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More comfort items available in any drug store listed below!

Loved It - Hated It!

Skin Care For Cancer Patients

Question Most Received During Chemotherapy?

"Your skin looks wonderful!  What are you doing?"

I could just tell the truth and say that the glow in my skin is due to steroids pumped directly into my heart to help way-lay the allergic side effects of Taxol.

Please NOTE:  There are no circumstances under which I will agree to recommending any product without specific permission from YOUR medical team.  BiG Time Caveat Emptor

The following things work for ME and ONLY for ME.   They make me feel good.

Suave Skin Firming Lotion 3 - 4 times weekly.
All Over

Suave Skin Firming Lotion has been a favorite of mine for several years.  Scroll back to the top and find 51 yrs worth of face skin wrinkles.

Udderly Smooth Udder Cream - 2 - 3 times daily.
All Over Use

Udder Smooth Udder Cream is the only thing that has brought comfort to foot skin ailments.  Including bruising, cracked and peeling skin, tender spots.  This is not a cure but adds a bit of comfort in smooshing it all down a while.

Burt's Bees Hand Salve - As needed.
Hands Only

Occasionally I will add a smidgen of lavender balm to the Burt's Bees Salve.

The only difference made in my skin care practice since chemotherapy is to add Burt's Bees Hand Salve.   The only reason for this was because it was on discount price and I have been desperately seeking help for neuropathy symptoms.

Neuropathy is a side effect of Taxol which can also cause skin burning, pain, peeling, open sores and thrush.

I don't know if it is the Burt's Bees Salve or the action of rubbing it in.

PLEASE send your skin care comfort product information to ME.

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Maintain Healthy Weight During Chemotherapy

I think there is a double blind study with me in the middle of the control freak group.  The study centers around metabolic syndrome and the propensity for so many people to actually gain weight during chemotherapy.  If it weren't for the bad wig, one would not know I am sick.

Certainly this first round of chemotherapy has been generous in low side effects.  I will be very surprised if I don't come out of all this with IBS.  Ick.

The eating plan first given to me at diagnosis caused me to roflmao (roll on floor laughing my ass off).   It proclaimed I was to eat as much milk, cream, butter, as I could smear on or dunk in one meal.   I felt exuberant in that I probably have been practicing  for this my entire life.

At the other end of the spectrum I know people who look like they are wasting away their fat.  I overheard a greeting that said, "If you aren't sick, you look wonderful".

My remedy came along with the neuropathy.  One of the 'critical symptoms' of neuropathy is an inability to get up off chair or floor without much difficulty.   I couldn't tell if it was the advancing neuropathy (it was) or the advancing girth around my waist line.

This is me at 3/4 through Taxol treatment.  The only thing larger than my waistline is my bum.

For personal control measures I am drifting back to my low sugar, low gluten eating days pre-cancer.  I really think I was getting someplace last January.

Sugar is one of those components in cancer feeding that can be controlled.  Sugar is included in primary diet of tumors. Except in metabolic syndrome patients.  These are mostly also pre-diabetic so sugar needs to be controlled.

The steroids and other anti-nausea medicines also cause cravings and appetites swings similar to that of a health pregnant woman. 

As a low blood pressure patient, I crave salt.  The potato chips are just a bonus.  Our favorite TODAY is Sam's Club "Mystic Chips"  Kettle Cooked.

Cranberry juice has been a factor in research to reduce bladder irritation and even intestional digestion.  In any case, it is good for you.

We like a low sugar store brand:  Sam's Choice Light Cranberry Juice with Splenda.  Be sure you are allowed to have Splenda.

This juice mixes nicely with a brand name protein powder.  Use blender or malt mixture.

Another favorite fruit treat is Diet V8 Splash.  Tastes great. Makes yummy ice cubes and also mixes well with dietary supplement protein powders. (Try Slim Fast or Carb Solutions - Vanilla only on both)  Although knowledge is not from personal experience.. vodka works with this too. 

Ginger dressing is one of my cravings

For lunch 'in', I have large glass of V-8 juice and big baby field greens salad(with extra baby spinach) .   Add nuts, meat, veggies, etc until I have all daily cravings covered.

For lunch 'out' I have most expensive thing on menu.

Ditto dinner.  At home usually a red meat, field greens salad, cooked green or bean vegetable.

So far I have managed not to GAIN any more weight. 

Betcha thought there would be a different ending?

Do you have favorite cancer diet craving story or product?
Will be starting recipe page soon, get your stuff included! No craving too outrageous!  No one will scoff at midnight runs for French vanilla ice cream!

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