My appointment with the doctor.
By marguicha
@marguicha (222976)
Chile
July 27, 2011 8:55pm CST
Today I went to the doctor´s appointment previous to my next chemo. The bad part was that my defenses were too low so she preferred to wait another week for the next one.
But the good news were that the bone marrow biopsies came out good. That means that, statistically talking, my illness has a much better prognosis than if the bone marrow had been involved. That was such a good new that the fall of my hair did not hinder my happiness.
I started to think how to help keep defenses up as I have never had this problem, so I decided to eat a good dinner instead of tea and eat something with tea or a coffee with milk later at night. There are many times, specially when I´m alone, that I don´t eat much at night because I´m not that hungry and I don´t bother to prepare something more difficult.
Do you know how to build up defenses so you might help me with ideas? Share!
5 people like this
15 responses
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
29 Jul 11
It is perfectly natural for your defenses to be down following chemo. Since all fast growing cells are affected by it, all blood cells (including the white blood cells that protect against infections) will be decreased. Although it wasn't a problem this time, the first time I had cancer there were times when I did have to delay treatment for a week due to low blood counts. If you are eating a healthy diet, you should be ok. If you don't feel like eating a meal, perhaps you can put some fruit or something into a blender and make a shake to drink and include some extra supplements or protein. I don't know if that will help, but it can't hurt to try. Have a great weekend!!!
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
30 Jul 11
I know that there are medications that will help get various blood counts back up, but I think they prefer to delay treatment for a week unless the counts are really bad. This may not be the case, but it seems like in my case that is what happened. I'm glad your appetite is very good. I hope that your mouth sore isn't too bad. Are you doing anything for it? I've heard that sometimes gargling with salt water might help with that. Fish sounds great! I hope all goes well for you!
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
6 Aug 11
I'm glad you were able to find something to do to occupy your time. I do sometimes work on my cross-stitch project, but not very often. My latest activity has been volunteering for the Red Cross. I did that for about 6 years before I went to China for the first time and it was something I did actively during my last bout with cancer. Sometimes we forget the simple solutions because everything today is so complicated. I take it that the salt water helped? Have a great weekend!!!
@marguicha (222976)
• Chile
6 Aug 11
Hi Deb,
I finished my 2nd chemo yesterday with no difficult side effects. The sore is slowly going away as the defenses went up a bit. I suppose they´lll go down again after this second chemo.
I have been lucky as to have friends come to stay with me in both days this second round. We have talked, seen TV (very important now as there´s is a big student problem going on in my country) and knitted. I´m becoming an expert on knitted caps and I already have 2 petitions from my friends t make some for them.
Thanks for the ides of the salt water. My father used to do it but I had forgotten this very old way of healing.
Thanks for the ides of the salt water. My father used to do it but I had forgotten this very old way of healing.1 person likes this
@jak2010 (1550)
• Papua New Guinea
29 Jul 11
My friend first, it is goodnews you expressed to us of the day with the doctor. As we always tell and will continue to that is, positive thing and will power to get well and overcome those barriers, and you have that, we know. How? as you expressed it to us in mylot. Nobody would do that and you are a courgaeous person to do that. We are all with you morally and in prayers. Also have in God who is the source of all life and who can make miracles. I know you are closer to God now and keep faith in him. For the defence, I do not know, but do think those basic food, like veges, eggs, fish, fruits etc. Keep hope. God be with you.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (222976)
• Chile
29 Jul 11
Thanks, jak! I´m very happy about the outcome of my bone marrow biopsy. ven If it doesn´t mean the battle is won, it does mean the enemy is nt as bad.
I wiññ spend my day tomorroe knitting as on Saturday a friend of mine will cut my hair if there is still any to cut
@jak2010 (1550)
• Papua New Guinea
29 Jul 11
Yes, I know, the battle is there, but now you know the strength of the enemy so you work around it, we knou what it means with this enemy, but we know too that you can find strength to fight it. I am happy hear that you find time to knit and put posts up for us in mylot and still smiling. God be your protector and guide this time. Cheers My friend.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
29 Jul 11
Sorry to hear that you are going thru this right now. From someone who has a lot of issues herself right now Health wise I can relate some days with not wanting to eat too much, but then getting good News and almost feeling like Celebrating a little. I am not sure what you can do except for eat foods that might help build up your defenses a little more, and keep positive about things as a whole. You will be in my thoughts and Prayers.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
3 Aug 11
Hello my dear friend Marguicha. I suggest you eat lots of vegetables and the best ones are those you have grown yourself. It would help your defences if you eat salad once a day. You might like to try drinking herbal tea. You should make sure you are getting enough Iron in your diet. Good luck, Hug.
@marguicha (222976)
• Chile
6 Aug 11
Hi Maxine,
I´m eating lots of veggies, specially since you need mor fiber with chemo. I have the good fortune of being able to eat raw veggies from my garden and I buy those veggies that I can eat cooked. In my country we have a wide varity of veggies year around and they are not expensive, but I must cook the ones that could have pesticides on them.
@sreesai (215)
• India
29 Jul 11
Hi mariguicha,
I never meet good friend like you. I felt bad about the illness you have. I will surely pray for all the good you to have. My sister's mother-in-law has same illness but to different organ. she lost hair once and now her hair was back again. Don't worry about hair, it will be back again. And she was told not to take any sort of milk products, avoid sugar and mainly avoid depression. Now she is fine and back to normal. And I hope and pray to God to give you good health.
@marguicha (222976)
• Chile
30 Jul 11
I am trying not to worry too much about my illness. I´m doing all I can to be cheerful. I have been to things that are a lot worse than having cancer. I feel this is just part of life and we´ll have to see the outcome of it. If was a lot more painful when my husband and my grandson were ill. THAT was pain!
@sreesai (215)
• India
30 Jul 11
Hi mariguicha,
Yes,I agree with you. I watch my mother and grandmother always care about all the family members health not thinking about their health, but I feel very bad when their health is not good. I said this because, if you are happy and healthy your husband and grandson will be happy and will recover soon. Be stress free, it is the root cause of everything. Good day friend.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
28 Jul 11
hello, I practice alternative medicine but I confine it only within my family, I only suggest when people voluntarily ask me to, and since you asked
, I would suggest spirulina http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/spirulina-000327.htm since you are already undergoing treatment, ask your doctor first if there are no contra indications when taking any form of dietary supplement, again best of luck and god bless
, I would suggest spirulina http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/spirulina-000327.htm since you are already undergoing treatment, ask your doctor first if there are no contra indications when taking any form of dietary supplement, again best of luck and god bless
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
28 Jul 11
oh before I forget, agaricus blazei mushrooms also show promise but then again ask your doctor first before taking any food supplement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agaricus_subrufescens
@marguicha (222976)
• Chile
28 Jul 11
My doctor specifically forbid ny kind of mushrooms, proccesed cheeses that are made with fungi or even probiotic dietary suplements. I think that it´s a way of taking care of my intestines linings. Itñs a pity because mushrooms and cheeses were part of my diet before this.
@tarachand (3895)
• India
28 Jul 11
I think the best way to built up defenses is to make yourself strong emotionally. Don't dwell on the fact that you have cancer - consider your illness as one more of the few discomforts that life has for you. Beat the challenge that fortune has thrown your way!
As far as a diet is concerned, eat what your doctors recommend, even if you don't like it, or don't feel like eating. Fight the sickness as best as you can - don't let it win over you - one of the first steps towards victory is eating even if the sickness doesn't allow you or want you to.
Best wishes from a cancer survivor (I) to one who is cancer afflicted (you) - Beat the disease and join our ever growing numbers of cancer survivors!
@marguicha (222976)
• Chile
28 Jul 11
I agree with you and I´m treating my illnes as it is: another illness. I feel that I´m a person, not a patient.
Fortunatly my apetite is good. I have a sore in my mouth that is due to my lack of defenses, so I´m making soft cakes at home and eating them with homemade jams.
It seems that I will have to eat more veggies. It´s not so easy in Winter: they are not so good. But I´ll try.
I´m happy for you that you beat it. I´m sure I´m too tough a witch to let it win.
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
28 Jul 11
Hi, marguicha I would recommend lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, but also good quality fats. Avocados and virgin olive oil have good fats, and fresh olives, if you can get them..and why not try coconut oil - preferably organic..
It can be good to eat sauerkraut and other veggies that are fermented to help to get the right bacteria into your digestion system.
Better times are ahead!! 
I would recommend lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, but also good quality fats. Avocados and virgin olive oil have good fats, and fresh olives, if you can get them..and why not try coconut oil - preferably organic..
It can be good to eat sauerkraut and other veggies that are fermented to help to get the right bacteria into your digestion system.
Better times are ahead!! @marguicha (222976)
• Chile
29 Jul 11
I just bought an avcado. The doctors have forbidden me to eat fermented food.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
28 Jul 11
eat as much organic as you can get, the pesticides in regular food helps to poison your body. Take vitamins and minerals in pill form and eat every 3 to 4 hours even if it's just a bite or two. Look on the Internet for a diet meant just fo those on Chemo. I'm so glad you news was good, it makes the bad things easier to take. Blessings
@marguicha (222976)
• Chile
29 Jul 11
All the raw veggies I eat come from my own garden and are wholly organic. No pesticides and I only use drinking water for them. I use just enough, so as to save water, but they are very clean.
@marguicha (222976)
• Chile
29 Jul 11
Thanks, friend. I´m very happy with the result of the biopsy. As for the loss of hair, I´m already knitting a nice cap.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
28 Jul 11
I am probably not the best person to give nutritional advice although I would imagine lots of fresh fruit and vegetable would be good to raise the immune system. I wanted to respond to your post to let you know that I am really happy things are going as well as they should and that your spirits are up. You’re doing great marguicha, keep up the good work. Here’s to your health…
@marguicha (222976)
• Chile
28 Jul 11
Thanks, friend. I´ll start today with little glasses of raw carrot and orange juice.
And I could eat more green veggies: my garden in behaving very well as I covered the plats from frost.
I´ll see if today I can start my caps. And this weekend, one of my friends will take me to a hairdresser to have my hair cut short.
@alottodo (3056)
• Australia
28 Jul 11
Hi there marguicha I Am happy to hear your bone marrow biopsies came out good that to me is a mayor cause to celebrate!the best way to help your defenses is to eat right which you already do...try organic produce as much as you can and plenty of green vegies and also the ones with deep pigmentation...like carrots,pumpkin,red capsicums,beetroots, and for fruits go for what ever you like! take care.
@marguicha (222976)
• Chile
29 Jul 11
I bought some beets at the super. I love them. I also bought some fish and an avocado. I´m trying to eat as best as possible.
@marguicha (222976)
• Chile
29 Jul 11
I go when I have an appointment. Then I must go if I want the government insurance to work. Every dose of chemo is over $2500. I get it free. I also get free the nurses, doctors, and all the checkings needed.
As you see, it´s not a question of wanting to go to the hospital. I´m getting as good a care as if I was at the Mayo clinic. And free.
@astroversion (210)
• Philippines
29 Jul 11
Hi marguicha.
I read this article about broccoli and cruciferous vegetables sometime ago. I was amazed that this vegetable I despise because of the taste is very helpful for conditions just like yours. Just research further on this or better yet ask your doctor how she recommends this vegetables regarding your diet plan.
@marguicha (222976)
• Chile
29 Jul 11
I will check on veggies and fruits. I bought some kiwis and avocados at the super and a lot of veggies to eat cooked. I have raw veggies from my wn garden and they are wholly organic.
@zerd87 (301)
• Philippines
28 Jul 11
You may eat fruits and vegetables that's what the doctor always recommend. Do some exercise also if you can tolerate. Do some happy moments with your family. Laughing will also helps in building up your defenses. and don't forget to always pray to God. Get well soon. God bless.
@marguicha (222976)
• Chile
28 Jul 11
I will eat mor veggies although I´m eating a lot. I am doing as much exercise as I can. But for some reason, after doing something I become exhausted and I have to le down for a while.
