I had my last dose of FEC on 15th August but the sick feeling, lack of appetite and bitter taste in my mouth are still there . I also seem to be getting lots of wind which is really embarrasing. My gp has given me some anti sickness tablets and both she and my onc think it is nothing to worry about. Has anyone else had this after chemo and did it last a long time? Im wondering whether it is just the effect of the chemo on my bowels or even hormonal as I am having hot flushes as well. Any comments would be gratefully received. Rachel
Hi Rachel
I finished Taxotere end of July and still feel upset on the insides. I thought maybe I need some probiotic yoghurt to replace the good bacteria that have been stripped away by the chemo. I only started it this week so I’ll let you know if it helps. I’m not unduly worried it’s more of an inconvenience to me rather than a problem and am hoping time will sort it out.
Good luck
Thanks eal. Its nice to know that someone else has had the same sort of thing. Un fortunately I cant try yogurt as i’m on a dairy free diet following the jane plant anti cancer diet but im going to follow your advice and try these capsules that you can get from the healthfood shops which have the same good bacteria in them as is in yoghurt. Hope you are feeling better soon. Rachel
Maybe if you have dramatically changed your diet this is the reason? Everyone makes their own choices but the Jane Plant diet isn’t necessarily as wonderful as she makes it out to be. (in fact I don’t think its wonderful at all.) You might be missing your old diet?
I think you should monitor your symptoms…its relatively early days but in a few eeeks I’d have thought any gastro side effects from chemo would have passed.
best wishes
Jane
Dear jane
as ive been following the jane plant diet and miss cheese and yogurt like mad i wondered why you dont think much of it especially as it had occured to me that it could be the cause rather than the cure for my problems. Her book seems very persuasive and it would be nice to hear an alternative view.
best wishes Rachel
Rachel
I had various symptoms lingering after chemo, my onc said 3 months or so after last chemo, for them all to clear up.
Hi Rachel
I finished chemo end of Nov 07 and have only just stopped having diarrhoea so it’s something that took a long time to go for me unfortunately, very embarrasing when out for dinner as in loo most of night!
I don’t know much about the Jane Plant diet and if you feel it works for you, then that’s brilliant. My only concern about it is that we women need a lot of calcium to prevent oesteoporosis and especially if diagnosed with breast cancer as we are more susceptible if have early menopause. Obviously with dairy free diets, you don’t get the required amount of calcium at all. My breast care nurse advises against this diet because of this.
Also, if it does work, it would only be beneficial if you’re strongly hormone positive so as I’m only 3 out of 8 positive, I wouldn’t consider it.
Hope that makes sense!
Hannah
x
Jane Plant’s diet is intended to prevent you developing cancer. Once you have cancer, I see no point in it as a means of nutrition, particularly since chemo can so radically affect the gut and the digestive process, resulting in poor absorption.
However, high dose acidophilus in capsule form can help the gut to recover.
for what it’s worth … i tried yakultt when on chemo and it made me feel diabolical (i found out aftewards I wasn’t supposed to have it ) … then I had some blue cheese about 10 days ago (10 weeks after chemo) and was really ill after that
think myself that the live and mouldy things migt be a bit risky for some people for a while yet - depends how you are
love FB xx
Ps My personal opinion would be to eat what you used to eat before - modified a bit if it was very unhealthy before