Mom's 2nd round of chemo, first week of radiation.

Rmy953 · Regular Joined: 08 Sep 2009 Posts: 13

77 years young with Stage 1 lung cancer and just finished 2 rounds of 18 treatments of chemo; taxotere/carboplatin. She is receiving chemo once a week for 3 weeks, one week off. Radiation every day. After chemo she is almost manic hyper for a few days and then we are discovering that by week's end she has diarreha and total zap of energy. She felt so bad yesterday that I couldn't get her to radiation. We are so fortunate that we found it at Stage 1, although she cannot have surgery. Any suggestions on how to make her comfortable during the end of the week? Thank you all so much.

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dano

Rmy
Sorry to here all the your mother is going through, how is her attitude through all this, I hope this is as bad it gets for her. Refining treatment takes a while. Are you keeping the oncologist informed about what is going on with the diarrhea? My wife call and let them know how I was feeling and sometimes they would call in for new drugs to stop those negative side effects, no need to wait for the next appointment.
Dan
_________________
55 year old male, Diagnosed Nov. 9,2007 with NSCLC IV with Mets to the lymphs and brain
Had full brain radiation treatment in Jan 08 treatments now every 4 weeks with Alimta, taking Lovenox for blood clots, Now working full time
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9993

Rmy953 · Regular Joined: 08 Sep 2009 Posts: 13

Thank you, Dan! We have been hesitant to call with every little thing but after your post, I will definitely call them when something changes with her or gets worse. Her attitude is fair. She is normally an upbeat and positive person. I see her trying hard to remain that way. Chemo went fine yesterday. They did scans at radiation so I'm assuming we'll hear about them. I ask for a printout of her bloodwork every chemo visit. Today at rad they gave her a printout of caloric shakes using protein powder. Anyone have experience with those shakes? She is pretty nauseas but no vomiting. Of course she loves high fat foods! Thanks to everyone.

dano

Hi Rmy; I wish everybody had a responsive oncologist as I do, I would say that because she is a lady she may be more compassionate and she is Asian, but her new assistant is a women and replaces her when she works at the hospital, is the opposite, and pretty cold. But they always told me that if there is any change to let them know. And they were always responsive. But every doctors has their own style, you have to learn to get their best. This is hard for most to do, But during my visits with the doc and she walks into the room and greats me and asks me how I'm doing I smile and say I'm great, how are you doing? She has to think about it every time and smile back. Then I'll ask about the latest changes in the office and wonder how it affects her. I get the best service from her. When my bones and joints were killing me I thought that it might be due to a build up of the Alimta, and that maybe it would be better to stretch the treatments from 3 to 4 weeks apart, she agreed so they changed it. That seemed to help as well as improve my quality of life at least 40%. Between the office people, nurses and the doctors I have a heck of a team I'm working with. Building relationships with them was important and it wasn't hard to do, smiling and being friendly is the biggest part, most faces in the waiting room are long at best and many look to be at deaths door, that has to get to you after a while. So when a smile walks in the nurses notice. So all in all my treatment days I have fun. If you like I'll record the next one on video.
As far as the shakes go, the only thing I've used is Ensure.. chocolate mostly. I lived on that for a couple months it stayed in my stomach pretty good. We signed up at the American Cancer Ass. and when to a couple meetings and that was helpful, from that we learned what was available to us in the area we live. And they gave me a case of Ensure a month, I drank maybe 3 cases a month but every case was $38 I did not spend.
God Bless
Dan
_________________
55 year old male, Diagnosed Nov. 9,2007 with NSCLC IV with Mets to the lymphs and brain
Had full brain radiation treatment in Jan 08 treatments now every 4 weeks with Alimta, taking Lovenox for blood clots, Now working full time
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9993

Rmy953 · Regular Joined: 08 Sep 2009 Posts: 13

You have such a positive outlook, Dan. I'm sure the doctor/nurses enjoy it when you are there! My mother is also a positive person and does just as you do. When the doctor asks how she is doing, she will say, "Fine. And how are you doing?" He looks at her like...what??? Then after our doctor's visit, she'll say to him/to all of them, "You all have a great day." She and I find something to smile/laugh about at every treatment. She wants me helping everyone in the chemo treatment room. "Go get her a blanket. Get him a magazine." Ha. She is starting to lose her hair and seems okay with it. She is getting Taxotere/Carboplatin every Monday. Radiation is Mon - Friday. We just had a scare with some bleeding from colon area and did a colonoscopy yesterday - no cancer! Yay! Radiation is making her more short of breath but we expected that. She still tires very easily and is nauseated after treatments. Thanks for your reply, Dan.

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