Just venting

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Lisa13Q
Lisa13Q Member Posts: 677
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Today was my mother's 2nd chemo. She had an allergic reaction to the Taxil? This is apparently not a common reaction if you did not have a reaction the first time. Drama..They dosed her up with stuff and got the chemo into her. By the way she also lost her hair this week. It was an 11 hour day. Last night, a friend of the family, who probably thought she was helping, told me that we all needed to prepare for her dying...and my spouse has little capacity to talk about this. All I get is "I guess so" or "i don't know". OK, so I am totally irritated at everyone. I am a college professor and the students are getting on my last nerve and frankly I don't care. So there.........I really don't have anything positive to say...although I am getting my ultrasoiund this Friday,.....and will learn about whatever screening I will be having going forward since the believe the OVCA in my mother is genetic. Both her mother and grandmother passed from liver cancer but my mother remembers "swollen bellies". They called it "Fatty liver". Thanks for listening. Prayers to you all.. Her's to low CA 125s all around...

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  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #2
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    Hugs
    Dearest Lisa,

    You sure have a lot on your plate and the insensitivity or people. I have heard a lot of dumb things over the years and people who say them don't realize what they are really saying. Or at least that is what I tell myself. Hugs ♥ Prayers Bonnie

    PS Let us know how your tests come out.
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #3
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    I CAN RELATE
    Some days it just seems that 'the earth is off it's axis', as I call it. Everything comes at once, strange stuff, and very overwhelming. Hopefully things will mellow out for you and your Mom.

    As to her allergic reaction, I had an allergic reaction to Taxol on my second treatment during my recurrance. I actually had no reactions the first time (in 2000), but in 2006 for some reason it got really bad during treatment. It was frightening. They said this can happen for no apparent reason, and they switched me to Taxotere which is a synthetic version of Taxol. I did find out later, however, that the nurse I had was fired because she gave an antibiotic to someone who needed chemo, and chemo to the person who needed the antibiotic! Coincidentally, the reaction I experienced was exactly the same as the reaction I have to penicillan. So, I'll never really know for sure. I told my doc about it, but he didn't really get into the conversation. Nonetheless, I've added Taxol to my list of allergies on my 'dog tag' on my keychain and in my purse.

    Sending prayers and hugs for better days ahead for you and your Mom.

    Stay strong.

    Monika
  • Barbara53
    Barbara53 Member Posts: 652
    #4
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    expect some turbulence
    My mother is probably terminal (age 79), and I think her mother probably died of OVCA at age 82. The cause of death was listed as "massive internal bleeding." So yes, I do think it's genetic, and to tell you the truth I'm okay with that because in our case it's part of old age. In a way, knowing that it will take me down THEN as opposed to NOW is kind of a comfort (I'm 56).

    I'm a reader too (writer by profession) and it has helped me to do some study on archetypal death stories and traditions -- ars morundii -- the ways of death. Our society wears blinders where death is concerned, which is so sad and cuts us off from our compassion.

    At this point I have little patience with the medical "standards of practice" that don't take into account that patients (especially elderly ones) are human beings rather than lab animals. Expect lots emotional turbulence, keep watching your mother's back, and stick tight with the doctor's nursing staff. You will get through this.
  • Lisa13Q
    Lisa13Q Member Posts: 677
    #5
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    Thanks for the beautiful response
    Your response is perfect. and Yes, I need to get used to turbulence. I can't agree that you will get this disease....I think the one thing we can do in honor of our mothers is to work on prevention and screening and contribute to the cancer community in such a way that our daughters and grand-daughters never have to experience this. And we, as well, don't succumb either. Warmest warmest regards to you. And thanks for your response...hugs to your mom....She's lucky to have you.

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