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Old 01-12-2012, 07:06 AM   #1
tryingtohanginthere
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tips to combat chemo constipation/diarrhea

I everyone, this is my first time to post. I met a lady while getting fluids yesterday that told me about this site. I am SO glad she did!! I have had 2 tch rounds and both time have had to get fluids after. My problem is dealing with constipation it causes. I struggle with this normally, and now it is really awful! I take senokot plus have to use Miralax. I am drinking LOTS of water, too. It really nauseates me, and feel like it sets me back on rebound days. Any ideas out there? Thank you all!!
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Old 01-12-2012, 07:53 AM   #2
jra40
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA.
Posts: 260
Re: tips to combat chemo constipation/diarrhea

I had the same problems you are experiencing and used those same constipation meds. If they didn't work for me at times, I talked with my oncologist and they prescribed something to help. One of my relatives who is a nurse told me a trick: Take an apple and microwave it for about 3 minutes until soft then eat it. It surprisingly worked really well for me!

Stay strong and keep the faith,

Jessica
__________________
11/17/10 - Diagnosed with 4.5cm tumor in right breast, IDC, Stage 2, Nuclear grade 2, ER+ PR+ HER2+
12/13/10 - Lymph node biopsy - negative
12/28/10 - Started neo-adjuvant treatment along with clinical trial with 4 rounds of AC chemo every 3 weeks
3/15/11 - Began weekly Taxol/Herceptin infusions along with 750mg of Tykerb taken by mouth daily
6/28/11 - Finished last cycle of Taxol
7/27/11 - Breast MRI shows tumor has dissolved, remarkable reaction to chemo
8/31/11 - Lumpectomy, Sentinel Node biopsy. Node negative, clear margins, 7mm of cancer left over from chemo.
10/05/11 - Started radiation, 5 days a week for 7 weeks.
11/8/11 - Finished radiation
3/21/12 - Last Herceptin!
3/26/12 - Port removed!
Tamoxifen for 5 years
8/4/15 - Hysterectomy & bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Due to large fibroids. No cancer!
8/8/15 - Started Arimidex
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Old 01-12-2012, 12:44 PM   #3
Rich66
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Re: tips to combat chemo constipation/diarrhea

You could ask your onc to add Tykerb into the mix
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Old 01-12-2012, 04:58 PM   #4
CoolBreeze
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Re: tips to combat chemo constipation/diarrhea

I drank 64 ounces of water the day before, the day of, and the day after chemo. I also ate a very high fiber. Breakfast was whole grain cereal or toast with a pear, lunch was beans with whole grain toast and a salad, and dinner was chicken and high fiber vegetables like artichoke. Snacks were dried fruit, which had a lot of fiber.

I was mostly able to control my constipation with diet and water but if I couldn't, on day three, I would take metamucil. Worked like a charm.

I've been on taxotere, taxol, carboplatin, navelbine and of course, herceptin. My water/fiber regimen has worked for all of them, I was very disciplined about it.

I got a brita pitcher so I could measure. 64 ounces sounds like more than it is - just have your water with you all day.

Good luck, I hope it works for you!
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http://butdoctorihatepink.com

08/17/09 Dx'd.
Multifocal/multicentric IDC, largest 3.4 cm, associated ADH, LCIS, DCIS
HER2+ ER+/PR- Grade 3, Node Negative

10/20/2009: Right mastectomy, reconstruction with TE
12/02/2009: Six rounds TCH, switched to Taxol halfway through due to neuropathy
03/31/2010: Finished chemo
05/01/2010: Began tamoxifen, the worst drug ever
11/18/2010: Reconstruction completed
12/02/2010: Finished herceptin
05/21/2011: Liver Mets. Quit Tamoxifen
06/22/2011: Navelbine/Zometa/Herceptin
10/03/2011: Liver Resection, left lobe. Microwave ablation, right lobe - going for cure!
11/26/2011: C-Diff Superbug Infection, "worst case doctor had seen in 20 years"
03/28/2012: Progression in ablated section of the liver - no more cure. Started Abraxane, continue herceptin/zometa
10/10/2012: Progression continues, started Halaven, along with herceptin and zometa.
01/15/2013: Progression continues, started Gemzar and Perjeta, an unusual combo, continuing with herceptin and zometa
03/13/2013: Quit Gemzar, body just won't handle it. Staying on herceptin, zometa and perjeta.
04/03/2013: CT shows 50% regression in tumor, so am starting back on Gemzar with dose reduction, staying with perjeta/herceptin/zometa. Can't argue with success!
05/09/2013: Discussing SBRT with Radiology due to inability of bone marrow to recover from chemo.
06/07/2013: Fiducial placement for SBRT
07/03/2013: Chemo discontinued, on Perjeta, Herceptin and Zometa alone
07/25/2013: SBRT (gamma knife) begins
08/01/2013: SBRT completed
08/15/2013: STABLE! continuing with Perjeta, Herceptin, Zometa
06/18/2014: ***** NED!!!!***** continuing with Perjeta, Herceptin, Zometa
01/29/2014: Still NED. continuing with Perjeta, Herceptin. Zometa lowered to every 3 months instead of monthly.
11/08/2015: Progression throughout abdomen and lungs. Started TDM-1, aka Kadcyla. Other meds discontinued. Remission was nice while it lasted.

5/27/18: Stable. Kadcyla put me right back in the barn. I have two teeny spots on my lungs that are metabolically inactive, and liver is clean.

I’m beating this MFer. I was 51 when this started and had two kids, 22 and 12. Now I’m 60. My oldest got married and trying to start s family. My youngesg graduates from Caltech this June. My stepdaughter gave me grandkids. Life is fantastic.
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