My sister - blood transfusion and first dose of chemotherapy

samchaney · Regular Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 39

Saw my sister today aft er her having blood transfusion and first treatment of chemotherapy. She has a real croaky throat and feels very shakey and has been very sick. She seems to look worse. I am wondering if she should be having chemotherapy as she seems so weak. She says she is having one more dose next week, then a break of a week, then a further dose. Is this palliative chemotherapy as she is Stage IV Lung Cancer. Apparently the hospice nurse came round today, but she was out shopping.

I asked my sister what the hospice nurse was coming round for and she said "to talk about dying". My sister seems so calm. The last time I saw her I made her a lovely roast dinner (she has an eating disorder) so I was pleased she was eating something. Apparently the next day she was violently sick.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1265

Oh Sam!

I don't think it is your cooking that made her ill!! What a thoughtful and loving brother you are for her. I'm sure she is ill from the chemo and she may want to have her medication checked or switched to something that will control the nausea/vomiting better.

Sometimes chemo does have the effect of making you look and feel worse before it takes hold and starts to reduce the cancer. It's tough because she was so weak when she started. I'm sorry. Yes, this is palliative chemo because lung cancer at stage IV is rarely curable. They treat with the intent to extend her life. It's all the same drugs and protocols that are used for earlier stage cancer, but with a different set of expectations for the outcome.

It sounds like discussions about post-treatment have taken place already if a Hospice care worker is coming to talk with her. Typically hospice will not be involved if a patient is currently undergoing treatment. She may be calm because she has accepted her diagnosis. That's is good for her to have this peace of mind. I'm glad to hear she was out shopping! That's a great sign.

Hang in there Sam -- sounds like she's doing as okay as can be hoped for while undergoing chemo. God love you for trying to fatten her up a little too!

PBJ
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Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

NewlyWedWife

My Husband's first Chemo Treatment did not go well, we had to rush him back to the Oncologist 3 days later to receive anti-nausau medication via IV due to waking up at midnight and being sick for 18hours, we soon learned that taking the nausau med prior to feeling the symptoms was definately the way to go.

Since he's had 3 Chemo sessions and his 4th is tomorrow, and the first few times they had to tweek his meds to see what worked best for him, now he for the most part is not throwing up, but still feeling a little whoozie, usually from th 4-6 day after, then day 7 he sleeps nonstop.
In the week prior to the chemo he gets very little sleep, usually about 3 hours a night, but I'm constantly making sure he naps and eats well.

I also found that it helped the doctor that I log his symptoms daily. This allowed them to see what effect and how to tweek. There is still some issues, but it's not as bad as being violently ill for 18hours.
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Believe
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Husband has Lung Cancer & Brain Tumor NSCLC Stage IV
Diagnosed Mar 2008
37 Yrs Old
Smoker 15 years
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My story thus far: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9545
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Current treatments & Meds:
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9550

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