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Preparing for Chemotherapy

Posted by Laurie, Volunteer Mentor @roch, Sep 14, 2018


Prior to surgery, I got some excellent recommendations on this forum about how to prepare for breast surgery. Now that surgery is over, I will start chemo in about 4 weeks.

I am asking for any advice on what I can do in next 4 weeks to prepare my body for chemo.

Couple things I thought of was getting a flu shot and visiting dentist for a checkup and cleaning. I want to do anything I can to prevent an illness / infection over the next 6 months.

Thanks
Laurie M

Background:
• Diagnosed with Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)  in one breast and one lymph nodes in March 2018.
• Took Anastrozole from April to Sept to reduce tumor. The tumor did decrease in size.
• Surgery first week in Sept 2018 - Lumpectomy and removal of two lymph nodes that were positive for cancer.
• Surgery went extremely well and felt back to normal within days with very little pain.
• Final classification T2, N1, M0 / Stage IIB

Plan going forward:
• 3-4 weeks to heal from surgery
• Adriamycin Cytoxan for 4 cycles followed by weekly paclitaxel for 12 weeks (total 5 months chemo)
• 3-4 weeks after chemo will do radiation for 5 weeks.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

elizm | @elizm | Sep 21, 2018
In reply to @nikki727 "Yes, hope is what we live on!! I take a lot of supplements, the the one..." + (show)
@nikki727

Yes, hope is what we live on!! I take a lot of supplements, the the one for immunity is pictured below. I will be praying for you. I would definitely look into changing your diet. You can do it!

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Hi, Nikki, I'm not seeing any photo. Can you just note what supplement it is and the dosage?

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1 reply
marykaym63 | @marykaym63 | Sep 21, 2018

As a dietitian, I would strongly recommend that you talk with one of the dietitians at Mayo or if you are not at Mayo, talk with the dietitian at the hospital you are being treated at. There are some great resources on Nutrition from the American Cancer Society. I asked for a consult with one of the Mayo dietitians and got some excellent information. If you are at the clinic they do a nutrition workshop at least weekly.

I make sure I ate a variety of foods from all of the different food groups and did not do a special diet. The biggest challenge was that I had some taste changes. I also ate small frequent meals.

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nikki727 | @nikki727 | Sep 23, 2018
In reply to @elizm "Hi, Nikki, I'm not seeing any photo. Can you just note what supplement it is and..." + (show)
@elizm

Hi, Nikki, I'm not seeing any photo. Can you just note what supplement it is and the dosage?

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I take 2 pills twice per day. It’s kinko platinum AHCC I’m case you can’t see the photo.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 27, 2018

Hi @roch, you got some great responses about preparing for chemotherapy. I'm wondering how you're feeling about starting. What tips have been helpful for you?

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jstger | @jstger | Oct 9, 2018
In reply to @nikki727 "Hi! I have been on it since July. I’m not having any side effects, thank goodness!..." + (show)
@nikki727

Hi! I have been on it since July. I’m not having any side effects, thank goodness! My tumors have shrank a lot and my markers are down! I also drastically changed my diet. I’m doing about 90% vegan/raw and I drink 64oz of juice per day. I’m thinking that maybe that why I don’t have the diarrhea. When I do eat something not so great I do get it though. I also take a supplement to help keep my immune system up. I found it in a group on fb, another lady took and said her white count was never low even through chemo! Good luck. Also, I take the Letrozole at night due to hearing people getting achy bones from it.

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What supplement do you take?

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