Drinks and eats during chemo

Public Archive
1

Hi to all you ladies going through a rough time

I’ve just started my course of 6 FEC and have a question about eating and drinking during this time.

I understand all the reasoning behind the food and hygiene rules, ie pretty much as if you were pregnant but, have any of you been told not to drink bottled water? We have a problem in our area with occasional bacteria problems in the tap water so we’ve been told to boil that before drinking but the nurses have also said not to drink bottled water. I can’t fathom this one out as surely most of the plants who bottle water would have pretty strict controls, I’m sure Evian or Perrier couldn’t risk a re-call. When I sp to my onc she thought the nurses were being over protective but, if you can, I’d love to know if this is the general ruling or just some obscure thing for Hants. It would certainly save me some time if I didn’t have to boil all my drinking water and it tastes pretty disgusting anyway!

Thanks guys

Nicky x

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Hi Nicky I have been drinking bottled water all through my so far 4 FEC chemos and as I sit there drinking all the time they do the chemo with no comment whatsoever it looks as if your nurses are being a little over protective unless you have particular problems with your immune system. Hope all goes well with the chemo. Jenny

3

Dear ladies,

Just a short note to say that there is a full page article in todays Daily Mail paper (health section) about what to eat and drink during chemo. I did not have chemo (had radiotherapy) so don’t know how much use it is.
Hope everything goes well.

Take care
Shorty x

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Thanks Shorty. Looks like an interesting article.

I don’t think it’s on the website. Certainly not in the health section today. So it is just paper version everyone.

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I have found two sites that are informative here in the States
but they apply to anyone, from anywhere

M. D. Anderson is the No. 1 ranked hospital in the USA dealing with cancer – it is located in Texas
mdanderson.org/topics/food/

John Hopkin is ranked No. 3 in the USA as hospital catering to Breast Caner–located in Maryland

John Hopkins
hopkinsbreastcenter.org/library/diagnosis_treatment/nutrition.shtml

I found this link very helpful…it is a start with many others included
Cancer Centers of America (do not know their rating)
but they seemed to be very common sense in this link anyway

cancercenter.com/after-care-services/eating-dos-&-donts.cfm

please add your thoughts. these are only suggestions…not a medical fix of course…

Emily
xxx

6

There has been some recent research pointing out that bottled water is not as safe as tap water - but a lot of research cannot be generalised to all bottled or tap water. For my part [had 2XFEC cycles] my preferred option is to have a regular supply of filtered tap water in the fridge. I find it more palatable - taste buds get affected by the chemo and sometimes even water tastes sweet. I don’t believe in paying for water - I regard bottled water as a great big con! But if as you say there have been problems with bacteria in water in your area then why don’t you write [recorded delivery] to the Chief Executive of your water company and ask him whether he can guarantee that the water supply to your home is pure and free from bacteria and safe for someone having chemotherapy to drink and use for teeth cleaning etc.

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crikey! i was not told anything about diet, not that I can remember anyway! I was asked about the food I eat, but that is all I can remember. I drink water from the filter in our american fridge, but not heard about the water issue either. Nicky, try boiling and then bottling in the fridge. I cant stand warm water and always have ice. Just found a new taste for weak orange squash too, and this is making drinking so much easier! just had my first Fec, so also new to it all.
good luck
deb x

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I have never been told not to drink bottled water and do. And I live in Hants too.

Jane

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Hi Ladies,

Have just found the Daily Mail article - food and chemo - on line.
If you go to the daily mail home page on the right hand side (in blue) it says read the new look daily mail web site, you then need to click on that and then once the new site is up click on the health section and you should see it!

Take care

Shorty x

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I live in hants and have no problem with my water. During my chemo I prefer to drink filtered tap water from the fridge. My un filtered tap water is ok but very hard and furs up my kettle etc. The coldness of the water makes it more palatable to drink. I am half way through chemo now and drinking a lot of water makes alot of diference to how i feel so drink loads of water ! Have had no problems with infections etc so far during my chemo

Rach xxx

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thanks shorty2 - am going to have a look

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just had a look - I can’t find it!

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Hi FizBix

Sorry about that! Apparantly the new Daily Mail web site that it was on is only available to view from 9am - 7pm - don’t know why. If you try tomorrow as I said above or google beta daily mail between those hours you should be able to view the article!!

Take care

Shorty x

14

Hi Nicky

During my hospital stay with neutropenic sepsis, bottled water was on the list of banned food because it is not chlorinated. Was told it was ok to have bottled water at all other times.

x

15

Thanks for all the feedback girls.

I have been cooling my boiled water to drink but it still tastes yuk! I think I will give bottled water a try as it does taste better and at the moment my taste buds are all over the place. Unfortunately we had an annoying kitchen fitter who did out new house (sub contracting to the builder not us) who cut corners on the appliances and fitted an American fridge without a filter so the water from that is the same as the tap but colder!

Also thanks for the D Mail piece and other food info, all good bits of advice.

Nicky x