I discovered this forum topic and wanted to share my water fasting experience (which includes unsweetened teas). I recently completed 4 infusions of A/C over two months. The first time I heard isn’t so bad but then it can bite you, so this was my anticipation. However, I could not have been more pleased with my experience! I didn’t fast the first time, just rested a lot after, and after a few days, I started daily light fitness, usually an hour of walking or biking, and also went on a longer hike once a week. Except after the 4th infusion where I really took it easy, I increased my physical strength throughout the chemo, getting stronger. Fitness was an important chemo countermeasure, but fasting was #1. Note that although light daily fitness activity was a priority between treatments, I always took it very easy after infusions, for up to 3-4 days. Listen to your body. I started water fasting for A/C infusion #2 and was expecting it to be worse, but the side effects were essentially cut in half from #1. I fasted 2 days ahead of chemo and then a full day after, totaling around 80 hours. I found that on fasting day 1 when hunger pangs are stronger, light activity, walking or light work, helps reduce this. As for A/C chemo #3 and #4, same positive experience, I didn’t even have to take nausea meds and my headaches and fatigue went down. I did have light side effects overall, treatable things, but I was thriving all through the strong chemo. Weight loss from fasting wasn’t an issue. It would go down but then spike way up the day after chemo (water and inflammation?) and then go back to normal. I am intentionally gradually losing 20 lbs / 9 kg over 5 months of chemo to get to my ideal healthy weight. A/C is cumulative and I did cumulatively have energy loss but usually was back to normal by day 5. I also had strong heart palpitations on day 4 after infusion 4. I stopped my fitness for over a week due to this. 10 days after A/C I honestly felt better than 10 days before, due to my healthy countermeasures (and a fun purple wig from Etsy : ) Now I am starting 12 weeks of weekly Taxol and I am cutting my fasting time in half to 40 hours. I start at bedtime, fast a full day, then do a morning chemo and eat a light lunch mid-afternoon. With A/C I had no desire to eat the day of or the morning after chemo, but with Taxol I was happy to eat. I have had a great experience with water fasting and wouldn’t want to do chemo without it. I think it made the chemo easier on my body (and also over time, my body adjusted to the chemo). I feel very healthy and have not had a bad experience at all. I think fasting is especially important if you have a cancer that’s less responsive to chemo. It gets easier to do as the body gets used to it. Good luck with your treatments!
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