Sentinel lymph nodes removed - Chemo & Radiation treatment

4Coco

Hi everyone   I had my first chemo session yesterday   -  no problems with nausea/vom thanks to everyones helpful tips   -  I did get the furry tongue late evening and used the biotine mouth spray right away.      My breast that had the surgery for lumpectomy is now looking red - (more of a blush than angry) not hot to touch - is this something that is expected after a chemo session.   I had Doxorubicin,  Cyclophosphamide, Pegfilgrastim

Cath62

Hi @4Coco,

Glad you are ok in terms of the nausea.  I would call your breast nurse or oncologist about that redness. I did get some rashes with my first chemo (red devil) and took an antihistamine and it cleared. Apparently rashes or other skin irritations can occur. My rashes was little spots and itchy too. This was on my chest and stomach. 

4Coco

Hi @Cath62

Thanks for the info re redness  -  I've sent an email to breast care nurse yesterday but with it being the long weekend holiday not expecting to hear back  -  I think I'll take an antihistamine tomorrow if it is still as red.  Will keep an eye on the rest of my skin for any other rashes appearing.  Thanks again.

4Coco

Hi everyone,  looking in to give an update following my first chemo session end Dec and looking for some advice/guidance please.  I've been on two different lots of antibiotics for an infection to the breast that had lumpectomy and have had my second chemo put back twice because of it.  I'm getting myself into a bit of a confused state over what foods are to be eaten and which to be avoided to help with keeping Lymphedema in check and also trying to balance a diet for my neutropenia and cancer.  I'm at the stage of looking for help from a dietician and wondering how others have coped if having/had the same issues?  

iserbrown

https://www.bcna.org.au/health-wellbeing/physical-wellbeing/healthy-eating/

Keeping_positive1

@4Coco does the hospital you attend have a dietician that you can see?  

4Coco

@iserbrown  -  thank you for the link 

4Coco

@Keeping_positive1   -  they've not mentioned one being available but I will ask when I visit later this week  -  just had a lot of printed off info sheets about what to eat following the surgery  ... 

arpie

Sorry to hear that, @4Coco - try ringing them for an appt - with a bit of luck it may coincide with your visit later this week.

Do you have a Community Health Centre - they also often have a variety of services available, including psychology, physio, dental, diabetic & possibly Dietitian .... worth giving them a bell as well.

Generally, just eating 'well' with a good mix of Carbs, fresh fruit/veg & protein should suffice .... this pic gives an 'idea' of portion sizes ... about half the plate should be veg/salad, about 1/4 plate for carbs & 1/4 plate for protein ... 

Are you looking at maintaining weight, losing weight or wanting to put weight on?  (I am trying to put weight ONTO my husband as his treatment is causing weight loss.)





All the best & Good luck xx

Here's one booklet on eating before, during & after cancer ... 

4Coco

@arpie  Thanks for your help and suggestions.   Yes I'm wanting to maintain my weight - and eat as healthily as can without causing any flare ups/issues with either lymphedema or neutopenea.  For instance  -  I eat various types of fish for daily protein but now discover fish is to be kept to eating in "limited quantities" for the lymphedema.  I try to stick with everything in moderation but finding there's now good and not so good in the "healthy" choices  -  raw salads not good for neutropenia and I love my salads - cooked vegetables are ok.

arpie

Gosh ... looks like there are quite a few foods to avoid or limit .... shame about the salads & fish tho, when they are your favourites.

I hope you can find some ideas/tips below xx

Here's an Aussie link:
https://health.act.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-09/What should I eat while I am neutropenic or my immune system is weakened.pdf

and for comparison ... a UK link:
https://hillman.upmc.com/patients/community-support/education/miscellaneous/neutropenic-diet

All the best

Afraser

@4Coco
Good for you to try and limit the chance of lymphoedema but I’m wondering where your advice comes from? I have had lymphoedema for over nine years, have an excellent specialist therapist but have never been advised to reduce my fish intake. Quite the reverse, as @arpie has indicated, a good mixed diet is recommended. Reducing caffeine, alcohol, added salt and sugars also considered a good idea, just for general health. I can’t advise on neutropenia but if the advice for each condition conflicts, it presents a minor dilemma! Raw vegetables may not reduce neutropenia but if they don’t actually make it worse or more likely, I’d be eating them for all the other benefits. Best wishes, it can all be very confusing! 

iserbrown

@4Coco

Sounds like you've got a lot going on and finding information a little confusing

Agree with @Afraser

I have lymphatic drainage massage on a regular basis.

Advice is a healthy well balanced diet,  plenty of protein including nuts, legumes, fish et cetera 

If you google Lymphoedema and Diet you will find a PDF doc from Queensland Health

https://www.bcna.org.au/resource/fact-sheet-lymphoedema/

Link above is one of many resources from BCNA website 

Hope that helps and your treatment plan is not too hard on you

Take care
Best wishes 

4Coco

@arpie  Thank you for the additional links 

@Afraser   I've been searching on line re diet and recipes info for both conditions.   The info I've been reading has been posted by cancer institutes rather than individuals   -  I guess I've become more confused after this infection kicked in - my neutrophills had dropped to below 1 and I read that raw vegetables posed a greater bacterial threat to the immune system - and that cooked veg was safer.     I just want to make sure that what I eat keeps me well nourished and on track for the treatments -  I feel like I'm on the start line and have had two false starts getting to my second chemo.    Thanks for letting me know about the fish being good for you over the years  -  I'm sticking with the fish!

@iserbrown  Thanks for the additional link   -  re the lamp drainage  -  did you have that whilst having chemo or did you have to wait until chemo finished?

Afraser

It’s very sensible to take care. From what I’ve read, the main problem with salad or uncooked vegetables is how long they may have been sitting around, which will increase the risk of bad bacteria being present. So salad bars and buffets are not recommended. If on the other hand you grow your own vegetables, or you are confident in the freshness of your sources, or everything is well washed,  maybe not too much of a risk. Possibly sealed salad packs may be safer. Best of luck with the chemo.