Survivors who had chemo etc and are into Complementary medicine

apple

MaryNY...  you can read a bit of research on eating soy here at BCO.  I think soy supplements are too concetrated but eating moderate amounts of soy is certainly ok.

this will link fine on my computer but I know some of you cannot link within the forum.. you then can cut and paste this into your browzer.. .

www.breastcancer.org/tips/nutrition/reduce_risk/foods/soy.jsp

AnneW

Hi, Mary, sounds to ME like you started with a viral infection but now may have a superimposed bacterial one, since you've been sick for more than two weeks. 95% of bronchitis is viral. Most sinus infections clear on their own without antibiotics. But the throat thing and fevers are a bit worrisome. Could be a sinus source.

Have you tried vigorous nasal irrigation with a Neti pot, or similar? (NeilMD makes an irrigation bottle and supplies the salt packets to add. Got mine at the local drug store.)

If that doesn't help, it sounds like you've tried everything. Then get yourself back to your doctor (got a PCP rather than using an Urgent Care clinic?), lay out your symptoms chronologically, with fever levels, and get rechecked, okay?

MaryNY

Thanks Anne: The odd thing with this is that I don't really have nasal congestion so I'm not sure that a Neti pot would help. At this stage the infection is gone further down. I tried a three-pronged approach last night -- steaming w eucalyptus oil, tried Emergen-C and then Vicks Medinite before bed. The acetaminophen in the Vicks will have helped bring down my temperature and it helped give me a good night's sleep. I've never had Emergen-C before but it claims to boost the immune system.

Sherryc

Mary I had something similar a few years ago.  I got this nasal thing and then it went away.  Came back 5 months later with lots of phlegm and aching and hard to breath.  Went away and 2 months later came back and this time I could not breath at all through my nose no matter what I tried and the phlegm I could not get out of my chest.  Dr gave me a steroid shot to open me up and put me on antibiotics and said I had had this all these months it just kept coming back so we needed to get rid of it.  Have not been sick like then since.

GirlFriday

Dr. Susan Love just wrote a "Hot Topic" piece about soy.  http://www.dslrf.org/

My doc said that the studies where soy impacted breast cancer were completed on animals with volumes of soy that would be virtually impossible for us to ingest. 

walley

Girl Friday....Very interesting.Thanks for the link.

socallisa

Hi all, I need to read back because I should be here...

painterly

I had my 5th acupunture treatment today. I feel like Gulliver at Lilliput when he was tied down by all the lilliputians and couldn't move! And all these little acupunture needles sticking into my body are like the tiny arrows the lilliptians used on Gulliver. HaHa.!!

Anyway, question for Sunflowers who goes to acupunture regularly.....

I mainly have the needles in my legs but today the acupunturist put some in my hands. I immediately said that I avoid the surgery arm and don't have anything such as needles, blood draws etc. on that arm. The acupunturist reponded that it wasn't a problem to have the acupunture needles in the bad arm. So my question is: Does your acupunturist say the same thing. i.e. that it is okay to have the acupunture needles in the b.c. side arm?

[Deleted User]

Hi, painterly - the first thing my acupuncturist does is "read my pulses at both my wrists.  Walks back & forth from one side of the table to another - and then - Pin Cushion time.  Depending on how my pulses are, she decised where to put the needles.  I had the knees "done" every time - other areas vary.

I have them alllllllllllll over.  Arms, legs, KNEES especially, easrs, face, head.  Had no problem with any swelling  = it REDUCED the swelling I was getting in my ankles ( cankales)

painterly

Sounds like the same routine. So the surgery arm is not a problem then and doesn't have to be avoided.

proudmom_wife

painterly - I just got back from my acupuncture appointment.  And just like with Caerus-Sunflowers, my acupuncturist reads my pulses in both arms before proceeding.  He does put a few needles in my surgery arm (usually down by my wrist or in my hand, occassionally near my elbow).  Aside from that, I get the needles all over too depending on how I am and what symptoms I have experiencing and problems that need treatment, i.e., hot flashes.

dexxy

I'm currently in chemo but I beleive that healthy diet, supplements, and accupuncture have allowed me to be ME.  SE's are minimal and I am pretty much back to normal by day 4-5.  I have an alternative doc who has be on some great supplements.  One that I think you ladies should check out is IP-6.  IP-6 (inositol hexaphosphate) is a component of certain dietary fibers, particularly most cereal grains, legumes, and seeds high in oil. Many researchers believe that some of fiber's health benefits may be due to the antioxidant, immune enhancing, and cardiovascular supporting activities of IP-6. In-vitro and animal research has shown IP-6 to have significant protective and growth regulating effects on various cells and tissues including those of the colon, breast, and prostate.

[Deleted User]

Painterly, ProudMom, same here - only a few needles in arm, usually, near elbow or wrist, never had it higher so far.  I had a BLM, and nodes taken out of both sides - no problems. 

socallisa

I had acupunture after chemo for neuropathy..it helped alot the woman who

did it was a female US Navy MD..( her specialty pathology)

[Deleted User]

Lisa, many of my docs are now suggesting acupunture for their patients with chemotherapy induced neuropathy, because of the postive experiences of their patients.  I having great relief from Arimidex joint pains too.

socallisa

I think it is amazing that traditional MD doctors have learned the techniques of acupunture. I know two of them where I get treated

[Deleted User]

I am not surprised, really.  The docs I see at Dana Farber are VERY open, to what improves QOL for their patients.  Most of the big cancer denters, Dana Farber, Sloan Kettering, have Departments of Complementary medicine.

painterly

Thanks for the comments about acupuncture.

Here's another question...if the needle feels annoying or maybe sitting on a nerve, do you ask the acupuncturist to move the needle to another more comfortable spot??

Today I was in lilliputland for 45 minutes and one spot became really irritating. It was slightly irritating as soon as it went in, and since I am not really a complainer I just accepted it. But after 30 minutes it, I started counting the minutes to my freedom!!

proudmom_wife

painterly - Yes if a needle is not comfortable tell your acupuncturist, they can adjust it or remove it.  Acupuncture is not suppose to be uncomfortable.

socallisa

I agree, say something..

socallisa

With my feet ,my doctor was amazed at how much better the circulation was to me feet after a few rounds of acupuncture

omaz

My acupuncturist first talked with me for 30 minutes to see how I was feeling.  then she checked my mouth and pulses.  Once she decided on treatment she did needles in for 10 minutes then came in to check and then did 5 or so more minutes.  Originally I had needles on BC side but once I developed LE from rads we stopped treating that side.  My understanding is that it can increase risk of LE flare or infection. 

socallisa

I read somewhere that Melatonin and Vitamin D3 act synergistically to attack breast cancer cells..does anyone else

take them at the same time...

proudmom_wife

SoCalLisa - I read the same thing about Melatonin and Vitamin D3.  I take Vit D3 2x/day, and tried to add Melatonin (1mg) in the evening, all was fine until the next day when I felt nauseous with a slight headache.  Don't know if the Melatonin caused it, will try again in a few weeks though.  I am just trying to take things slow when adding or changing what I consume.

[Deleted User]

Thanks, Omaz, I didn't think to 'describe' for those who've never had a treatment.  My acupuncturist talks a long time during first visit, takes lots of notes.  Then, we talk for about 5 minutes at the beginning of each sesion, she takes more notes, then I get on the table, she takes my pulse at wrists, walks back & forth to both sides of the table, sometimes a few times.

Then needles - usually all over.  I'm resting on my back.  ONCE when I had very bad back spasms, I was on my stomach, and she put needles in my back.  Spasms gone within 12 hours.

Then, she sometimes uses a heat lamp on some areas where there are needles.  I rest for about 40 minutes, sometimes longer if she thinks I need it?  LOVELY soft music, I like Richard Warner Spirt Wind, I think is the one.  Often fall asleep

river_rat

I was needle phobic, but have managed to adjust and get through the needed medical stuff ok, kind of a non issue now.  I couldn't imagine myself signing up for additional needles though.  But now I'm intrigued.  I do have neuropathy issues that I prefer not to take any medication for, I don't react well to lots of meds.  I didn't need chemo for my breast cancer, but I am 4 1/2 years post chemo for lymphoma (cytoxan, vincristine, adriamycin, prednisone and rituxan).   Do you think acupuncture might help after this amount of time?

proudmom_wife

River_Rat - You need to ask an acupuncturist, but I think it can help.  I have met others who do it for old injuries and it has helped them.  Be sure to go to an acupuncturist with a good reputation and is who certified.  The one I go to is also a chinese medicine practioner and has been very flexible with treatment.  By that I mean while going through reconstruction he would only treat me while I was on my back, not my stomach, he checks on me every 10 minutes to make sure I am OK and all I have to do is tell him if I am uncomfortable and he will readjust a needle or remove it.  I too sometimes dose off because I am so relaxed during treatments.

[Deleted User]

rr

I just pm'd you

river_rat

Thanks for the info ProudMom and Sunflowers.  

Sunflowers, got the PM.  Thanks. 

Sherryc

I was taking both Melatonion and D3 and when I read that they work together I changed my D3 to the evenings along with my Melatonion