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The purpose of this blog is to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors. This blog hopes to accomplish this goal by publicizing new research on quality of life for cancer survivors and identify programs and strategies that may help cancer survivors accomplish their goals.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

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.

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