Leaking Chemo

herdizziness
herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Yep, you read it right, not allowed to touch grandson, because I'm leaking chemo through my pores. Yep, that's the latest theory my son's fiancee' has, all of a sudden, I'm a chemo leak and shouldn't touch my grandson.
I could see if my little darling was sucking on my arm, which I wouldn't ever allow, but not to be able to hold him?
They just bought the engagement ring two days ago.
This isn't a great way to endear yourself to your future mother-in-law. No, indeedy.
«1

Comments

  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    Oh wow
    It looks like she may need a little education. I always try to remember that when people ludicrous statements or assumptions that they are just not properly informed about things. Holding your grandson seems like great therapy for both of you. I do know that for chemo in general, nurses are told to use extra precautions (chemo gloves and gown) with chemo patient's by products (urine, feces, vomit) for 48hrs after chemo and then go back to normal procedures.

    Continue using PPE for 48 hours after the patient has completed his chemotherapy; after that, you can simply wear one pair of gloves, no gown and flush the toilet just once. http://www.ehow.com/way_5661548_nurse-chemotherapy-precautions.html

    The basic information given is In most cases, chemotherapy is excreted in the body fluids for up to 48 hours after treatment, although some agents can be found in excrement for up to 7 days. This includes urine, stool, vomit, semen, and vaginal fluid. As for semen and vaginal fluids, condoms should be used for any sexual activity within the 7- day time frame to avoid exposure.
    http://www.oncolink.org/experts/article.cfm?c=2&s=7&ss=14&id=2361

    Perhaps if you tell her this and maybe negotiate a 48hr "no hold" policy with your future daughter in law she will feel better and she may feel that you have acknowledged her concerns. After being hurt and angry I'd probably try that approach myself. Just a thought.
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    ACK!
    I guess we could say she's being protective of your precious one and praise her. (Wish we had an eye rolling smilie)

    I think the 48 hour rule and telling her you'd checked it out with the American Cancer Society might do the trick. If not, invite her to come with you to the doctor or chemo to ask any questions.

    How old is your grandson? Aren't they just a joy!!!
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    Hmmm
    I hope ignorance isn't contagious...
    Fasten your seatbelt, it may be a bumpy ride.
    I'd make sure I gave her a nice big HUG every time you see her!
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    PhillieG said:

    Hmmm
    I hope ignorance isn't contagious...
    Fasten your seatbelt, it may be a bumpy ride.
    I'd make sure I gave her a nice big HUG every time you see her!

    ahhh dizz
    that's a shame....

    sorry....oh where or where to begin

    mags
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    Dizz:
    How hurtful, inconsiderate and ignorant of that girl. I'm sorry.

    Agree with Phil............

    Oh, and after you hug that girl, give her a big kiss on the cheek.......


    Take care - Tina
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    geotina said:

    Dizz:
    How hurtful, inconsiderate and ignorant of that girl. I'm sorry.

    Agree with Phil............

    Oh, and after you hug that girl, give her a big kiss on the cheek.......


    Take care - Tina

    Kiss
    I would go for tongue but that's me!
  • pluckey
    pluckey Member Posts: 484 Member
    Oh My you toxic spill you
    Oh My you toxic spill you (said sarcastically with a BIG eye roll)

    You'd think that everyone who ever touched or hugged any of us on this board alone would be dead or have a 3rd eye or some deformity because of our toxic nasty selves.

    OMG, what a dumbazz...

    OK, i must calm down.

    Next time dollie is at your house or you are in her presence I would call your oncologists office and hand the ohone over to that brilliant girl and let the Onc or Nurse (tell the nurse to pretend she's the Onc, who cares) that there is no substantiated reason for no contact rule post chemo.

    peggy
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    OH Marie... You don't need this...
    It should amaze me that people are so ignorant, but it really doesn't. Some don't even care to educate themselves before spouting off their diatribe.

    I'm curious what your son says. I also wonder where she came up with this wonderful thought of your leaking chemo through your pores. Where to people come up with this stuff?

    I work with infants all the time. I hold em, love em, change a diaper or two (I'm afraid of getting that stuff on me!) and send em back to mom when they cry. They lower my blood pressure and they are just so sweet.

    I know if it were my own grandson, I'd be a little cranky about not being able to hold him. In fact, I'd probably tell momma to smarten up and get a little education regarding chemo before spouting off her theories.
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    Is this a "power" thing?
    Or is she truly ignorant? I think Peggy's idea of handing the phone over to the onc/nurse is a good one, or take her to an onc appointment where she can ask away. I kow sometimes with mother + daughter-in laws there can be power struggles + some use the kids in the struggle, that's why I asked if it's a power thing; she might be insecure + be using this to gain the upper hand. Or she could truly be scared + some education could help. In any event, I am really sorry for this turn of events.
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    AnneCan said:

    Is this a "power" thing?
    Or is she truly ignorant? I think Peggy's idea of handing the phone over to the onc/nurse is a good one, or take her to an onc appointment where she can ask away. I kow sometimes with mother + daughter-in laws there can be power struggles + some use the kids in the struggle, that's why I asked if it's a power thing; she might be insecure + be using this to gain the upper hand. Or she could truly be scared + some education could help. In any event, I am really sorry for this turn of events.

    We have a word for girls like that!
    GILIPOLLAS ! don't look for the translation!
    Hugs dear liker!!! LOL
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    Oh well...
    "The medications that you receive during your chemotherapy are
    very strong. We use them to kill the cancer cells in your body.
    Because they are so good at their job, they can also be toxic to
    others who come in direct contact with you. It is important that
    you know about the precautions you need to take during and after
    receiving chemotherapy. These precautions will help those around
    you avoid contact with toxic and dangerous chemicals. "

    From: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/

    Every chemotherapy chemical used today, is a well known
    carcinogenic. They administer it only after considering help vs risk.

    The chemicals are harsh to adults and toxic to a baby. I can't
    understand why anyone that might be carrying even the smallest
    dose of a toxic chemical, would want to take a chance of it
    making a baby sick.

    The "half life" of the chemical as it excretes from your body
    isn't an absolute, it is an assumption; everyone's different. There
    are very, very few studies that indicate what the chemicals can do
    to a baby that may come into contact with the excretion, and much
    less regarding pore excretion.

    "News readers will have encountered these ideas, including the
    risk of environmental contamination from very-polluting used drug
    patches. But the sweat angle: That’s new.

    Not to pharmacologists, of course. Some of them have been
    reporting for decades that health care workers can encounter
    substantial exposures to chemotherapy drugs and other
    pharmaceuticals while washing patients’ clothes and bedding. I’ve
    included a few cites to such papers accompanying this blog. But
    the concern in those papers has been potential risks to workers’
    health. As Ruhoy and Daughton point out in their new analysis,
    family members and friends remain a largely ignored ̶ and
    therefore uninformed ̶ population that may also be at risk of
    coming into dangerous contact with sweated-out pharmaceuticals or
    skin-applied drugs."


    Here: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/57874/title/Skin_as_a_source_of_drug_pollution

    There are tons more easily found on the web.


    All new moms and dads are over-protective of their newborn,
    and my wife and I were no different. Our protectiveness may have
    insulted dear ol' ma..... but according to her mom, she was no
    different when she popped me out.

    I may sound rude here, but you really oughta' try to understand,
    rather than get insulted. You'll gain a whole lot more ground shedding
    the crapola.


    (Just my .02)


    (I love ya' anyway!)

    John
  • Sigma34
    Sigma34 Member Posts: 203
    John23 said:

    Oh well...
    "The medications that you receive during your chemotherapy are
    very strong. We use them to kill the cancer cells in your body.
    Because they are so good at their job, they can also be toxic to
    others who come in direct contact with you. It is important that
    you know about the precautions you need to take during and after
    receiving chemotherapy. These precautions will help those around
    you avoid contact with toxic and dangerous chemicals. "

    From: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/

    Every chemotherapy chemical used today, is a well known
    carcinogenic. They administer it only after considering help vs risk.

    The chemicals are harsh to adults and toxic to a baby. I can't
    understand why anyone that might be carrying even the smallest
    dose of a toxic chemical, would want to take a chance of it
    making a baby sick.

    The "half life" of the chemical as it excretes from your body
    isn't an absolute, it is an assumption; everyone's different. There
    are very, very few studies that indicate what the chemicals can do
    to a baby that may come into contact with the excretion, and much
    less regarding pore excretion.

    "News readers will have encountered these ideas, including the
    risk of environmental contamination from very-polluting used drug
    patches. But the sweat angle: That’s new.

    Not to pharmacologists, of course. Some of them have been
    reporting for decades that health care workers can encounter
    substantial exposures to chemotherapy drugs and other
    pharmaceuticals while washing patients’ clothes and bedding. I’ve
    included a few cites to such papers accompanying this blog. But
    the concern in those papers has been potential risks to workers’
    health. As Ruhoy and Daughton point out in their new analysis,
    family members and friends remain a largely ignored ̶ and
    therefore uninformed ̶ population that may also be at risk of
    coming into dangerous contact with sweated-out pharmaceuticals or
    skin-applied drugs."


    Here: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/57874/title/Skin_as_a_source_of_drug_pollution

    There are tons more easily found on the web.


    All new moms and dads are over-protective of their newborn,
    and my wife and I were no different. Our protectiveness may have
    insulted dear ol' ma..... but according to her mom, she was no
    different when she popped me out.

    I may sound rude here, but you really oughta' try to understand,
    rather than get insulted. You'll gain a whole lot more ground shedding
    the crapola.


    (Just my .02)


    (I love ya' anyway!)

    John

    Oh good grief! Well, you
    Oh good grief! Well, you should go to Home Depot and get one of those suits and 3M surgical masks with gloves. But I am guessing person does NOT has a sence of humor. I am sorry you have to experience this.

    Peace and Calm,

    Christine
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    Sigma34 said:

    Oh good grief! Well, you
    Oh good grief! Well, you should go to Home Depot and get one of those suits and 3M surgical masks with gloves. But I am guessing person does NOT has a sence of humor. I am sorry you have to experience this.

    Peace and Calm,

    Christine

    I always just made sure that
    I always just made sure that the kids never drank after me or took a bite after me, because it is in your saliva...but come on No contact!! What's her email address!! :-0
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    Nana b said:

    I always just made sure that
    I always just made sure that the kids never drank after me or took a bite after me, because it is in your saliva...but come on No contact!! What's her email address!! :-0

    l ask to my docs about my wife and say
    no problems!
    Not understand !
  • Kathryn_in_MN
    Kathryn_in_MN Member Posts: 1,252 Member
    Education
    Rather than getting mad, educate! Ignorance = fear. Any parent wants to protect their child from everything.

    Give her the information about chemo. Agree to a compromise. Do not hold the baby when you are hooked up to chemo and for 48-hours after disconnect. So for 5 days out of 14, you are deprived, but the other 9 you can get your fill of grandchild time!

    I realize just holding the child doesn't put them at risk like other activities that would include sharing any body fluids. But it seems fair to put the parent's minds at ease, but still get your time with the baby too.
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member

    Education
    Rather than getting mad, educate! Ignorance = fear. Any parent wants to protect their child from everything.

    Give her the information about chemo. Agree to a compromise. Do not hold the baby when you are hooked up to chemo and for 48-hours after disconnect. So for 5 days out of 14, you are deprived, but the other 9 you can get your fill of grandchild time!

    I realize just holding the child doesn't put them at risk like other activities that would include sharing any body fluids. But it seems fair to put the parent's minds at ease, but still get your time with the baby too.

    chemo
    haha...the first year I was on xeloda we went to our cabin in woods. There was no washroom....still isn't come to think of it but at that time the latrine was a sawhorse placed over a hole in the ground. I used that hole many many time that summer as I coped with post liver resection and chemo. The hole was always filled with giant dung beetles and now we joke that the beetles on our island are probably mutant...gigantic weird creatures ........to me this toxicity is a joke....
    Kathryn is right....don't waste your energy on mad....laugh and compromise....

    hugs mags
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    maglets said:

    chemo
    haha...the first year I was on xeloda we went to our cabin in woods. There was no washroom....still isn't come to think of it but at that time the latrine was a sawhorse placed over a hole in the ground. I used that hole many many time that summer as I coped with post liver resection and chemo. The hole was always filled with giant dung beetles and now we joke that the beetles on our island are probably mutant...gigantic weird creatures ........to me this toxicity is a joke....
    Kathryn is right....don't waste your energy on mad....laugh and compromise....

    hugs mags

    Mags
    LOL ... I have a similar sense of humor. Maybe someone could up there and film a pseudo documentary ... sort of like the Blair Witch Project ... about the Legend of The Mutant Dung Beetle.
  • Lifeisajourney
    Lifeisajourney Member Posts: 216
    I had the opposite info
    I was told it would be smart to stay away from the grandkids during chemo, since they are germ filled. Actually did not do a lot of hugging during chemo.....didn't think about exposure to body fluids during chemo---husband is freaking----he cleaned up the puck,etc when I was sick....oh well, that is why this board is so informative......on all sides....Pat
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    John23 said:

    Oh well...
    "The medications that you receive during your chemotherapy are
    very strong. We use them to kill the cancer cells in your body.
    Because they are so good at their job, they can also be toxic to
    others who come in direct contact with you. It is important that
    you know about the precautions you need to take during and after
    receiving chemotherapy. These precautions will help those around
    you avoid contact with toxic and dangerous chemicals. "

    From: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/

    Every chemotherapy chemical used today, is a well known
    carcinogenic. They administer it only after considering help vs risk.

    The chemicals are harsh to adults and toxic to a baby. I can't
    understand why anyone that might be carrying even the smallest
    dose of a toxic chemical, would want to take a chance of it
    making a baby sick.

    The "half life" of the chemical as it excretes from your body
    isn't an absolute, it is an assumption; everyone's different. There
    are very, very few studies that indicate what the chemicals can do
    to a baby that may come into contact with the excretion, and much
    less regarding pore excretion.

    "News readers will have encountered these ideas, including the
    risk of environmental contamination from very-polluting used drug
    patches. But the sweat angle: That’s new.

    Not to pharmacologists, of course. Some of them have been
    reporting for decades that health care workers can encounter
    substantial exposures to chemotherapy drugs and other
    pharmaceuticals while washing patients’ clothes and bedding. I’ve
    included a few cites to such papers accompanying this blog. But
    the concern in those papers has been potential risks to workers’
    health. As Ruhoy and Daughton point out in their new analysis,
    family members and friends remain a largely ignored ̶ and
    therefore uninformed ̶ population that may also be at risk of
    coming into dangerous contact with sweated-out pharmaceuticals or
    skin-applied drugs."


    Here: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/57874/title/Skin_as_a_source_of_drug_pollution

    There are tons more easily found on the web.


    All new moms and dads are over-protective of their newborn,
    and my wife and I were no different. Our protectiveness may have
    insulted dear ol' ma..... but according to her mom, she was no
    different when she popped me out.

    I may sound rude here, but you really oughta' try to understand,
    rather than get insulted. You'll gain a whole lot more ground shedding
    the crapola.


    (Just my .02)


    (I love ya' anyway!)

    John

    Insulted
    I guess I wouldn't be so insulted, except I was okay, to babysit since the day the baby was born, and it was just last night I found out through my son, that she was ticked I had held him the night before because of my chemo.
    She never said a word to me about it, and apparently it's something she just decided the other night, after they got engaged, and she's the one that had me babysitting while she goes to the gym until the other day.
    Which leaves me extremely puzzled, and yes it is insulting, that she wouldn't ask me about it, or talk to me about it, that I find out through my son after 3 months of holding and watching over my grandson, she and I have never, when they argue (which isn't often) I never take sides, just tell them when they have a problem they'll work it out, and I lent them the $200.00 for the down payment for the ring (they already paid me back the next day), I buy diapers, formula, etc., so if it's power play, or just all of a sudden my chemo is bad, it's a surprise to me.
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member

    Education
    Rather than getting mad, educate! Ignorance = fear. Any parent wants to protect their child from everything.

    Give her the information about chemo. Agree to a compromise. Do not hold the baby when you are hooked up to chemo and for 48-hours after disconnect. So for 5 days out of 14, you are deprived, but the other 9 you can get your fill of grandchild time!

    I realize just holding the child doesn't put them at risk like other activities that would include sharing any body fluids. But it seems fair to put the parent's minds at ease, but still get your time with the baby too.

    I DON'T HAVE HOOKUPS
    I do my chemo once every three weeks at the hospital, I have no hookup at home.