Category Archives: Food

Give me FIVE!

Posted in Bumpboobs, Chemotherapy, Food, Treatment by

I’m now have eleven chemotherapy treatments done, which means FIVE treatments left, and THREE until I go to Canada.

My parents are rolling the ball in Canada, working things out on my behalf. We have to decide upon critical issues like when to put up the Christmas tree, who will decorate, and how many presents can fit into one stocking?

Essential matters.

Plus the OHIP (Ontario health care), scheduling, patient info and transferring of files – all that too.

But the ball is rolling.

Breaking news: my Swedish roots are abandoning me, instead I’m turning into a Monk. Zsolt was kind enough yesterday to point out that I have a ‘bald’ spot across the top of my head, with dark hair growing all around. MONK (also MANLY). Should I be embarrassed by this development? Well, maybe if the hair grows out an inch or so and the top is still shiny. . . then I’ll wear a hat. Meanwhile I’m simply glad to see it growing.

Breaking news part two: My weight is back to pre-chemotherapy measurements. Ever since Paclitaxel started I’ve been slowly putting the pounds back onto my shrunken frame. My rib cage is less pronounced, and I feel a tad more womanly. Meanwhile, the other side of my head is saying, “Alright lady, that’s enough with the weight gaining, time to slow down.”

But Christmas is coming, which means good food –plenty of good food. So whatever. Now is not the time to worry over weight (though that doesn’t mean I won’t worry, because it’s compulsive – BUT I know I’m being an idiot). Beside, who can say no to gingerbread cookies, and stuffing, and turkey, and mashed potatoes, and cheesecake, and baked filo wraps, and hot chocolate, and this and that, and all the goodies I’ll soon be eating.

Right. Twelve down (as of tomorrow), and four left.

This is progress.

PS. Today is my Name Day. Happy Name Day to all Catherines everywhere!

PPS. My big toes are starting to have a slight tingle. I’m not too happy about this, but it is still quite slight.

I just love food

Posted in Bumpboobs, Chemotherapy, Food, Treatment by

Yesterday morning a large package arrived to my door. “Sign here.” And in comes a very cold box.  This wasn’t a total surprise (I’d been told two days before to expect the delivery), but it was a total pleasure. My cousin Luc and his wife Marie Claude decided to gift Zsolt and I with a substantial delivery of frozen food.

A couple weeks ago, Zsolt and I started to buy premade meals to help reduce the stress of cooking (after I had my little breakdown). Waitrose provides a decent line of frozen food, but you really need to pick and choose – some stuff is okay, other things are dreadful. Honestly, I’m a bit, hmm  . . . . selective in terms of food because I grew up in a household that only cooked from fresh ingredients and didn’t often turn to ready meals.

But yesterday’s delivery was from Cook. Have you heard of them? They’re a company that promotes ‘home cooked’ style meals that are easy to warm up and serve. All these ingredients are fresh and they seem to take care in creating their menu. Zsolt and I had wandered into their shop a long time back and were impressed then, so when the box arrived full of meals I was totally excited.

Opening the package there were curries and pies and lasagnes and desserts and all sorts of goodness.  And, amazingly, they all fit into our tiny freezer!

Today we baked the pork stroganoff, which was creamy and full of flavour (an area where many, many frozen meals fail). Zsolt ate a man’s share, and I ate a lady’s (See picture, it might not look too pretty after being mixed in with the pasta, but it still tasted nice!)

Merci Luc et Marie-Claude pour la bonne nourriture!

Plus, as icing to this happy cake – Denise just stopped by with some freshly baked pumpkin bread, candy, and cream cheese. The bread has a lovely smell and as soon as I’m done this blog I’ll be cutting a slice. I’m on a photo kick, so I’ll take another picture right now. (Pumpkin carved by Zsolt and I!)

I love food – but even better, I love good food.  It seems that without a costume or actually leaving my flat, I’m still managing to rack in the treats. This is one excellent Halloween.

🙂  Thank you so much.

Orange slices for chemo

Posted in Bumpboobs, Chemotherapy, Food by

This deserves its own quick post. Here’s a tip for chemotherapy: It can be a nerve racking process, so if you need an outlet for your energy may I kindly suggest orange slices?


The idea was developed by my scientist husband in our kitchen lab while I was going through my vomiting spree. I couldn’t drink my Avemar without throwing it all back up; the taste becomes quite unpleasant (terrible) after hard core chemo.  BUT it’s been shown to help, so what’s to be done?

Zsolt’s answer: Slice oranges.

After drinking the Avemar I immediately bite into an orange (think tequilla shot but orange instead of lemon) and gargle/spit the juice. This really helps with the aftertaste.

Also, the chemo was causing me to have superhuman smelling power – making trips to the hospital really difficult. How to cope: open that bag of oranges and start chewing. So what if the juice runs down my chin? So what if I smile at everyone with the peel in my mouth?

So what?

They probably call me the Orange Girl, because whenever it’s blood or chemo time I’m always in the waiting room chewing on the orange slices – I see them staring! And oranges smell too, only good. Citrusy. Hopefully I’m not making anyone nauseas.

Therefore, I’d like to award a gold star to Zsolt for his ingenious solution to my problem. Orange slices. Give them a try. (Bring tissues for the juice!)