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Primmy
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since
24-10-2016
13
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02-02-2017
08:52
Hi DavidSpector Thanks for your comment. Ive been following a ketogenic diet through my chemo (which I have just finished today!!!). I have been measuring whether I've been in ketosis and making sure that, whilst the chemo drugs were in my body I was in ketosis to protect my normal cells and relaxing a bit in between cycles once the chemo drugs were out. I made sure I was back in ketosis in time for each cycle of chemo starting the high fat diet about 48 hours before each cycle so doing what you look like you're going to do but with keto diet rather than fasting. I've suffered no side effects at all during chemo. I've researched this a lot in the last couple of years, as my mother also has cancer, and there is a lot out there particularly if you look at dr Colin champ and Patricia Daly who are involved with the research. Although, as you say it is virtually impossible to get big trials due to there being no money in nutrition! Fasting is another option with similar effects but ketogenic diet is said to produce the same effects but you can still eat! So I think we're talking along similar lines! Anyway hope your treatment goes well and your fasting works for you. All the best primmy.
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02-02-2017
08:32
1 Hug
Just thought I would put out my experience about being on these sleeping tablets. I've always been a bad sleeper but it's got worse whilst going through chemotherapy. I've been very fortunate and through treatment have not really suffered any bad side effects and my only problem was my sleep which was starting to affect me. I was put on Zoplicone a couple of weeks ago and have been sleeping much better. However, I had changed completely and had become so anxious (nervous tummy almost the second I woke), really angry in that I was imagining just pulling out my chemo line from my port!! And so tearful both times in the chemo unit this week and with relatives on the phone. Suddenly I was not coping at all. I felt like I was going crazy. Anyway, I don't know what suddenly made me look up the side effects of these tablets. Well, quite shocking and it describes the 'new' me exactly. So they have gone in the bin and I am pleased to say I now know that I'm not going crazy. Time to explore meditation and other avenues to help me sleep...
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29-01-2017
06:40
Hi, I had EC X 3 (once every 3 weeks) then weekly paclitaxel. I've had 8 so far and have my 9th and final one this week. I can honestly say that you really don't feel like you're having chemotherapy at all. With EC, although I didn't have any side effects I realise in hindsight that I didn't feel quite right although I couldn't really put my finger on it. However, with paclitaxel I feel completely normal. I have my chemo on a Thursday and this week when we got back I cooked dinner, Friday I did a full day's work and yesterday we met some friends for a drink and then dinner after. I do feel a bit more tired than normal but, apart from that, feel fine. My oncologist also told me to take omega 3 supplements to help with the peripheral neuropathy side effects which I have been doing and have not suffered with that either. I don't know if I'm particularly lucky but my onc nurse said that paclitaxel is generally very well tolerated.
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16-01-2017
07:02
Hi, I used the cold cap and was so convinced that I would keep my hair but unfortunately, on about day 16 after my first EC it started coming out in handfuls. Although I still did the cold cap for the second EC (much more difficult as hair was so thin) the hair continued to come out until there was no point continuing. I had thought, as my hair was so thick, that even if it did come out I would have enough left as I had been told it generally thins but my came out in huge clumps. There was another lady who was having a different chemo regime which was more or less weekly. She had very good results from the cold cap and kept most of her hair. in terms of actually having the cold cap on, I found it wasn't too bad at all. You get used to the cold very quickly. The main thing is that it prolongs the process as you have to have it on before and after the chemo but it would definitely be worth it if you're one of the lucky ones!
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06-01-2017
03:34
Hi SJ happy new year to you too! I've just had my 5th paclitaxel and again feeling fine - I agree with what you say that it doesn't even feel like you're having chemo. I also had 3 rounds of EC first which I was also very fortunate with and did not suffer from any of these awful side effects that unfortunately other people have. So I feel very lucky. I was also following a ketogenic diet all through this which I feel pretty sure made a big difference although will never know for sure! wishing you all the best for the rest of your treatments. Let me know how you get on. best wishes x
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01-01-2017
09:01
Hi SJ I'm taking Higher Nature omega 3 fish oil. I take 3 per day. I've had 4 paclitaxel so far (I'm having 9 weekly sessions but with the same dose as if I was having 12) and no side effects at all so fingers crossed. Hope this helps Primmy x
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02-12-2016
09:34
Thought I'd pass on what I've been told by my onc in preparation for starting weekly paclitaxel next week. There has been a study that show that omega 3 can reduce the peripheral neuropathy side effects - link below http://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2407-12-355 I've been told to take three omega 3 capsules per day, which I started as soon as he told me, and have to continue taking them for a month after chemo finishes.
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24-11-2016
08:02
Forgot to say, now I've completed my 3 cycles of EC, I'll also be having weekly chemo from 8th Dec (9 weeks of paclitaxel) so will just pretty much stay in ketosis all the time. I find it very easy to do and the added bonus is that I've lost some weight with it too! Anyway, whether you look into this or stick with the fasting, I hope it all goes well for you.
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24-11-2016
07:29
Hi Helen, An alternative to fasting that you might find interesting is a ketogenic diet. This puts your body into ketosis, as would happen when fasting (but you can still eat!) which is supposed to enhance the effect of the chemo on the cancer cells but protect normal cells from the effect of chemo. Hopefully the link below will work which explains it well. It's written by Dr Colin Champ who is an American radiation oncologist involved in the research re effect of fasting and ketogenic diets on breast cancer and its treatment. An example of a very simple ketogenic diet is to look at the induction phase of the original Atkins. i make sure I'm in ketosis the day of chemo (it takes me about 48 hours to get into it) and then I make sure I stay in ketosis for 48 hours after at which time I hope the chemo drugs have passed through my system. I've not suffered with any side effects - no nausea, mouth problems or anything else so far and I've recently completed my 3rd cycle of EC. http://www.cavemandoctor.com/2013/01/01/an-introduction-a-ketogenic-diet-for-cancer/
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15-11-2016
04:13
Hi riversidedawn thanks so so much for your reply. The cold cap must have worked really well for you. I have to make the decision by Thursday as to whether to continue cold capping or not but I've now lost even more hair so I'm not sure. Although I'd heard hair could start growing back on Taxotere I hadn't heard about paclitaxel. I have a dilemma now!! thanks again.
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10-11-2016
11:20
Hi, I wondered if anyone had experience of hair regrowing after you've lost it if cold capping with weekly paclitaxel. I've had 2 EC so far but have lost about 80% of my hair and am probably going to give up cold capping. I've got one more EC and then move on to 9 weekly paclitaxel. So just wondered if anyone had any experience of this. thanks xx
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28-10-2016
12:52
1 Hug
Hi Debbie I'm using the Dignicap cold cap and its 30 minutes before and 90 minutes after so I would definitely try to get another opinion next time. Hopefully, what you are having is just some natural shedding and it will slow down. i've just had my 2nd FEC yesterday but 3 days ago (so day 19 after first FEC) I've started losing loads of hair - very depressing. Have a bald patch on my crown now. However, I've read from other threads to just keep persevering with the cold cap, even if it looks like you're losing a lot, as it gets better and hair loss should slow. Hopefully as you at least had it on during the treatment it will have had some effect for you.
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24-10-2016
03:50
Hi Gracie I've been reading this forum for a while but this is the first time I've written on it. I was diagnosed end August with ER+ and PR+ grade 2 tumour which had spread to 2 of the 12 lymph nodes that were removed. My chemo is EC-T (so I don't have the 'F' of the FEC) with 3 cycles of EC then 3 of T. Had my first chemo on 6th October and, like you are planning, I am low carbing and was in ketosis for the few days before chemo and continued doing it after. I have keto sticks which you wee on which measure if you are in ketosis. I resisted all the snacks they bring round in hospital and had an omelette when I got home rather than anything to eat whilst in there. For me, I'm sure it had an effect as I've had no side effects at all, and have felt completely normal throughout. The oncologist was quite baffled in my follow up appointment! I've done loads of research on this since my Mum also has breast cancer and I'm the sort of person who has to try and find ways to complement standard treatments. I've got my second chemo this week and have made sure I'm back in ketosis so I'm hoping for the same results. I wasn't going to post until after that in case it's not so good this time and the first time was just a fluke but seeing your post I wanted to give you the encouragement to try it. Good luck for Wednesday! Sam
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