Hi Ladies
Thanks a lot for your input here. I am also waiting for my onc’s comments on this now- my GP said yes and thinks it a good idea but i 'd wait for my onc to get back to me. Will surely let you know after that
hope you all doing well and take care
Oh dear I tried it for the first time last night[on bread] and found it very strong and not very nice :(.If I cant use hot water and lemon how else can I eat it to make it more palatable?
Sainsbury’s also sells it - cheaper than Waitrose, but then what isn’t?
I’m just coming to the end of e-cmf and have been extremely lucky - apart from the hairloss and feeling a bit tired have had no other side effects - no sickness, nausea, sore mouth, nothing. Have worked all thru - started at the end of May, but having worked full time until mid-July am now doing Thurs and Fri only - job share with returning mum from maternity cover. Have last chemo pill on 25 Nov and will have champers and fireworks with friends that evening!
Look on the Top tips thread - fantastic stuff on there and you could read thru the “starting chemo on 20 May - any buddies?” We are all coming to the end now, just me and Lily left. You will find all sorts of reactions but it does make you feel better if you have something horrid happen to you - you are not alone.
Just keep healthy and don’t let it get you down - you will get to the end and I can’t believe how quickly the six months has gone.
LOL
Julia
Julia
Your comments on EPI-CMF have really cheered me up. I am having a really down day and start EPI-CMF on Monday and very scared, so it sounds like you coped very well.
Bless you
Sam
Sam: I hate the word but keep positive - this is something you can do. If you feel ill in any way tell the nurses, make them do something about it, don’t suffer unnecessarily. I am a member of the awkward squad and query everything they want to do to me - what?, why? when? for how long? Make them answer your questions - at the end of the day it is your body and your risk, get the info.
If you look on the buddies site mentioned above, read Vertangie’s stuff, she is very knowledgable - comes up with some fascinating stuff.
Chin up and let us all know how you get on on Monday.
LOL
Julia
Hi
Regarding Manuka honey - it was Christie’s hopsital which recommended I take it. Did check it out with the onc who said it wouldn’t do any harm. I’m sure it’s what has kept my WBC up.
Mal
Hi Mal,
Thanks for the advice. Gave my oncologist the label from my 15+ Manuka and asked if I could take it during chemo, she was going to get back to me (sometimes they take ages), so glad I know now as my chemo Epi/CMF starts next Friday 14th Nov., will start taking it now in order to have a head start on things.
Best wishes
Chrissie
I have just ordered four jars, my wife got Laryngitis after the last Avastin so has been off treatment for three weeks which is not good news at this time. I will see if we can keep her bug free with this honey.
It’s good for throat problems too Terry.
BTW I’ve not heard about hot water being a problem, but I expect boiling water would be bad because it would kill things but warm shouldn’t be a problem at all.
I did hear about the temprature of water will distroy the goodness of honey. It is said donot drink honey with water more that 60-70 degree. However… how’d i know my water’s temperature…
anyhow my onc still not get back to me… it takes them ages …
Sam and Julia, starting my epi/CMF on Friday 14th, would be great if you are up to letting me know how you got on on Monday Julia. Might give me some more courage for my 1st chemo.
Sam
Good luck Julia, be thinking of you and Sam sounds like you have a great attitude and I will certainly take your advice to ask about everything when it’s my turn for chemo
Best wishes and hugs to all
Chrissie xxx
Hi Ladies
Here is the reply from my onc
''There is nothing to stop you taking honey supplements but I cannot say whether or not they will make any difference to your immune system. It is quite common for patients to have borderline blood counts prior to chemotherapy courses and there is nothing specific we recommend on a routine basis.
As your tumour is hormone receptor negative there cannot be any detriment or benefit in having hormone contained food so I am sure you are perfectly safe to eat any honey that you like.‘’’
I already went to Holland and Barret on the weekend and bought some - guess i just need to take a mederate amount each day. It at least wont do any harm!!
Hope this helps
Thanks for getting back to us…x
HI everyone,
I’m reading this about Manuka honey with interest as my counts were just above borderline for my last (2nd) FEC. However my tumour was oestrogen + and HER negative so I’m wondering if Manuka would be permissable for me. I’ll ask my onc next week when I go for no. 3 and pass on his response.
Bella x
Erm… I am a bit worried about the comment from the onc above which seems to say that if a cancer is hormone negative then there can’t be any harm in trying it. MIght there be issues for us women with ER positive breas cancer in taking Manuka?
Deirdre
Oh I love the dry oncologist’s comments.
Last week I was really ill after my operation to restore voice…hacking cough, extreme breathlessness, swollen throat. And wow 2 days of manuka honey and I’m on the mend…except I’d had two days of steroids and penicillin as well…I know what I’m putting my money on though the honey tastes nice.
Jane
started Epi today - so far so good. Feeling a bit spacey (no change there then LOL!!) but otherwise OK. I was very calm when it was administered - hark at me, do I want a brave girl badge or what??
As I am very vomit phobic I have taken to wearing sea sickness bands and I have been sipping ginger ale, my hubby said “oh shall I get you a rabiits foot too” - cheeky!!!
I’m also worried about being oestrogen + and trying Manuka. I’ve asked this question at the BC Haven, their nutritionist is going to try to find out about the implications for those of us with hormone pos Cs and will get back to me hopefully today. I’ll post the answer on here as soon as I get it.
OK, I’ve just spoken to the BCN at the Haven - she thinks it’s OK to take it as it’s a natural foodstuff and there should be no difference to any level of hormones than those which might occur in non-organic milk for example.
She thinks that drs/oncs tend to err on the side of caution and if asked directly will say not to take anything different outside your normal diet. She says this is true of nutritional supplements in tablet form that it may be tempting to take, but she advises that anything that can be taken in it’s natural form as a foodstuff is OK.
I think I’ll get some and give it a go.
Hope this helps, Bella x
Hi Bella
I have been watching this thread with interest, I bought it for myself and a friend when i read this thread then didn’t use it because of the uncertainty, but will certainly use it now.
Thanks for the info