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TanyaRD
09-02-2009, 05:19 AM
My name is Tanya. I am a Registered Dietitian and a Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition. I have a true passion for cancer survivors and I am thrilled to be a part of this group. I look forward to answering your nutrition questions.

freyja
09-02-2009, 08:21 AM
Welcome Tanya! Thank you so much for being here. We've been waiting for this, so be prepared to be swamped in messages!
Love and gratitude, Celeste

Mary Jo
09-02-2009, 10:45 AM
Welcome Tanya. It is so good to have you among us to answer our many questions. I'm sure you will be bombarded.

I am a 4 year survivor and have changed my diet somewhat and added some supplements. I TRY to eat way less sugar than I did before breast cancer but don't always succeed in that department. I do however, eat very healthy foods as a rule - fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, berries. I just wish I could eliminate the "crap" for always. Oh well, it's a goal I constantly strive for and have improved greatly. Also, I am an avid exerciser and I was that before breast cancer as well. So, I guess, it's always a "work in progress" as they say. When you learn better you can do better. So, try I will.

Again, welcome.

Mary Jo

StephN
09-02-2009, 10:50 AM
Welcome Tanya -
I would like to see Sandra's question and your answer on a thread of its own as the "fats" issue is one much discessed on this site. The Q & A is buried here.

There is an article in the latest AARP Bulletin called "Feasting on Protein." It says the recommendation is for 46 grams of protein per day for women and 56 grams for men. There is a chart showing various foods, their grams of protein per serving and approx. cost. The web site given is:
http://bit.ly/usdanutrients

(This link is to a much more complete listing than in the article.)

This chart shows the best foods to attain that protein level. So a person could alter their diet and not miss the protein they need. Especially people on chemo who need to rebuild tissue.

QUESTION.
Do you know of a similar chart that can correlate these grams of protein with grams of fat??
The protein chart includes non-fat dairy items, tofu plus vegan foods. I am more concerned about the fats in the animal protein items.

ElaineM
09-02-2009, 11:05 AM
Welcome Aboard Tanya. I am one of the vegetarians in the group. Thanks for the info about how much good fat we should eat. I just did my own calculations, so now I know how much I am supposed to eat as far as fats are concerned. I will probably ask you questions in the future, because I am always trying to improve my diet.
Thanks for the AARP info Steph. I am going to look that up too.

TanyaRD
09-02-2009, 11:43 AM
Mary Jo, it sounds like you have made some wonderful changes. Remember, you don't have to be "perfect". It is what we do on most days that either makes or breaks us. If you make healthy lifestyle choices on most days you are doing a good job.

RhondaH
09-03-2009, 07:11 AM
Hi Tanya, my hame is Rhonda. I TOO am a resident of BEAUTIFUL West Michigan (EGR area) and am a patient of Dr. Mark Campbell at Lemmen Holton. When I was dx 2/1/05 a family member sent me a copy of Diana Dyers diet and I have been on it ever since. The more I read, the more I am convinced that nutrition and exercise are KEY in preventing as well as slowing down MANY (but not all) types of cancer. At my last appointment with my surgeon Dr. John Reinstra, he told me he wanted me to eat 2 handfuls of walnuts a day as he has been reading a great deal about them...thoughts? I have been eating a handful of filberts 3 times a week as I read there were traces of the taxanes in them as well as put slivered almonds on my salad daily...OTHER thoughts? Any other food supplements you would recommend for ER-PR-HER2+ breast cancer? Thank you SO much for joining us...this is a great bunch who I am SURE you will love;) Take care and God bless.

TanyaRD
09-03-2009, 09:59 AM
Thanks, Rhonda. I am just north of you in Ludington. Your doctor has offered some good advice. Walnuts offer a good source of omega-3 fats. In general, nuts offer a healthy source of fat as well as protein and vitamin E, Selenium and much more. My only caution is to watch portion size because calories add up fast when it comes to nuts. Adding them to salad, cereals or having them as a snack with fruit is an excellent way to include them in the diet without going overboard on portion.

TanyaRD
09-03-2009, 01:06 PM
Jackie,
I am familiar with the study and feel flax is a good addition for both its omega 3 properties and fiber. It is also easy to add to recipes and many everyday foods. Thanks for the welcome message.

Leslie304
09-07-2009, 03:41 PM
...........and green tea! I'm forbidden green tea! I really want to do some of these things they say I shouldn't but I worry about their warnings of counteracting the chemo! Is that really even possible? I find it so hard to believe.

Jackie07
09-07-2009, 04:09 PM
Found this link - was dated 2006, but looks pretty good:

http://www.tugmcgraw.org/Lancet_Onco.pdf

schoolteacher
09-08-2009, 04:50 AM
Tanya,

Thanks for joining our group. I look forward to the information about nutrition.

Amelia

RobinP
09-08-2009, 06:09 AM
Howdy, and thanks for joining our group. I have a feeling that you're going to learn that many of our members are nutritional experts themselves, concerning foods and supplemental elements that best block the her2 pathway and er, pr pathway in breast cancer. As a registered nurse, I am frequently impressed by the medical insights our members have. I hope you are impressed, as well, learn much, share much, and enjoy our group. Welcome!

RobinP

TanyaRD
09-08-2009, 06:36 AM
Thanks Robin. I am already impressed as I knew I would be. This is obviously a wonderful group of amazing, strong women. I am grateful to be a part of this. I always tell my groups that I learn as much from them as they do from me. I appreciate the warm welcome from everyone.

R.B.
09-10-2009, 04:00 PM
Tanya,

Could we have please have stickies for common dietary subjects like flax, green tea, Omega 3 and 6, vitamin, etc.

I agree it is easy for material to get lost like the flax threads have.

Many thanks

TanyaRD
09-12-2009, 08:27 AM
Good idea. We will get that done.

Jackie07
12-10-2009, 05:01 PM
Someone (Tololos) has sent a virus into this Board. Please avoid replying to any thread started by this guy. Usually Joe will clean it up and protect us from this 'home invasion'.

If you don't see a member's posting, click on the heading on the main Board. It will give you a list of all the postings in reverse chronological order. Click on the one you'd like to reply or post a new thread. Just don't continue any thread started by this 'man behave badly'.

BMW2
03-22-2010, 06:09 PM
Hi: My background is B/C in 2000. ER+ cancer in left breast. Bi-lateral masectomy and A/C, Taxol, radiation. DIEP reconstruction in 2002.

In 2009 recurrence in left reconstructed breast (ER+ and Hers2). Surgery again then chemo ACH/Herceptin till November 2009. Herceptin alone until April 2010 or maybe longer.

I've been reading your posts on nutrition. This is a great site. Does anyone have any experience with using melatonin? I'm having a terrible time sleeping since my breast cancer returned. Don't want to resort to sleeping pills. But, I've been taking Simply Sleep by Tylenol (it's benedryl). Any thoughts?

TanyaRD
03-23-2010, 06:50 AM
I work with an internist who likes to use Melatonin but more for cancer prevention/treatment (not in place of chemo/xrt). She often refers to an article published by Life Extension in 2004 (http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/jan2004_report_melatonin_01.htm). Melatonin has traditionally not done very well as a sleeping aid but may produce better sleep once a person falls asleep. It does not make most people feel sleepy therefore if falling asleep is your problem it is probably not the best bet. We usually recommend benedryl for that but also look at whether a person is having trouble "turning their mind off" too. Our social worker provides great techniques for helping quiet the mind.

If you read the article linked here please do so with the mindset that this is early research with limited application to humans (in research). There are more examples of research with melatonin and cancer (see pubmed) but it is not widely used due to limited research. Life Extension does sell supplements therefore I do not use them as a sole source for information because of the conflict of interest they have with product sales.

BMW2
03-23-2010, 08:08 AM
TanyaRD: Thanks for the info. I also found some other info on the site concerning sleep and melatonin from some of the other ladies. I think I posted my question in the wrong spot. I'm learning. Thx

NMoulton
11-16-2016, 03:44 AM
Hi Tanya I am Moultan and I too have a passion for cancer patients. We share same passion.