I have my first appointment with Oncologist next week and I'm writing down any questions that pop into my hear and seeking useful tips from others who can offer suggestions for what helped during day of treatment and what to have at home to help get through the not so good days please.

Hi @4Coco,Chemo tips from me include:# drink lots of water a couple days before and after# some exercise even on treatment day# juice of beetroot, celery, carrot, apple and ginger which is helpful for the liver (chemo drugs are hard on the liver). Have this a couple days either side of treatment # try meditation or mindfulness # ask for help at home # accept help if it is offered# take any anti nausea tablets if needed# eat healthy but if things taste funny eat what works for you# if not using a cold cap shave your head before day 17 after the first chemo as it is distressing to watch it all fall out# look after your skin as chemo is drying. I used moogoo which is no chemicals # really take care of your oral hygiene to avoid mouth ulcers. I used floss after every meal and my breast care nurse recommended mouth gargle with salty water after every meal. I religiously did this and never got a mouth ulcers# try thinking that chemo is a golden light that only treats the cancer cells and doesn't impact anything else.# speak up to your oncologist or breast care nurse about any adverse reactions # bring a mobile or book or something to occupy you during chemo sessions # seek counselling if needed# be kind to yourself, rest as you need and don't even try to be superwoman For radium # drink lots water and eat good healthy food # exercise and meditation or mindfulness # have soft fabric even a boob tube or a camisole if you can't wear a bra#use recommended moisturiser tge breast care nurse suggests # ask for mepilex. It is like a second skin on the radiated area and seriously helps reduce redness # speak up to your medical team if issues#rest#let others help you at home if they offer These things really helped me. We are all different so there may be others who have advice too. Best wishes to you x

HI @4Coco, while I cannot top the practical advice of your fellow members lived experience above. I thought I would share the My Journey article 'Questions to ask when diagnosed with early breast cancer' ; these are suggested questions that others have told us are helpful to ask https://myjourney.org.au/article/2090

Hi @4Coco there is lots of great advice here - I know some things that were said to me 2 years ago were so incredibly helpful. Just a couple of things to add - * fruit tingles are great for freshening up your mouth - it must be the bicarbonate soda in them. I munched my way through many packets.* do whatever feels ok - strolls, having a smoothie at 2am, lying on the couch - just be kind to yourself.* don’t wait to see if nausea passes - take the meds. I never was physically ill and I put that down to taking the meds and not letting any feelings of swirling in my stomach escalate.* I gave over to the process. Like @Afraser I did a bit of counselling at the start - incredibly helpful and really got my head in the game. * as @Cath62 said, I imagined the chemo as the liquid gold I needed to knock out anything rogue - it really changed my perception of what was happening. I then got on with the business of treatment. Thankfully there is chemotherapy and it is now individually targeted for the best results. Even in the 18 months since I finished treatment, things have changed.* I bought a little bottle of Biotene spray (mouth moisturiser) and put it in my hand bag if my mouth was dry.* Tell your treating team if you experience any side effects as they will definitely be able to help, but ‘they don’t know if they don’t know.’Take care 🌸

Hi @Mazbeth Thank you for your suggestions - fruit tingles and biotene seem to be the little stars in keeping mouth fresh. Yes agree - treating team don't know if they don't know. And yes I've started seeing @Cath62 "liquid gold treatment" the thing to focus on.

@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!

Sentinel lymph nodes removed - Chemo & Radiation treatment

72 Replies

4Coco
Member
4 years ago
@iserbrown - thank you for the link :)
Keeping_positiv
Member
4 years ago
@4Coco does the hospital you attend have a dietician that you can see?
iserbrown
Member
4 years ago
https://www.bcna.org.au/health-wellbeing/physical-wellbeing/healthy-eating/
4Coco
Member
4 years ago
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?
4Coco
Member
4 years ago
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.
Cath62
Member
4 years ago
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
Member
4 years ago
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
4Coco
Member
4 years ago
Hi @Abbydog no sorry needed :) Thank you for your additional info - I will definitely check ahead of my RT treatment to see if it is available/used by them... if not will track some down and take with me to 1st session.
4Coco
Member
4 years ago
Hi @noosa_blue150 Thank you for your positive feedback on using Mepitel its always great to hear what is out there to help with the treatment - a rash sounds much better than a burn.
Abbydog
Member
4 years ago
Sorry for my delay. As said by noosa_blue150, Mepitel is on 27/7.
It protects the skin from dehydration and friction.
I had no burning at all, with 25 sessions.
The nurses patched it up as necessary.
I would have had it on for approx 1 week after R/T completed, when it was quite loose.
I recommend it, but not all R/T places use it.
I had it in a Public Hospital, in SA.

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Sentinel lymph nodes removed - Chemo & Radiation treatment

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