my mum starts chemo today

[zorra_chiflada]

so i'm wondering, what kinda stuff should i be expecting?
will she be really sick immediately?
i'm interested to hear your experiences with it, etc.

[TurdBerglar]

she will grow antlers out her ass on both sides

[zorra_chiflada]

she will grow antlers out her ass on both sides

that's kinda cool.

[HOTWIFE]

I don't have any first or even second hand experience with it. I'm terrified of the stuff, but who isn't I guess. I hope she has a better than usual experience with it though. How long does she have to do it?

[zorra_chiflada]

I don't have any first or even second hand experience with it. I'm terrified of the stuff, but who isn't I guess. I hope she has a better than usual experience with it though. How long does she have to do it?

she's only having four sessions, because it isn't a major thing, and hasn't gone through her lymphatic system.
she's expecting to lose her hair, which is no big deal to us, but i'm more concerned about how sick she's going to be from it.

[DroppinScience]

My mom didn't go throught chemotherapy -- she did radiation treatment, which is obviously a less intense version of chemo.

So my mom got tired lots and felt like crap, but overall she did great.

I'm not sure how this will compare with your own mom. Best wishes!

[zorra_chiflada]

My mom didn't go throught chemotherapy -- she did radiation treatment, which is obviously a less intense version of chemo.

So my mom got tired lots and felt like crap, but overall she did great.

I'm not sure how this will compare with your own mom. Best wishes!

my mum already had radiation treatment - it had no effect except for a burn on the affected area. i think they're being extra careful because it's multiple myeloma, and they can never be sure when it's all gone.

[QueenAdrock]

My mom's best friend had chemo and she was relatively okay. She was bed-ridden for a little bit, but was overall healthy. She had a good recovery - until her insurance told her they wouldn't pay for another office visit that year (she had used all of hers and apparently cancer-related stuff is very expensive), so she had to wait until the NEXT year to have her visit. It had come back by the time she went back, and she died a few months later.

Fuck Kaiser Permanente, man.

I'm pretty sure you have universal health care down there so you don't have to worry about that kind of stuff, but just make sure to keep regular checkups. I'll be praying for your mom!

[zorra_chiflada]

My mom's best friend had chemo and she was relatively okay. She was bed-ridden for a little bit, but was overall healthy. She had a good recovery - until her insurance told her they wouldn't pay for another office visit that year (she had used all of hers and apparently cancer-related stuff is very expensive), so she had to wait until the NEXT year to have her visit. It had come back by the time she went back, and she died a few months later.

Fuck Kaiser Permanente, man.

I'm pretty sure you have universal health care down there so you don't have to worry about that kind of stuff, but just make sure to keep regular checkups. I'll be praying for your mom!

yeah, all paid for the taxpayer, and she can stay there for as long as she needs and see whatever doctor she wants. which is really awesome.

[befsquire]

it's hard to tell you what to expect since your mom only has to have 4 treatments and chemo comes in varying strengths.

my mom was very sick for two days after the treatment, and then it would let up and she'd feel run down and then would get back to normal and it'd be time for another one. she didn't lose her hair for like a month. and when it grew back, it was curly.

[Documad]

My dad didn't have chemo. My mom's best friend had chemo about twelve years ago. It's difficult to tell how bad it got for her. They know so much more about dosages now. She lost all her hair and there were times when she didn't want to eat because she felt sick to her stomach, but that woman never complained (she used to be a nun) so it was probably more difficult than she let on.

Is there any kind of support group for families of cancer patients where you live? Even if you feel like an idiot going to one or two sessions, it could be a big help. Even an on line one might be good, but I highly recommend seeing what's going on in your town. I've been thinking about doing that because of my mom's dementia. My friends are supportive, but they always ask how she's doing and I get sick of answering because there is a lot of "we don't know" and they just want to hear that she's "fine" and I hate lying just because it's polite.

[icy manipulator]

best wishes zorra :)

[Nivvie]

It really does depend on the person and treatment. I have not worked a great deal with cancer patients, but for the time I did, it appeared those who ate well, and tried not to rush back into their lives, fared better than those who tried to carry on as normal. Lots of fruit and veg, along with live yoghurt is recommended.

Also, the other concern is that one third of cancer patients become neutropenic, which is high fevers and very low immune system. They are usually given antibiotics, but it's also important to make sure all people with cough, colds, etc are kept away, and that the house is a clean as possible. I've even heard doctors tell people not to squeeze spots, as that can cause an opening for infection to enter.

Regarding hair loss, ice or gel caps can really help some people, while with others it does nothing, but still, worth a try if it's a concern.

Best wishes and good luck.

[zorra_chiflada]

thanks guys :)

[Kid Presentable]

Thoughts and shit.(y)

[na§tee]

pretty much ditto what everyone else said. depends a lot on age, too. it's genuinely not as traumatic as everyone thinks it is.

when my flatmate was going through chemo she seemed alright. just more sluggish. i would ask her directly if she wasn't at home blissing out in bed and i was at work :rolleyes:. she wasn't vomiting or anything. we went to a justin timberlake concert in newcastle while she was going through it and i insisted that she have the couch in this guy's flat we were sleeping in and she was all like "agh, shut up! i'm not gonna drop down dead with pneumonia!"

uh, she smoked a lot of weed. she "read somewhere". yeah right, sags! :cool:

she also shaved off all her hair before it started to come out. she went to a hallowe'en party as dr evil. haha. well, to each their own, right?

[yooooo]

got tired lots and felt like crap, but overall she did great.

i guess these will be the main symptoms,
and hair loss....

best wishes from yooooo(y)

[zorra_chiflada]

sorry to bump this, but i'm just really annoyed about how the doctors have kept me in the dark
they didn't tell me that multiple myeloma was incurable. they didn't tell me she had multiple lesions on her bones. they didn't tell me that her lifespan would be significantly reduced. maybe they're trying to not upset me or whatever, but i need to know this shit to be prepared for the worst.

[Nivvie]

I don't know how it is in the US, but here, a doctor is not technically allowed to tell a family member anything about a person's illness, unless they are incapable of doing so themselves.

It's a bummer, I know, I have seen people not tell their families anything, then if they get really sick, it comes as a massive shock, but it's the law.

[zorra_chiflada]

i live in australia, i didn't know they couldn't tell. i thought they were obliged to tell or something. :confused:

[Nivvie]

From what I can gather off Google, Australia has roughly the same medical confidentiality acts as everywhere else, where you only get info in certain circumstances, such as if the patient is unable to communicate, or if they have a genetic condition which another immediate relative needs to know about as they are directly effected. Even then you need special permission to get the details.

I know this can be tough (my father in law didn't tell a soul he was ill, until a few days before he died, very unfair on his wife) but from what I can gather your mother must have told you, so it's good that she has shared this with you, and so you can be of real support to her.

PS. There are always things out there to try, even if all else is failing. I'm too medical to preach about homeopathy too much, but when used alongside other treatments, a massive difference can be made. It really is worth researching everything, even if it just means eating more sprouts (cancer wonder veg)

[zorra_chiflada]

i'm not sure if her condition is genetic, from what i've heard it is often caused by industrial pollution (and she lived in jersey city for 40 years so that makes sense)
she's being very proactive about her condition, doing everything she can to get better. she's making absolutely sure that she won't get an infection while her immune system is down. the fact that she's a dietician means she knows exactly what she has to eat and everything.

[Tone Capone]

I don't know how it is in the US, but here, a doctor is not technically allowed to tell a family member anything about a person's illness, unless they are incapable of doing so themselves.

It's a bummer, I know, I have seen people not tell their families anything, then if they get really sick, it comes as a massive shock, but it's the law.

Yeah that all falls under the Privacy Act (which I know about) and probably that doctor/patient confidentiality (which I don't know too much about).

I'm sorry you are going through this Zorra, stay strong and I'm sure we will all be pulling for you.

[b i o n i c]

oh zorra, this is so tough. my aunt just had cancerous lumps found on her chest and back last week. she lives in argentina and will probably not recieve the care that she could get in the us or australia. i had a friend who lived in jersey city too and got cancer (lymphoma?) at the age of 24, was treated and survived. she used to have straight light brown hair and it came back in dark and curly, which she loved. i hope you're doing as best you can with all of this.

[zorra_chiflada]

the whole time she's been saying how lucky she is to be living in australia where she can get the best healthcare possible with no cost. i really appreciate it now. seriously.

[voltanapricot]

she's being very proactive about her condition, doing everything she can to get better.
It will be tough and I understand how difficult it is to see a loved one go through it, but be reassured that the fact she is being so proactive is so, so brilliant. It must be incredibly hard for her but she's being really brave.

[guerillaGardner]

Get her to read this month's Ode magazine. Really interesting feature about cancer.

Also, do a web search for Harry Hoxsey.