I wouldn’t want to recommend a diet to anyone else, I only know what I feel comfortable with and what seems to make me feel better (physically and psychologically). I’m still eating raw fruit and veg (especially in juice) but I’m peeling them. I used to have lots of soya - in fact, I’d significantly increased the amount in my diet in the 2 years prior to diagnosis. I was training very hard in the gym and wanted more lean protein. Now I drink oat ‘milk’ and have stopped buying tofu etc. However, it’s a personal decision, I wouldn’t want to proselytise my eating habits to everyone else as the best or only way to go. You and your oncologist are both happy with your diet and that sounds like a good position to be in.
I am reading messages and see that some of you are avoiding dairy, raw veg and soya.
Well, I am vegetarian and have triple negative breast cancer - so it isn’t receptive to hormones or proteins, and my consultant told me I was fine to continue using soya milk - (I started using it in my diet some time back). Maybe soya isn’t a good idea if you have a different type of receptive cancer?
They never told me to stop eating cheese or raw vegetables. Just told me to make sure I washed vegetables and fruit well before consuming them. Also suggested I could continue to eat nuts and pulses for protein.
So, should I querie all this when I next see my Oncology Consultant?
Thanks for explaining the food issue keyfeatures,
I was beginning to think I had missed out on some recognised cancer diet advice somewhere along the line. As my current food cravings seem to be for crunchy salad vegetables and fruit… I think I’ll just keep making sure I wash them thoroughly.
June22
Well done on the FB page. Now I just need something to write about. Today has been rather grey round the edges - too much daytime telly and napping. I’m even missing work stress.
Me too very frustrating day, I did loads of things yesterday, preparing dinners for the freezer for next week and jobs around the house keeping things up to date, today I can’t be bothered and I feel tired too, still not sleeping very well but it’s a viciuous circle when you are doing less physically you are not going to be as tired.
Hiya Everyone
Its been lovely catching up on everyones’ posts -despite the situation, it has really cheered me up and there’s a lovely warm feeling in this thread
Im on day 8 after first FEC and so far … well, ok, I spose. Certainly nothing major and if Im honest, not much minor either. Really the hardest part is dealing with my own flipping over-thinking of everything!
Niknak - thats a great idea for a facebook page - will try a pm in a sec.
Im in West Wales, btw - beautiful but ridiculously remote
Tippy x
Hi Tippytara,
Glad you’re feeling OK, I’m on day 15 now after my first, I had days where I felt groggy but nothing to terrible so far, long may it continue, there are 5 of us on the Facebook page now, it would be lovely if you joined us.
I have found a lot of comfort in reading the posts here and lots of good advice and information.
Ah ah! I can post, haven’t been able to for a while. Got through chemo número UNO ok, being careful not to be too confident as I got off lightly with SEs.
I was bricking it before and it was nowhere near as awful as I had imagined it would be. Slightly cheesed off as my Onc dr said I’d be fine on the train and I have discovered at a hat and scarf day at my hospital that everyone else round the table was told to get a cab or go by car… . Am I not special. . .?
interesting opinions on diet, I have not felt like eating meat, I am going with what my body is telling me so am looking at interesting veggie options OH is bit disappointed at my meals so am going to throw him a chop and steak on his plate. He’s ok with fish as long as it has a sauce smothering it.
Controversial on the soy front. . will ask Onc their line seems to be eat what you want. I am having soy milk in tea but still eating cheese on the dairy front and the odd cream tea.
I had a mastectomy August 14 and my body is still weak on the fitness front. I used to be on my feet all day working in a kitchen and I would do Pilates and Zumba twice a week, I’m out walking and have just started Tai chi but have no strength in my legs, I can manage the walks but the tai chi my legs ar shaking after 10 mins… . Anyone else like that ?
Good morning ladies. I am pleased to report that there is an end to Docetaxel Hell. So for those of you on FEC-T instead of T-FEC like me, here are my Top T Tips.
Make sure you get proper pain relief from your doctor. Start taking it as soon as you start to feel bone pain. (For me, if chemo infusion is day 1 then I started to feel bad on the evening of day 3) I woke up that night in agony. Next cycle I will take a proper dose of dihydrocodeine before I go to bed.
Take the pain killers every 4 hours whether or not you are in pain. When you wake up each morning you will have had at least an 8 hour break so you can tell if it’s going to be another painful day. This is day 7 for me and I have stopped taking the “good stuff”.
Don’t be embarrassed to ask your oncologist for proper pain killers, codeine or tramadol. If they won’t give it to you go and see your GP when you are in the pain zone. Mine rolled her eyes and said “for heavens sake we need to get you out of this pain” and prescribed dihydrocodeine.
As well as the pain, expect to feel ill. Like you have flu. Again, that hit me like a truck on day 4, but I feel much better today. So keep taking your temperature, because it feels like you are running a fever.
Next time I would probably plan to spend days 4 & 5 in bed.
Is anyone else having trouble with friends’ reactions? My closest friend lost her mother to Motor Neurone disease a couple of years ago and he childhood best friend died of breast cancer in her 30s. She is finding it really hard to talk about the fact I have cancer and has just made a ridiculous excuse to postpone her next visit (which was planned booked and paid for long before I found the lump) She won’t even admit that she has an issue with talking about it. I guess this hits everyone differently and the big fat fact of the lump changes the direction of every relationship to some degree. Maybe all I can do is keep trying to understand where she is coming from. But there is a part of my brain that knows that 25% of TNBC patients don’t make it in the long terms, and right now I’m finding it hard to believe that she will stick around if I’m in that group.
Hi Fiona508 - good advice on the painkillers there. I developed a headache in the night and spent several hours trying to shift it without pills (why do we do it to ourselves?). Finally taken a nurofen and now the headache is much better, although I still have sort of PMT symptoms - can you still get periods on chemo? Maybe it’s just my hormones re-adjusting. Even felt a bit teary this morning.
The situation with your friend sounds really hurtful. Does she say anything if you try to talk about it? Has she seen you through other tough times? Is it specifically cancer / serious illness she is struggling with do you think because of what happened before? I haven’t had the same thing with friends, although sometimes I do find it upsetting when they are getting on with their lives without cancer and I’m not up to going out with them or feeling as carefree - that’s my selfish bit coming out I guess. My difficult situation has been with my parents. I’ve never had an easy relationship with my mum but it all flared up over my diagnosis, to the extent that my OH won’t even talk to my parents now. I won’t go into details but they said some really inappropriate and very hurtful things to both of us just a couple of days after I’d had a horrible 3 days in the hospital with post-op complications. I’m still in contact but keeping a distance but OH has cut off completely. Think I’m used to them and how they do not always do the right (parental) thing, but he was just totally shocked that people could say such stuff to their own daughter, especially at such a time. I’ve been having counselling sessions via The Haven (2 so far) and this has helped talk through my feelings, as well as think of practical ways to cope. My counsellor suggested giving my parents very clear instructions as to what I needed them to do - e.g. please support me in my decisions. That might not be right for you with your friend but counselling might be something worth trying. They can even do the sessions over the phone if you can’t travel. I think some hospitals also offer a counselling service although it probably varies with postcode.
Nicola x
Hi Fiona508, I think your friend will come round eventually and give you the support you need but I can see how it must be hard for her too. Saying that, I’ve been lucky in that most people have been very supportive but to be honest I’ve found myself in a little bubble that I need to be in to survive. I can’t be too aware of peoples’ feelings about me and my cancer - it takes too much of the energy I need to get through this.
I’ve found the comments and support of the girls on this site so helpful, more supportive when really most friends have no idea what you’re going through. I’d like to say this is me on a much better day and I too have my days when I am miserable and dwell on the down things. Remember then that 75% of TNBC patients are well!! I’ve also got TNBC but I refuse(for today anyway) to think of the worst. Vent here on your good and bad days because we’re all on different days on the chemo cycle and there will always be one of us feeling good, helping those of us feeling low.
Thanks for the T tips!! And the Purdey’s drink - going to get some today.
I’d also love to have words with the stupid doctor who said paracetamol. Don’t you just wish that you could make someone feel the pain/discomfort that you are feeling to give them idea, when you get these uphelpful comments!!! Or is it just me!!
Hi I had my first chemo session last Tuesday I am having 3 x FEC and the 3 x T, the worry before was worse for me rather than the treatment and the side effects
Fiona508, thanks for the advice about keeping on top of the pain with the T sessions. I am TN too, still going through the FEC, with TC to follow. I am not looking forward to the TC at all, but I only have 2 of those sessions to get through so I’m determined to stick it out.
Luckily, my doctors told me they would be happy to give me something stronger than Paracetamol for any pain at any time - to just ask. I think I might do so when it is time for TC.
I am currently having a lot of pain down the vein in the arm they gave me my first FEC in through a cannula. I guess the E dose in FEC has damaged that vein… but it hurts the entire length of that arm and seems to have been increased by the second FEC which was through a PICC line, so not in the same vein at all!
Try not to dwell on the 25% thing, and think more of the 75% thing The glass half-full view.
And, my oncologist said that TN cancers tend to respond very well to chemotherapy, so I keep that thought close and imagine the nasty cells being zapped whenever I feel unwell.
As for your friend… it sounds to me like she is still grieving for losses and your situation is unbearable for her as she does value you as her friend. Don’t judge her by this, she needs to deal with it in her own way but maybe it is too painful for her to manage right now, so ignoring your situation is her way of shutting out the pain overload she has.
I expect she is feeling guilty about her actions, and angry about Cancer, and maybe she will need some help to come to terms with things. If she could talk about things, she might discover that facing it is a good way to be proactive and supportive, but until then, let her decide in her own time.
Concentrate on getting well and being supported by those who are able to help you right now… in time your friend may realise that Cancer doesn’t necessarily take everyone away. Your recovery might actually help to ease her pain and fear!
Just my thoughts on reading your post - and may not ring true as only you know how it really is with your friend.
Welcome to the BCC forums and thank you for sharing your experiences, in addition to the peer support here our helpliners are on hand 9-5 weekdays and 10-2 Saturdays on 0808 800 6000 with further support and information if you feel it would help at any point.
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HI starkhia, welcome to our September thread. I’m glad to hear the chemo has not been too bad for you so far. Fear of the unknown is a toughie. I think I’ll feel a bit like that again when I have to start the T bit.
Thank you for all your wise words. We have been emailing through the night and today = she is a good woman and we tell the truth to each other. She says that she is really sorry but she has had too much death in her life and she just can’t go through losing someone else she loves. I totally understand that. But the last few phone calls have just been me taking care of her feelings to the extent that I put down the phone feeling unhappy and unlistened to. The bottom line is that she says I have to respect her feelings and understand that I simply can’t talk about any aspect of the cancer or chemo with her. Full stop. It’s a forbidden topic with no room for negotiating. She is adamant that this will not change. I know that she has been through hell several times with people dying on her. I think in her shoes I might feel the same way.
I am seeing a counsellor, my next session is on 11 Oct and I want to use the session to talk about this. But I don’t think it’s sustainable for me & K to talk about everything except the fact that I have cancer. I don’t talk about it very much - it’s not the most interesting thing about me. But to be given an ultimatum that we can only stay friends if we never mention the fact that I might not make it, and never mention any of my chemo symptoms at all, is a bit freaky. She has been seeing a counsellor recently and I’ve suggested that she talks about this with her.
I don’t dwell on the 25% - I am very much a glass half full person, and since I am making all the changes I can to diet & lifestyle that might work, and my stage is provisionally IIA I think the odds are better than 75%. But I like to live in evidence based reality.
Someone asked above if she had been supportive about other stuff. And yes she has been very supportive about listening to a bad experience I had a while ago. But we have spent the past 6 months helping her get out of a toxic relationship and get over it.
I’ve left it with her that I can’t cope with her ultimatum, but if she reconsiders then we can take it from there. I know in my heart that there has been so much death and pain in her circle that it is unlikely that she will change, but I hope she can.
Thanks for listening
