Newly Diagnosed - TNBC - Mantis

I had 3 weekly chemo and found I ended up with a bit of a routine - would only feel better right at the end of the cycle before we went again but I'd use that time to do the preparations to make life a bit easier for the really bad period.  So made school sandwiches and muffins and freeze so kids just have to grab some fruit and then pull sandwich and muffin from freezer and lunch done.  Also organised a cleaner once a week to make sure things were hygienic.  set up a shopping list with home delivery from Woolies (or coles), so can just click and shop is done - even if I don't have energy to work out what we actually need for the week at least a basic shop will turn up with our normal "basics", insist the driver brings in and puts up on the table so it makes unpacking easier.  get dental check done before chemo starts.  check with breast care nurse if this chemo is one that will effect your nails if sunlight gets to the nail bed and if so pain nails with very dark colour. stock up the pantry and freezer with easy and nutritious options - like 90 second rice, Birds Eye Steam Plus Cous Cous, Birds eye have a steam fresh range with pasta, lemon and parsley fish fillets etc etc. look up freezer dump meals or once a month cooking for ideas for things to do up and have in freezer ahead of time. I found it was easy to just have a weekly meal plan of things that I know my kids love and are easy.  that way the shopping is the same every week, everyone gets into a routine, kids get to know how to help with the meal prep and keeps everyone's routine consistent which was really important for my kids when going through treatment. I love my slow cooker (I also have a disability so am always looking for an easy way to do things), I have changed my shopping to make things easier - a bit more expensive but much healthier and cheaper than doing take away.  So for example I buy baby potatoes, and precut pumpkin and corn.  My go to which we use every week is to put carrots, and baby potatoes,(don't chop or peel either) with precut pumpkin. and chicken drumsticks with some chicken stock in the slow cooker in the morning.  Microwave some greens and/or corn cobs just before you serve and dinner is done.  this is so easy the kids can do it, or you can make it a whole family affair with everyone adding one thing to the slow cooker as you turn it on :smiley: