you..I think it would be the upset of the world but you never know...I just wish the Buckeyes would have shown up in the second half..dang 'em anyway..but Kansas came out fired up and ready to play...they deserved the win.
Hey Gilly..I ALWAYS support the BIG 10 in all the tournaments...except for Michigan..can't go that far..lol
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Painting.......I love your art work. Congrats on the article. Very nice to be recognized for such talent.0
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Titan,
Nebraska is part of the Big 10 now, but probably will NEVER show up in basketball! LOL
Now football, that's our state treasure, no matter what. With no pro teams, we all rally behind the Huskers (hence my screen name!)
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I am following a vegan diet, Janet Plant , her book is called Your Life in your Hands and also The Plant Food Programme ,some really good advice about what to eat when you breast cancer I have lost about10kg in weight and really feel very healthy. My diet doen't include dairy, red meat, coffee, alcohol but lots of vegetables and plant protein.
I have started excising at the gym this week and am 40 mins cardo a day, the only trouble is I have keep working harder as my fitness is increasing. I find a need a bit a rest afterwards
Shaved my head today, it was starting to hurt so I having fun wearing my wigs, I exposed my bald head in the gym changing room and that was a bit scary
My next round of FEC is on Thursday, I am hoping that its going to go as well as my first
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onvaction...sugar, you, and I have stage one no nodes and seem to have the same treatment. I have to lose weight and exercise. Am doing yoga twice weekly and love it but it is not cardio.
Bak94 and Inmate...thanks..now hoping my work sells.
Good day to all you wonderful ladies. I feel a huge arm of support around me form this group.
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Gabbie42: We have the same diagnosis it looks like. Thanks for the tips of the vegan diet. I'm not sure I can give up meat entirely. I could give up red meat but I still love chicken and fish etc. I will forsure check out the book though.
I have read lots about excersise. After spending so many months in bed (I didn't fair well on the A/C) I think I'll have to just start walking the block to build up enough stamina to go back to the gym.
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Gabbie - I am vegetarian and lean towards vegan but I haven't been able to give up cheese. It is a goal of mine to give it up or at least only eat it a couple times a week. I am going to check out that book!
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Annie, Try eating berries for the constipation - if your counts are low, make sure you wash them in soap and water. I never had to take any laxatives because I ate so many blackberries and raspberries during chemo. I'm sorry you are dealing with the fear of sickness - I know what that is like. It started for me when I was 9. You will get through this and it will be a dim memory sooner than you know!
I've been away for a couple days looking for our lost cat literally day and night (with headlamp and flashlight in woods in area 35 minutes from our home - he was catnapped then when the sheriff's deputy was removing him from the lady's house he got loose!) We had flyers up everywhere with a reward and while I was in the area, someone spotted him and I was able to capture him. Now I can get back to the rest of my life - laundry piled up, work got behind, it was crazy. She took him Monday but we didn't realize that's where he was until Friday.
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I would love to change to a vegan diet, I just don't think I could stick to it. I have given up red meat, although I did eat a little bit on vacation and lots of cheese I think
. I haven't given up cheese but I do pretty well not eating it. The most I tend to eat is Feta on my salads. I have to get back into eating healthy and into my exercise routine now that vacation is over. borntosurvive - I started my eliptical about 2-3 weeks after my last TAC treatment. I did 15 min and had to stop several times. Now I can do a full 45 min. It took a while, I would add a few minutes at a time, you'll get there, just don't over do it, take it slow in the beginning, your still healing.
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LuvRVing - the shake idea sounds good. I'm going to look up some recipes online and then venture out to the grocery store later today - haven't been there in 3 months! DH has been doing the shopping.0
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Thanks for all the laughs girl!
gilly I am married to a Boilermaker too!
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We have been to Purdue for a basketball game when my son was on this dribbling team thing..they performed there at half time...nice town,,and Husker are you coming to Ohio for OSU vs. Nebraska game? If you are let me know...we can meet up.
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I haven't been back to West Lafayette since we left in 1986!!!!
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I ordered a particular product online after carefully looking for the best priced, using a code for discount. I had free shipping and know the company well, so I knew while ordering that it will arrive in a few days. Was happy that it was done and now all I had to do was wait for it. On the same day in the afternoon, I went to Walmart to buy other things, and lo and behold I bought the same product I had already ordered online that morning. I brought the stuff home, put it on the table, and was just plain shocked at my memory. How could I have not remembered that I had already ordered a batch online that same morning. Pretty bad, eh? I am loosing it girls!
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I have to say I have absolutely no desire to go vegan. We discuss this on our diabetic board, and some people find it effective. Others do better with a low carb, higher protein diet. The best one is the one you can stick with ong-term. I wonder how you get 90-100 grams of protein during chemo if you are eating vegan. I would think your red counts would have difficulty recovering, thus bringing on the fatigue of anemia. What am I missing?
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There is tons of protein in leafy green veggies as well as beens and grains like quinoa. I agree that you don't have to go vegan (not sure I will ever be 100%) but I think veggies are so important whether you have cancer or not, and most americans eat so much processed, high sugar crap that any improvement is welcome!
I don't get any where near that much protein, and most things that I've read say you really don't need that much, more like 40-60 grams which I get every day.
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Onvacation - my point was more about getting enough protein during chemo. Yes, I agree that people generally eat too much processed food. I stopped that when I became diabetic eleven years ago. And yes, I agree you can get a great deal of protein from veggies, beans, etc. The RDA is about 50 grams. But if you have a health issue or are getting through chemo, you need more.
I just think it's unfortunate that some people feel "guilty" about eating meat, as if it's bad for you. I just don't agree with that dietary approach. Too much of anything can be bad for you, and yes, that includes meat. But when a woman complains about feeling general fatigue, I always think about whether or not she is anemic, because unless there is some other underlying health problem, eating more protein and iron-rich foods can often help.
By the way, I agree that beans and legumes contain substantial amounts of proteins. Leafy green vegetables, while definitely good for you in many ways, are not a substantial source of protein. You'd have to eat many cups of greens to get the equivalent in 3 ounces of chicken. Can it be done? Yes. But one does have to be diligent about pairing foods properly to maximize the available nutrients. For example, vitamin C helps the body absorb the iron in those vegetables.
Different strokes for different folks, most certainly.
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I agree with the different stoikes. When my blood counts were so low I was facing a transfusion, ate red meat, drank red wine. All came right.
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