Small Bites

It is important to do whatever it takes to combat nausea and get nutrition into the body during kemo. In this video Kemo shows how small bites can get one through a meal. Do take a a minute to watch ! ;-)

Be Kind to Kemo Stomach!

The kemo stomach is not a happy stomach, and although it tries to be stoic and not complain too much, it sometimes can't keep quiet.  The stomach and digestive tract "takes one for the team" during kemo.  Those chemicals that are bad for fast growing cancer cells are also bad for fast growing cells in the digestive system and stomach cells are the collateral damage in the cancer wars.  The more treatments you have, the more unhappy the stomach gets.  So here are some recipes I found that might make life a little easier for the heroic kemo stomach!

 Banana Shake--super easy, used in a hospital
 Citrus Rice Pudding from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute  Why does rice pudding seem like the ultimate comfort food?
A half dozen ginger recipes, including Carrot Ginger Soup, from the Prostate Cancer Foundation
Finally, here is the recipe I found for a Kemo Smoothie by Unknownchef86.  I could imagine adding ginger to this as well.  Maybe a 2-3 TBS of fresh or 2-3 tsp of ground ginger.  I think ginger added to this would be especially good if the fruit were berries or peaches.

• 1 (12 1/3 ounce) package tofu (I like Mori-Nu Extra-Firm Silken Tofu)
• 2-4 scoops protein powder
• unsweetened fresh fruit or unsweetened frozen fruit, to taste (bananas, berries, peaches, etc.)
• whole milk, as needed
• 1 quart yogurt, any flavor (berry flavors work well)

Run the tofu through blender til smooth, adding milk as needed to thin.
Add the protein powder and fruit to the blender, scraping down sides as needed.
Frozen fruit may be added to thicken (like ice) without substantially watering down the mixture.
Add more milk to thin, as needed.Add the yogurt into the blender and thin to taste with more milk.
Pour into individual drink containers, or leave in the blender pitcher and store in the refrigerator. 
Only make as much as you need for one or two days; make a fresh batch as needed.

Cancer Cells on the Run

Just remember Kathy, if you don't feel good neither do those @#$%& cancer cells.  You've got them on the run for sure. 









Thanks to lüke's photostream on flickr for the image. 

Kemo Number Three...

...with a Curriculum Committee meeting chaser!
Yes, you read that right.  Kathy had her three hour infusion and then came to school to chair a Curriculum Committee meeting! Tuesday she and Melissa had a marathon session working on the P.E. curriculum changes that will be coming before the committee soon.  Melissa was begging for mercy, but Kathy just wanted to keep going ;-)
That is the kind of strength it takes to kick Mr. Cancer in his fancy pants and send him scurrying for cover.  You know, maybe curriculum work has some kind of curative power.  I know there are faculty who run for cover when they hear the C word (curriculum I mean!).  Maybe it will have the same effect on those cancer cells.

It will probably be a less than pleasant weekend for Kathy as she deals with the queasiness, chemo-fog and fatigue from the kemo.  Let's send her and her family good vibes for this third round of the fight.  We're all out here cheering for you Kathy!

I Love NPR

I saw this article back in December and saved the link. This is the greatest story! I so admire this woman's sense of humor and comic talent even in the face of @#$%&ing cancer!  Be sure to check out her website to see all the funny t-shirt slogans.  Here is one example in case you need motivation to click on the links above!

Headwear Adventures

One of the benefits of following this blog is that you can learn new ways to use a scarf as an accessory! I love youtube and I have found a few video lessons on using scarves as head covers. Kathy learned from a class at the cancer resource center and got a chance to practice with a "coach." The rest of us will have to use youtube and our "life long learning skills." So if you have a flair for the dramatic, (come on, you know you secretly do!) find that scarf you never knew what to do with and follow along with these video clips!





The following video is the first in a series called Pink Renegades. They probably deserve their own post because they look VERY informative and inspiring, but here is the first one.

Suggestions Galore!

Click Here to read But Dr. I Hate Pink's tips for avoiding kemo side effects.  I really like her blogging style--funny and irreverent enough that she had to write a post telling people to go away if they don't like cancer jokes!  As I was browsing her blog, I found this guest post of hers on a breast cancer ezine called Join our Loop. Meanwhile, ChemoBabe has posted about how to How to Talk to a ChemoBabe with some insights into what she is feeling like.  Everyone's reaction to the treatment is different, but I thought these were good tips for people about what a cancer asskicker might be experiencing.

To read other cancer blogs and links, please take a look at the sidebar on the right.  You probably will have to scroll down to see them.  If you find something you think I should include, please let me know in a comment and I will post it.