What should I know about today’s chemotherapy?

My experience with chemotherapy was a lot of trial and error. And a dose of self awareness. I spoke with friends whose spouses had experienced, they shared the experience and do’s and don’ts.
I had medication for nausea but never used it. I had to make changes to what I ate and drank during chemo. No coffee so I took B12. I was able to work from home for 12 weeks, which helped with sleep as needed.
I took daily multivitamin and probiotics. Added electrolyte powder to water, this helped immensely.

What I wished I had know, take a powder with water called Best Aminos. This would have greatly reduced muscle loss due to chemo treatments. And drink green tea for drowsiness and chamomile tea for sleep. I now drink both teas while on Tamoxifen.

The toughest experience, limiting contact with people while on chemo, due to lower immunity.

My care does not seem to be as integrative as others have/are experiencing. I have not had significant nausea and no vomiting from chemotherapy. I found my own research caused me to focus on preventing neuropathy. The nurses were helpful during both rounds providing ice and adjusting cryo packs. I got a script for compression hose and used surgical gloves during the treatment. They had me increase B6 to 400 mg a day. I still have progressing neuropathy symptoms and have not found someone experienced in Chemo Induced Peripheral Neuropathy, CIPN in my area to see. Seems that every thing is to treat the symptoms and not prevent and restore. I did lose my hair but I have confidence it will grow back. Just want to be able to button the buttons on my blouse and walk with out stumbling and excruciating pain. Going to talk to the doctor about how to tweak treatment without compromising the treatment of the cancer.

Goodmorning,
I saw this post & want to let you know responses to chemo can be highly variable. I've been through it myself this past yr, so I've seen plenty. Hair loss is nearly universal with many chemo regimens. As for nausea, very very common - mild to strong - HOWEVER- you're given anti nausea pre meds before chemo & that surely works. But those wear off and many have nausea in following days. You're given typically 2 drugs to manage this, so take them immediately at onset. Other: dietary changes to manage nausea, diarrhea & constipation - these all for terrifically. Have a dinner or lunchfood for breakfast if you think regular morning food could be a problem. I had spaghetti & sauce w chicken parm 2 mornings. Worked fine. Tuna salad w vinegar olive oil & sautéed veggies w tarragon couple mornings.
Biggie: caffeine. Reduce caffeine, prep differently. Perk coffee is strongest for acid & caff. I switched to Folger tea bag coffee my last week when symptoms built up - expectedly I'll add. Cumulative effects of chemo & radiation combined. Folger coffee tea bags have 40mg caff each, & you can get caff & decaff & combine them for big satisfying cup! Much easier on the tummy. Online Amazon, as many store don't stock this now due to k cups. And they're great for travel, too.
Check with your doctor & chemo nurse team for any meds or supplements you can use. This is important. Many supplements interact w chemo & can make chemo less effective, the last thing you want. B12 & B6 are well know to cause issues with the regimens I was on - carbo taxol & cisplatin. And vitamin supplements are often counterindicated - prohibited- with many chemo drugs. It's weird - stuff you'd never think of. Vitamin C can be prohibited, etc.
Get nutrition from foods alone unless a supplement is expressly allowed by chemo team. No one thinks a multivitamin can be bad - but it's true. I wound up eating more red meat - I got sick of it. So it was short term to manage effects. And I did get sick of it. But I couldn't quite get to sardines or beef liver.
Exercise. Read enjoyable books. Comedy films. Dramatic entertainment probably not the best - get some levity!
Go to lunch with friends, crab a coffee or soft drink. Make a new friend.

Great post @longevityride!

I’d like to emphasize one thing you posted. The pharmacist in the infusion center can be a very important person in your treatment. Before you begin adding supplements, vitamins, teas, etc to your regimen always ask the Pharm if there are any contraindications.

e.g. I am on a pancreatic cancer treatment and I learned that green tea extract, St. John’s wort and some other things would react with my “recipe”.