Chemo side effects

If you’re undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, your doctor and/or nurse will likely tell you all of these things, but this can be a good reference. I got this from the dietician that talked at PYNKS. It describes the side effects of common chemotherapies, which will affect your diet.

Flouracil (F5U): diarrhea, sore mouth, taste changes, and reduced immunity

Epirubicin: Nausea and vomitting, taste changes, and reduced immunity

Cyclophosphamide: diarrhea, reduced appetite, and taste changes

Doxirubicin: Nausea and vomiting, sore mouth, taste changes, reduced immunity

Taxofere: Nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, sore mouth, taste changes, reduced immunity

FEC: nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, sore mouth, taste changes, reduced immunity

Methotrexate: diarrhea, sore mouth, taste changes, reduced immunity

Paxiaxol (taxol): diarrhea, sore mouth, taste changes, reduced immunity

So, bottom line: chemo is going to give you diarrhea, mess up your taste, and reduce your immunity. Additionally, you’re likely to experience fluid retention, bloating, and weight gain. So what can we do to combat these? The cookbook I reviewed, Prescriptionto Taste, might provide some suggestions for enhancing tastes of foods. Another related tip: if the smell is what’s bothering you, eat chilled foods, like salads with ham, eggs, and other protein ingredients. I’ll follow up with other posts to describe how to deal with diarrhea and boost your immune system.