What to Eat During Chemotherapy

I kind of can't believe I've had a blog about living with breast cancer for more than FOUR YEARS now, and I haven't done a post about what to eat when you're going through chemo. I don't think. If I already have, go ahead and chalk it up to chemobrain. I've done posts about that, right?

Hint about what to eat: it's whatever you can stomach. 

Right now, even the word stomach sort of makes me want to vomit. I had treatment yesterday, and even though I'm on antibody-drug conjugate -- a targeted chemotherapy delivery method that isn't nearly as bad as the broad spectrum drugs I used to receive (I'm talking to you, carboplatin and taxotere) -- there are still some side effects. I've talked about the fatigue. I've probably talked about the nausea in passing.

But I don't know if I've talked about any solutions.

Here's what works for me (sometimes).

Zofran and/or Compazine: This is not the time to avoid medicines that can offer serious relief, with the important caveat (and possibly too much information) that anti-nausea meds can cause headaches and constipation, so you may want to do some cost-benefit analyses.

Ginger: Trader Joe's carries a great Ginger Beer (non-alcoholic, don't worry) that works wonders for staving off the waves of nausea. They also have some ginger chews that help when nothing else seems to.

Water: It's about the last thing I want in the days after my treatment (think how terrible a tall glass of water sounds when you're hungover), but water, especially with electrolytes, helps flush your system and is one of the truest ways I've found to feel better faster. When I was on broad-spectrum chemotherapy, I resorted to -- gasp! -- Gatorade or popsicles when my mouth sores were out of control. I know, sugar is evil, but sometimes it's a necessary evil. Kind of like chemo.

Smoothies: Fresh vegetables sound downright repulsive in the days after treatment, as good as I know they are for me and as much as I know my body needs the vitamins and nutrients to heal. So I've jumped on the smoothie bandwagon and make a version many mornings of the week. Bonus: it's one of the only ways I've found to get Quinn to "eat" his greens. Win/win.

Green Smoothie
Serves 1-2

1-2 ripe bananas
large handful of spinach and/or kale leaves
generous splash of orange juice or almond milk
1/2-1 cup other fruit of choice -- pineapple, mango, apple, or a combination
ice cubes

Throw everything in a blender and blend until smooth, then adjust taste to your liking. Sometimes I add a scoop of vanilla protein powder or a handful of raw almonds.

Banana Bread Smoothie
Serves 1-2

1 c. almond milk (I like unsweetened vanilla)
1-2 bananas
1-2 Tbsp. almond butter
ice cubes

Blend until smooth. Top with grated nutmeg, if you like. I serve mine with a colorful straw because it makes me smile.

Comfort Foods: This isn't the time to be concerned about your diet. Of course you want to be as healthy as possible, but sometimes homemade mac-and-cheese or stuffed shells are the only things that sound appetizing. I will say beware of tomatoes and tomato sauces, especially on broad-spectrum chemotherapies that can alter your taste buds and leave you with mouth sores. Acidity is not your friend on those drugs. But some soft pasta in a homemade salty chicken broth with sweet bites of chopped carrots? That could get me through some terrible queasiness.

Medical Marijuana: (NB: I have not tried this because I am prone to anxiety, in the past marijuana has tended to bring out the paranoid in me, and I do not need more of that in my life.) I have heard though that medical marijuana can work wonders for spurring a person's appetite. I am in favor of whatever works so you can keep your strength through treatment.

***

If all else fails, remember this:

Cancer isn't everything. Even on post-treatment days when the nausea feels overwhelming, tomorrow will be better. #truth #optimism

A photo posted by Jen Campisano (@jencampisano) on Sep 9, 2015 at 12:01pm PDT

What are your go-to recipes when you're feeling hungover from treatment? Do you have any favorite cookbooks? What alternative solutions have you tried to ease your nausea (or other treatment-related side-effects)?

Around the Web: End of Summer Edition

Kids are back in school everywhere, it seems, based on all of the adorable Facebook posts of your kids holding signs about what grade they're entering. This is one of my favorite times of year on social media. Pumpkin patch season is next up, I think.

Anyway, here's my husband (a professor) with his take on the meme (and yes, this is how he typically dresses for work).

It's true: save for this weekend, summer's just about over (even if our thermostat begs to differ). And I owe you all some news. So here's the research I found around the web over the last couple of months. I wasn't just eating bonbons by the pool, you guys. Who am I kidding? I wasn't doing that at all, but a girl can dream.

Scientists Turn Cancer Cells Back to Normal, Could "Switch Off" Disease

WELL, THIS WOULD BE AMAZING. Clinical trials stat, please.

"For the first time, aggressive breast, lung and bladder cancer cells have been turned back into harmless benign cells by restoring the function which prevents them from multiplying excessively and forming dangerous growths.

Scientists at the Mayo Clinic in Florida in the U.S. said it was like applying the brakes to a speeding car.

So far it has only been tested on human cells in the lab, but the researchers are hopeful that the technique could one day be used to target tumours so that cancer could be “switched off” without the need for harsh chemotherapy or surgery."

No Surprise Here: Cancer Drugs Are Freaking Expensive

"[The report] goes on to matter-of-factly lay out the harsh financial realities many people face after a cancer diagnosis, a suite of diseases that will affect 1 in 3 individuals over their lifetime. While the cost of new drugs has soared to well over $100,000 a year, the out-of-pocket expenses patients are expected to bear have also gone up to 20 to 30 percent. Because of these costs, about 10% to 20% of patients with cancer do not take the prescribed treatment or compromise it."

So Here's to Generic Drugs!

"There's new evidence that two inexpensive generic drugs can improve survival rates for women who develop breast cancer after menopause.

In two large studies published Friday in The Lancet, a class of hormone-therapy drugs called aromatase inhibitors and bone-preserving drugs called bisphosphonates improved survival and recurrence rates in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer."

As if You Needed It: Another Reason to Quit Smoking

But none of my readers still smoke, right? 

"Among more than 800 women with breast cancer, those who had smoked for more than two decades had at least triple the odds of dying of any cause, or from breast cancer in particular, compared with women who never used cigarettes."

A "Glimmer of Hope" for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Patients

"Using mouse models of triple-negative breast cancer, the team reduced expression of IL13RA2 in cancer cells. They found that lowering IL13RA2 was associated with much slower tumor growth, and the cancer cells were much less likely to spread to the lungs.
Based on their findings, Thiagalingam and colleagues believe IL13RA2 plays a role in the growth and spread of triple-negative breast cancer, suggesting the molecule may be an important drug target for the disease. Thiagalingam adds:

"This discovery offers a glimmer of hope for patients stricken with BLBC. Personalized cancer therapies could be developed by targeting breast cancer cells that express copious levels of IL13RA2."

What is more, the researchers say their findings could lead to treatment strategies for other forms of cancer involving high IL13RA2 expression, such as ovarian, brain, colon and pancreatic cancers."

And More Options for Her-2+ Patients (Like Myself)

"Treatment-refractory HER2-positive metastatic breast cancers are becoming increasingly rare due to the recent advent of multitargeted HER2 receptor blockade mechanisms that utilize novel antibodies and antibody–drug conjugates even as the roster of new therapies under study for this patient population continues to expand, according to Mohammed Jahanzeb, MD.

“The landscape is really shifting,” said Jahanzeb, a breast and lung cancer expert.

Jahanzeb said many novel agents including antibody–drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies, and immunotherapies are being evaluated for patients with recurrent disease at a time when outcomes are improving. “The field is very rich,” he said. “Actually, what is not so rich is access to these patients [for clinical trials]. Luckily for them, fewer are relapsing.”"

Further Evidence that Our Immune Systems Have a Role to Play in Fighting Cancer

"A cancer patient's chances of survival seem to depend partly on activity in specific genes and immune system cells, a new study suggests.

Using data from nearly 18,000 people who were treated for cancer, scientists found that particular patterns of gene activity corresponded to patients' survival odds -- across a whole range of cancers, including brain, breast, colon and lung cancers."

Another Novel Approach? Overstimulate Certain Cancer Cells to Kill Them

This is not yet available in a clinical setting, but researchers are optimistic.

"A drug candidate that overstimulates proteins crucial for tumor growth shows promise as a new strategy to treat a wide range of cancers. The demands of rapid cell division put a strain on cancer cells, and the approach works by tipping cell stress over the edge. In the August 10 issue of Cancer Cell, American researchers show that the drug candidate inhibits tumor growth in a mouse model of breast cancer and efficiently kills a broad range of human cancer cells.

"No prior drug has been previously developed or proposed that actually stimulates an oncogene to promote therapy," says co-senior study author David Lonard of Baylor College of Medicine. "Our prototype drug works in multiple types of cancers and encourages us that this could be a more general addition to the cancer drug arsenal.""

Blood Test Could Predict Breast Cancer's Return

I'm not sure if I'd want this, for the same reasons I won't go see a psychic. Would you get the test?

"An experimental blood test may be able to predict whether a woman with breast cancer will suffer a relapse months before new tumors would be detectable on scans, researchers said Wednesday.

The technology, described in the journal Science Translational Medicine, works by detecting cancer DNA that circulates in the bloodstream.

While the test is not yet available to the public, and likely will not be for years to come, researchers are hopeful that it could help refine personalized treatments for cancer and perhaps lead scientists further down the path of finding a cure one day.

"We have shown how a simple blood test has the potential to accurately predict which patients will relapse from breast cancer, much earlier than we can currently," said study author Nicholas Turner, team leader in molecular oncology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London."

What I Wish I'd Known When I Was First Diagnosed

A few months ago, after being asked for the umpteenth time what advice I'd give to someone newly diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, I reached out to pose the question to the women in my online support groups.

I can never think of just one answer to this question. I say things like:

• Be your own advocate.
• Ask for help from those who love you. 
• Try to make the most of each day, even when you feel terrible. 

But it never feels like quite enough. So here's what other women who've been down this rough road have to say on the matter.

{photo credit}

Find support! Cancer is hard and stage 4 is even harder. I always suggest breastcancer.org. -- Jenny

Prioritize carefully. -- Jimmie 

I've been sitting here for 15 minutes, trying think of some all-encompassing wise thing to say, and I've got nothing. But I fully agree with "find support". I was completely unaware that groups like this existed for the first 8 months of my diagnosis. I wish I'd been able to connect with other stage IV women sooner! -- Marisa

I have nothing profound. I tell them: 1. Breathe 2. Worry when you have to 3. One day, one step at a time. -- Leslie

The only thing that I can think of is Do Not Stop living your life. What you loved doing before do it after the diagnosis. -- Chantal

get rid of drama (including people)....simplify.....and live your own truth, your way, in your time. This is no one else's life but yours. -- Lesley

Don't look at statistics, don't read negative stories. Everybody has their own race to run, and many of us live a long time with mets. Mine is liver and I'm 6 years and going strong. Not without some seriously rough patches - but you never know if you'll be in that category. Live your life, enjoy your days and try not to live in the future. -- Ann

Learn to advocate for yourself. -- Karen

Don't be afraid to ask your doctor to prescribe something for anxiety. The first few months are really hard. Allow yourself to grieve, but not forever. Surround yourself with people who lift you up and find things that make you happy. -- Donda

Something for anxiety AND a sleep aid. -- Susan

Each day is a gift no matter your circumstances. And really thinking that everyone is terminal in a sense helped me as well. No one really knows how long they have, no one! -- Emily

I always stress the second opinion and finding Doctors you have full confidence in. -- Colleen

Don't just try traditional medication. Go Asian, drink juice, exercise, and pray...pray like never before! -- Melanie

LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE, each and every day, I am. -- Theresa

Get copies of the pathology reports, join an online group such as this one, and ask how long people are surviving with this disease, particularly those with similar dx. You may be looking at several years rather than months. It took a long time to understand that at first. -- Theresa

Keep meticulous records of drugs & reactions. You may end up on the same drug again in the future. Always get a copy of your scans on a disk. Keep all reports, especially pathology! -- Lynn


The first year will most likely be the most difficult for acceptance/denial. Look into disability benefits early and start making fun plans! -- Bethany

There is life after the diagnosis, and it's possible to live a good life despite the prognosis. We are not a statistic, and don't ever think that you will fall into the stats. Day by day, moment by moment, relish it and enjoy the little things...always find a snippet to your day that brings a smile to your face. Cancer will not define me as a person, but it will enhance the way in which I choose to live. -- Judit

Ignore all statistics. I have been enjoying a good quality of life for 4 yrs, still working, traveling, having fun. Everyone has a different cancer journey. But, the first year is definitely the hardest! -- Donna

Mine to share would be to "Expectations breed limitations...be present!" Finding yourself and trusting yourself is very liberating. -- Wendy

You MUST be your own advocate. -- Jody

Be your own best advocate. Research, read and ASK QUESTIONS!! -- Tricia

I'd tell them it is not over. Keep going, keep getting out of bed everyday and trying. It is possible for women to live several years with Stage IV cancer. -- Jaymi

Absolutely be your own advocate AND remove all negative people from your life. -- MaryAnne

We never have another chance at today, so make the best of it! -- Catherine

I would recommend getting multiple opinions on route of treatment. It is hard to not want to rush into something, but a second opinion on how to get started can help set your mind at ease (I ended up waiting 4 months for a second opinion and wish I had done it at first). -- Mandi

LIVE every day! -- Kelly

Find a doctor you love and trust. It makes the ride less horrible. -- Beth

Get a therapist if you don't have one already. Metastatic disease takes you to dark places; you need someone who will not only go there with you, but who will remember to bring the flashlight so you can both come back again. -- Kathleen

Take a deep breath and a step back. Your life isn't over yet. Live each day to the fullest. If you can do a happy dance then DO IT WELL and if all you can do is lie and feel weak then it's time to read that book you've been meaning to or watching a good comedy. Get your paperwork in order but don't pay the undertaker just yet....you're probably going to be around much longer than what you think. -- Annelie

I would add to make sure you have a great support system around you. From family to friends to medical to other supports. -- Laura

Don't panic. -- Anne

BREATHE! -- Jessica

The State of My Eyebrows (with Video!)

I never imagined "eyebrows" would be on my birthday list, but there they are, staring me down as sure as age thirty-seven is just around the corner. Nope, I am not complaining. I am happy for every year of it, but it is downright weird to be approaching my late-thirties. I still feel like I should be in law school babysitting for people in their late-thirties in order to have some grocery money.

Yet here I am, thirty-seven on the horizon, and my eyebrow situation has not improved much over the last couple of years. Chris asked me -- over bath time for Quinn, which is when we have time to talk lately -- how much they cost.

"Between $200 and $500, depending on who you go with," I told him.

"I feel like tattoos on your face aren't exactly the time to go with the discount person," he reasoned. "Unless you're Mike Tyson."

True, but even at the costlier, fancier place, the thought of tattoos -- specifically tattoos on my face -- scares me. I'm scared of both the pain and the permanence. I mean, what if I don't like them? What if the artist has a muscle spasm mid-brow? What if I look surprised or angry or any number of emotions expressed by one's eyebrows for the rest of my life?

And then Quinn broke my train of thought and asked why I would need someone to put eyebrows on my face. I could feel the mood shift as Chris waited to see how I would answer.

"Because I had to have some really strong medicine that made all my hair fall out, and all of it grew back except my eyebrows," I explained.

Quinn's eyes grew even more huge as he blinked back shock and processed the idea of something so strong it could make your hair fall out, and I realized he has no recollection of that time in our lives. Most likely because I am light years behind on putting together any kinds of photo albums from his first four years. We don't spend our evenings flipping through and reinforcing memories the way I did with my mom when I was Quinn's age. This is one huge downfall of the digital age, I think, but that's a whole other blog post. 

Have I avoided it because I don't know how to talk to Quinn about cancer? I have a therapy appointment for that exact topic tomorrow. I will let you know how that goes (and whether I have any major breakthroughs because this is still my biggest hurdle, how to explain what I'm living with to my son.)

In any event, here is a little something about my eyebrow process each and every day. In a nutshell, this is why I'm considering tattoos. Have you done them? Considered them? Would you? Let me stop before this gets to Green Eggs and Ham territory. 

Products used in this video and/or products I've found useful:

Makeup Forever's Aquabrow

MAC's brow pencil in Lingering

Anastasia Beverly Hills' Brow Powder Duo

Angled Eyebrow Brush

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

Summer's are for leaving Phoenix as much as possible, it's true, but we are outdoing ourselves this year. Quinn is fond of saying we have to leave or we'll burn up (which might not be far off of the truth). One friend on Twitter asked me if I was moving based on this photo I posted about leaving northern California.

Flamingo Hotel (aka the Dirty Bird), Santa Rosa. Leaving town today and I'm not sure when we'll be back, which is weird for me... but must be completely surreal for my husband, who's called this town home for 34 years.

A photo posted by Jen Campisano (@jencampisano) on Aug 13, 2015 at 8:59am PDT

No, is the answer. We don't have any plans to move anytime soon. As much as I love northern California, we were there to say farewell to my husband's childhood home, not put down roots (although I have to say those Santa Rosa roots look good on us).

In Santa Rosa, we cried and reminisced and told stories about my mother-in-law's giant heart and proclivity for ice cream and possible hoarder tendencies. We hugged family and old family friends and I tried not to think of how many memorials I've attended in the last several years (too many). We packed up memories and memorabilia stored in a house full of love and a lot of pigs (we could have started a pig museum). We sent a few items with sentimental value home to Phoenix and helped Chris's brother get the house ready to be sold. We said good-bye.

Before Santa Rosa, Quinn and I traveled up to Seattle for some healing time in a place that always soothes my soul, with people who never fail to fill our hearts to overflowing. Chris had a work trip to Mexico so I took the opportunity to leave town as well. We hiked to a waterfall where Q accidentally took a dip in a creek and told me the water was "as cold as that time we went to the snow with Grandma Maryann!" How's that for the opposite of Phoenix?

We rode the ferry up to Vancouver Island, where we built castles out of shells and identified whale bones on the beach and made brownie sundaes with Chris's Aunt Kathie (who always knows how to cheer us up).

Photo taken by Quinn!

We went to the top of the Space Needle, and I fell in love with my home state all over again. I drank a lot of coffee (I've heard it's good for the liver). And we roasted marshmallows to make s'mores and celebrated my best friend Alana's birthday as she and I realized we've been leaning on each other and reading each other's minds for more than two decades now. 

I came home practically begging Chris for a place in Seattle (even despite this article). He said I just need to sell my book. I'm working on that. 

After a blissful week in the northwest and an emotional week in Santa Rosa, we drove south east, my husband tells me, to Sacramento for my college friends' reunion -- which this year included 25 of us, eleven of whom were preschoolers ranging in age from eleven months to five years old. It was blissful in its own way, filled with the giggles and cries and overall adorableness of children who are forging the next generation of friendships amongst my tribe. It's pretty special to see.

I've been absent here because I've been really present among some of my favorite people, something I've learned the importance of over and over again the past four years. There is nothing quite like bookending a memorial service for your mother-in-law with separate visits with your best friends and their children for helping your heart heal.

I am so lucky to have such special people in my life (and fortunate that I've been healthy enough and have the means to travel to see them). I hope I don't take that for granted. I hope you all know how much joy and peace and promise you bring to my life. Thanks a million times over for that.

We got home Sunday night, in time for me to return to reality (and chemo) yesterday. As I put it on one Instagram post, "Home from a beautiful, soul-restoring trip to California that broke our hearts and then mended them in the most beautiful way, surrounded by the love of family and friends who are basically family. We are so blessed."

And today, I got to see Quinn off to his first day of his last year of preschool. Maybe it's the steroids, but I was pretty choked up this morning. I am so grateful to be here, to witness this. Four years ago, when I was diagnosed (cancerversary coming up tomorrow), I didn't quite think it would be possible. I repeat: I am so very lucky.