Lessons Learned & Learning 8: 240 Days of Maintenance

Chemo Edition #4

My 30-day maintenance update is here:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1176760-lessons-learned-learning-first-30-days-of-maintenance
60-day update:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1202553-lessons-learned-learning-2-60-days-of-maintenance
90-day update:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1228283-lessons-learned-learning-3-90-days-of-maintenance
120-day upate:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1253362-lessons-learned-learning-4-120-days-of-maintenance
150-day update:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1290642-lessons-learned-learning-5-150-days-of-maintenance
180-day update:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1321007-lessons-learned-learning-6-180-days-of-maintenance
210-day update:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1356923-lessons-learned-learning-7-210-days-of-maintenance

My eighth 30 days looked like this:


Here's how the eight 30-day periods compare:


Weight: I had reached my goal weight of 150 lbs. on Dec. 17, 2013. According to MFP, that would place my net calories at 1600 for maintenance.

This latest 30-day period includes my switch on July 31 from Adriamycin/Cytoxan to Taxol in my chemo infusions. As a result, my weight had not been as extreme as during days 180-210. Between days 211-240, it ranged from 146.5 (July 25 and 29) to 152.5 (July 15). My average weight was 148.9. Average weight through maintenance continues to be pretty rock solid.

Exercise Calories Burned: I took 1 rest day (0 calories burned) during maintenance days 211-240, compared with 2 rest days during maintenance days 181-210, 1 rest day over days 151-180, 3 rest days over days 121-150, 5 rest days over days 91-120, 3 rest days over days 61-90, 4 rest days over days 31-60, and 2 rest days over days 1-30. My rest day for this period was July 31, the day of my first Taxol infusion.

Unlike with A/C, I was able to exercise on the day of my second Taxol infusion (and, outside the range of this period, also on maintenance day 241, the day of my third Taxol infusion). My intensity was reduced, but still comparable to some exercise sessions prior to chemo.

My average exercise calories burned for this period (including my rest days) equaled 415/day, the highest of any 30-day maintenance period thus far and the second consecutive record breaker. This period also featured the smallest range of calorie burn for exercise days, from 366 (August 7, the day of my second Taxol infusion) to 466 (four days later).

Total and Net Calories Consumed: Total calories for maintenance days 211-240 averaged 1881/day and ranged from 1617 (August 8, the day after my second Taxol infusion) to 2254 (July 27, four days before my first Taxol infusion). Net calories (total calories minus exercise calories burned) averaged 1466/day (91.6 percent of maintenance) and ranged from 1169 (August 8) to 1791 (July 27).

I suspect my calorie count has dropped during this period because I've been eating more water-rich foods. I recently joined a chemical-free local farmer's market and have been blissing out on some terrific veggies, with much consumption of gazpacho. The only downside is that it fills me up, so I need to balance it with more calorie-dense foods.



My recipe is very simple compared to most:
1. Lemon juice to taste (I don't measure; probably 3-4 tablespoons)
2. One slicing tomato
3. 3 garlic cloves
4. One cucumber
5. One bell pepper. I've used red, green, and yellow. This soup uses red.
That's it, in the order in which I add the ingredients to my blender. Yields about 5.25 cups (1.25 liters).

Cancer Update: With one exception, my side effects have decreased across the board since I was switched to Taxol. The exception is edema, which remains mild -- my calf has held steady at a half-inch above baseline, while the arch of my foot has remained steady at a quarter-inch above baseline. I experience no discomfort there, just note the increase in girth. I now receive chemo once a week (as opposed to once every three weeks with A/C), so this might be a steady state for the duration.

My fatigue and metallic "chemo mouth" have decreased, though are still present. (One of Taxol's pre-meds is Benadryl, so infusion days come with a nap.) I now experience no nausea, but have some mild abdominal cramping during the day of infusion and the day after.

The neuropathy I had felt with A/C is now gone, which is interesting because peripheral neuropathy is a well-known side effect of Taxol. My neuropathy did not occur in my hands and feet, however, but at the site of an old injury. It vanished between my fourth A/C infusion and my start on Taxol, which makes me think that the culprit here had been the steroid I'd been given (Decadron). My steroid dose had been halved (for a different reason) beginning with my fourth and final A/C infusion.

Prilosec continues to relieve my heartburn. In addition to that pill, I am now given Pepcid by IV as part of my pre-meds, since Taxol can cause stomach upset. Pre-meds also include the anti-nausea med Aloxi, but I no longer need to take the anti-nausea pill Emend. I also no longer need to receive Neulasta shots to rebuild my immunity, although my immunity is still compromised by chemo. The drops are just not as precipitous.

With two out of 12 Taxol infusions under my belt, my meditation doodles changed to Chemo Countdown doodles. I posted this after my Aug. 7 infusion:


Large view: https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5563/14863365365_46c03e63a7_o.jpg

Now that I've had three infusions (the third on maintenance day 241), the countdown drops to nine:


Large view: https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3854/14732793457_3ef59863d1_o.jpg

My breast cancer support group has been on hiatus for the summer. My photo, taken at the June meeting, appears in the latest newsletter:



I'm holding my fabulous chemo port/breast surgery pillow from Hello Courage (http://www.hellocourage.com/products/breast-surgery-pillow-for-the-car"). Am looking forward to reconnecting next month!