Hi all
I'm off on holiday tonight for a week, spoke to mum last night and she seems fine but not really looking forward to starting chemotherapy. This isn't happening straight away now though as she has an infection under her arm where her lymph nodes were removed and they can't start chemo until that's cleared up. So she's on some strong antibiotics and may not start the first cycle of chemo until after I'm back.
I'm not much the wiser but Mum doesn't really know what to expect in terms of what she will be able to do and how she will feel during the chemotherapy. I told her that everyone reacts differently and it's impossible to tell exactly how she might feel. Also I don't know exactly which drugs she will be on, but if anyone there could let me know how they felt and how it affected, or is affecting them, I'd be really interested to know and talk to Mum about it after I get back.
In the meantime though I'll be speeding down the slopes (fairly carefully) by day, and speeding down to the bar (somewhat recklessly) for the apres ski by night. I hope to come back intact.
I look forward to reading your replies when I log on again on the 10th March.
Dave
FormerMember
Hi Dave,
I hope you had great snow and trust you have returned in one piece.
As you say, everyone is different but I will tell you about my experience and maybe it will give you a little idea.
I was 48, had a mastectomy and lymph nodes removed. I went onto a cocktail known as FEC. As soon as it was administered I would feel as tho I had had a few drinks on an empty stomach. I went strait home to bed where I stayed for 24 hours, just trying to sleep and rest. I normally threw up a little about 8 hours later. The following day I would get up about mid afternoon, watch a bit of t.v. and go back to bed by 9. Next day I would be up pottering and resting all day. Then back to work till the next round three weeks later. I kept my self busy/occupied to help the time go by quickly and also to stop me from worrying about what was happening to me. My hair fell out after the 2nd round. I got a muslim prayer cap (from the internet) as I did'nt like the chemo scarves, and didn't find the wigs very comfy. The prayer caps great for keeping your head warm at night as well. At first my anti sick meds did not agree with me so I got them changed and all went on ok.
I hope your mum has recovered from her infection and is ready for her chemo. Please give her my love and best wishes. Take care
Seems to depend very much upon the drug. I had Cisplatin, which made me feel sick within hours, and for the next six weeks, like a zombie. Getting out of bed every day to go for radiotherapy took enormous mental effort. I think you should make sure your mum has someone to make good nourishing food. It also did terrifing things (fortunately temporary) to my brain cells and I found I lacked concentration. Please give your mum my best wishes.
I spoke to Mum briefly yesterday, she wasn't feeling very well so spoke to my Dad mostly.
Chemo began last Thursday and she will go back every three weeks for 18 weeks. I don't know which drug(s) she is on but, I think good news is that the cancer is the hormone type so she will be able to have one of those drugs (Herceptin, Tamoxifen?) after the chemo has finished which might delay or prevent it coming back.
Anyway, Mum has been very sick since Thursday and will be calling the hospital today, maybe to try differrent anti sick meds (thanks for that tip Debbie) and hopefully will be feeling better in the next few days.
I haven't discussed the hair loss issue with her though that may be one for my sisters to deal with better than me, I'm losing my hair naturally!
Mum is due to come down to London next month to see KT Tunstall (I bought her a ticket for her birthday before she was diagnosed) and if I've got my dates right this will be just over two weeks after a session of chemo and just under a week before the next one. I'm hoping this is the best time and that she will be well enough to come and visit and go into crowds at the concert and on the tube, fingers crossed.
Oh and the skiing was great, lots of good snow and didn't fall over very much. My knees are now a bit stiff.
lets hope your Mum feels well enough to go, i don't go out an awful lot but when i do i usually enjoy it very much. love the bit about your hair falling out naturally Dave, that made me grin! and just to let you know, my knees are stiff as well but thats Arimidex!!!!! skiing is a no goer for me now due to the type of recon i had!
on a more serious note, Penny is so right on the need for good nourishment, that can be so important to help maintain a good immune system, i reviewed a DVD for the Macmillian quite recently its called "Turning it Around: cancer and nutrition" if you ring the Macmillian they might send you a copy, if not, let me know and i can send my copy to your offices for you, the DVD even has a section were a cheif actually shows you how to prepare the meals, its excellent.
hey! i hope your mum is feeling better? chemo is the devil!! but it wrks..
anyway, Im not sure if this is any help, but Cyclizine (i think thats spelt correctly) worked very well taken three times a day (i think) and Ondansatron (my hospital was rather reluctant to handout) but it was amazing! i would feel seriously sick, and within minutes of taking it, it would be fine. my chemo involved a regimen called BEP, which was bleomycin, etopside and cisplatin. as penny said, cisplatin makes you very sick! do you have any idea what chemo your mum has yet?
oh.. and a cup of tea, hot and sweet made me feel tons better.. the smell of coffee didnt (eww)
