Hello again, Jill...this is Oby...again. Just read that your mom is on Carboplactin and Taxol instead of the Topotecan. Tell me, what type of chemo did she have before, if any. The first time around I had Carbo/Taxol (an abbreviation), and the second time we started out with Carbo/Taxol, but during the 2nd treatment I had an allergic reaction to the Carboplactic (at least, that's what the doctor said it was!), so on the 3rd treatment he switched me over to Cisplatin/Taxol, since Cisplatin is in the same "family." It worked...but 3 months later, the cancer came back again...and that's when I went to Topotecan...which, as you know, has really been working for me.
Another thing...I'd been taking vitamin supplements before I found out that I had cancer. I asked the doctors, "Would it hurt to continue to take my vitamin supplements during chemo," and both my oncologist and primary doc said the same identical thing..."It wouldn't hurt, but it wouldn't help either. You might as well save the money and start them again after the chemo."
Well, my reaction to their opinions was, "Bullshit!" and I continued to take them. However, on the advice of someone who knew a lot about vitamins, I increased my intake of Vitamin E from 400 to 800 per day, and also increased my Vitamin C. I stopped taking any form of sugar...and instead, went to the vitamin store and bought Stevia, which is a 'natural' sweetener. I started drinking decaffinated coffee (Trader Joe's has one that is great!), and since I love ice tea (at any time of year!) I started brewing my own batch of decaffinated Green Tea, which is very good for you.
Other things I take are garlic pills (even though I eat a lot of it), calcium, magnesium, and of course, a good multi vitamin, plus some other things which I can't remember right now (chemo brain, you know).
Just recently, a friend of mine (who knows a LOT), told me that every morning I should make a "fruit" drink. I don't have a juicer, so I use my blender. You can put all sorts of fruits in it...oranges, apples, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, etc. I asked her, "Why can't I just drink a glass of orange juice?" and she said it doesn't compare with making it for yourself...fresh!
She added that in the late afternoon, early evening, make myself a 'vegetable' drink. Tomatoes, green pepper, onion, garlic, parsley, celery, whatever you want...just dump it all in the blender and press, "GO!" (Actually, since there is no "GO!" button on a blender, I find it's good to use the "Pulse" button.)
Me? I hate to admit it, but I very rarely eat vegetables...so this is a wonderful alternative for me, and as my friend told me, "By mixing all of these vegetables into one drink, you'll be getting more vegetables than most people eat in one day!"
And when I asked her, "Can't I just drink a glass of V8 juice?" she replied, "No, Oby, it's not the same thing." Well, at least I tried! hahahaha...
So I hope that some of these suggestions will be helpful to you and whomever else reads this message. Bon Appetit!
Please keep in touch and let me know how your mother is doing, all right? In the meantime, tell your mother that I will pray for her...and also, that age has nothing to do with this, or any other type of cancer.
I love you, hon...Oby