Re: Chemotherapy

JaneMarple · ‎05-23-2011

@GCR18 wrote:
I finished chemo in Nov. My hospital allowed guests. Some people would bring a big group. I found that distracting. I brought a guest a couple times. On chemo day I was there for almost 6 hours. First giving blood, a quick appt with the Dr, chemo pre drugs, then chemo. My chemo room had coffee, soda, juice and crackers for everyone. They always offered me a heated blanket, but I was never cold. There were tons of restaurants nearby for the guest to pick up lunch. I always packed bottles of water, snacks and a sandwich. Plus I had my kindle, magazines, newspaper. I packed like I was going away on vacation for two weeks. Everyone there was always really nice.
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My sister did the same thing as far as packing a bag, she had so many things that she had two tote bags. Her kindle, fluffy socks, a soft throw, a couple of magazines, her favorite jelly beans, water, juice, body cream, chapstick and who knows what else?

You Don't Own Me- Leslie Gore
(You don't Know) How Glad I Am- Nancy Wilson

JackieHN · ‎09-23-2011

Miranda, come to the cancer survivors forum. We'll answer any questions or concerns that you have. It is wonderful that you are going with her for support. Most centers allow friends and family to stay. Like others said, she should pack a bag with water and snacks. My center supplied pillows and blankets. By all means she should also ask her Dr and nurse any questions she has. this journey is very overwhelming for her and you can be her ears Hopes this helps a bit.

PINKdogWOOD · ‎05-13-2010

@Mom2Dogs My husband did both infusions at first - MANY of them. Then his 'preventive maintenance' as I affectionately called it, one 'push' of the needle as our blessed Nurses called it. It was easier and less time consuming. We still did those at the same place as his earlier infusions. The hospital where our lead oncol Dr is located had an entire floor of chemo therapies of many sorts. And I (as well others' family members) were able to sit with their patient.

ALL of the Nurses are a very special group of angels. How they do what they do day in and day out I do not know. Where they gain their strength from is truly God given. Never ever in my entire life have I ever met women (they are/were all females there) who are so kind, so loving, so dedicated in what they do every single day. I often wonder who cares for them at the end of the day....

PINKdogWOOD · ‎05-13-2010

@GCR18 WOW - finishing in November. God has been good to you and for you. I hope by now you are feeling better and working out any effects you may have had.

Your healing process is almost never-ending. We LOVE hearing about success stories for sure.

Mom2Dogs · ‎03-09-2010

@PINKdogWOOD....the first time I took my mom for her chemo the doctor told us if he dripped the fluid on his shoe, it would eat a whole thru the leather! Not what we really wanted to hear.

As my mom went thru treatment she got very ill, like a lot of chemo patients, and as time went on she could not even drive past the buiding it made her feel sick to her stomach!

Mom was a nurse, had a lot of compassion for people... I never heard her complain about being sick or in pain....toward the end of her life, the cancer had moved to her bones and from what we were told, bone cancer is qute painful....again, she never complained or said why me, but you could see the pain on her face.

I miss her as well as my dad...they both died of cancer mom was mid 60's and dad early 70's, way to young.

PINKdogWOOD · ‎05-13-2010

@Mom2Dogs Chemo drugs are very powerful, very debilitating to all who must be subjected to them. It also takes a very long time once a patient is finally finished with them to rid the body of them. This October will make two years since DH was totally finished. I see the signs of the aftermath to his body although It's something I'd never mention to him. I'm quite sure he had noticed the effects.

I am so sorry for you that you've lost both of your parents to this disease. And I totally agree, they each succumbed at young ages which means you were too young too to eventually lose them both. I understand the hardship of losing one's parents, I too miss mine as well.

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@PINKdogWOOD....the first time I took my mom for her chemo the doctor told us if he dripped the fluid on his shoe, it would eat a whole thru the leather! Not what we really wanted to hear.

@Mom2Dogs the nurses administering chemo put on a jacket that almost went to the floor and gloves.

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

@PINKdogWOOD wrote:
@GCR18 WOW - finishing in November. God has been good to you and for you. I hope by now you are feeling better and working out any effects you may have had.

Your healing process is almost never-ending. We LOVE hearing about success stories for sure.

@PINKdogWOOD I'm doing really good. I had endometrial cancer. I have bladder damage, but it gets a little better every month. Thanks for asking.

raven-blackbird · ‎06-03-2010

@Miranda1550 wrote:
I trust the knowledge of the ladies of the Forum.. I am taking
a friend for her Chemotherapy treatment. What will happen?
Will I be in the room with her? She does not want to ask the DR.
any questions.

Depends on what type of chemo.................when I was taking chemo, it took three hours.....I went twice a month with a week inbetween chemo and 3 weeks off for a year and a half......you just sit there with an IV............but some people came in and got one shot and walked out, it took about 15 minutes on them...........you sat in a recliner, because you were gonna be there a while..............I didn't get sick, although some people were.

but it really depends on the type of cancer she has and the protocal for that type of cancer............................................raven

We're not in Kansas anymore ToTo

3suwm5 · ‎06-15-2016

You are a very special person to go with your friend. If she doesn't want to ask her Dr. questions, then she should ask the triage nurses all the questions she can. Sometimes you don't see the Dr. when you go in for a treatment. Many times I found the nurses to be much more knowledgable with a lay person answer. What I call common sense answers with common product remedies.

The nurses used to tell me; we understand, we could be in this chair next week. That's a very important way of looking at their jobs.

If she has more questions when she gets home, she should call the office and talk with the nurses. You need to ask, ask, ask. That is the only way you will get the help you want and need.

Please help her stay strong and positive, it is a difficult journey. She won't want to feel alone along the way. IMO