[hutchibk]

I don't think there is any such thing as a single "true picture" - every individual has a different experience with the different treatments. I have had a fairly easy experience with all of the treatments I've had, and I've had many... My first round through chemo I had some pretty crummy nausea thanks to Adriamyacin, but I kept it simple and took my Phenergan religiously, as well as googled and searched for all the wisdom I could find to help with the side effects. I can't tell you why things might work for me or chemos might not be as hard on me, but it has nothing to do with insurance. I have no 'fixes' for side effects that are reliant on insurance, except for Phenergan. I have created a routine that works for me and helps me tolerate chemo. I don't know exactly what it is that works so well, except that I really strive to be healthy and knowledgeable about boosting my body, soothing it, and nourishing it as much as possible. I play with my diet in healthy ways until something works for me. Every person is different. There are so many factors that need to be considered when looking at why some people have an easier time than others. There can be dosage differences, underlying medical conditions, differences in diet and lifestyle, age differences, and just flat out genetic/physiological differences. As my onc always says, what works for one may not work for another. But that is why we are always sharing what works for us here on this site, in hopes that we can help the next person. As far as the supposition that was put forth about the demographic of our site, let me just say that I have no children, am not married, am a 'nuclear family' orphan, and I don't have a 4 year college degree. I just have a burning desire to look for solutions to what ails me. That is why the support of this site is so very important to me! I hope we are able to offer some ideas here that you haven't heard before. Some of us have reached out and paid for cancer specific nutritionists to consult with us - and that is often the knowledge that we try to share with others. Of course it is prudent and wise to seek out individual nutritional support for yourself, but I am happy to foot the bill and share what I learn with everyone here. Hopefully when you check in here from time to time you will enjoy the benefit of our consultations!

Becca - please be sure you have NO folic acid in any of your supplementation or vitamins. That means taking no multivitamins or B complex vitamins. It can worsen side effects of Tykerb/Xeloda. Also, no grapefruit products. And you might want to try 50 mg of B6 3 times a day with meals for the inflammation around your nails. Everytime I get lazy and don't take it, my toenails are painful, and when I get back on track... it clears up amazingly quick. I hope you start to feel better soon!

Susan - please let us know how you do on T/X... I'll cross my fingers for you.

Flori - I will mail it tomorrow!!