Chemo at MD Anderson

RandiK
RandiK Member Posts: 31
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
This ? might seem a little crazy, but has anyone on here had chemo at MD Anderson in Houston? My Mom starts her 6 rounds at 3 weeks apart on the 22nd. She was wondering are you in a room with others, should she bring anything with her, and can my Dad stay there with her? Any info on this would help her I guess prepare for Monday a little better.

Comments

  • leesag
    leesag Member Posts: 621 Member
    #2
    I had the same question
    I had the same question only more general! I can't speak for MDAnderson, but in my hospital, here's how the first visit went down:

    *The treatment room is open, with chairs and beds for communal type treating!

    *My husband was and is allowed to stay the entire time

    *The first treatment was in a bed, all others will be in a chair

    *All drips are begun very very slowly, the Benadryl drip knocked me on my backside for about 2 hours (a nice long nap with some interruptions for loopy answers to questions the nurses and my husband asked. I think my husband only woke me up for comic relief!)

    *I was served a lunch-sandwich, fruit, cookie, the sandwich had about half a pound of meat on it!

    *I read in the morning and the afternoon, my husband played games on his laptop or Blackberry. We had Wifi access(which is awesome).

    I did take my own blanket from home, just for comfort purposes!

    I hope this helps a little bit!

    Leesa
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • RandiK
    RandiK Member Posts: 31
    #4
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    thanks
    thank you so much, this is the kind of info she was wanting to know. she also was wondering did your chemo make you sick, being that she has a 4 hour drive home will she need to be concerend about it Monday affecting her.
  • Margaret Caroline 1985
    Margaret Caroline 1985 Member Posts: 17
    #5
    RandiK said:

    thanks
    thank you so much, this is the kind of info she was wanting to know. she also was wondering did your chemo make you sick, being that she has a 4 hour drive home will she need to be concerend about it Monday affecting her.

    Chemo at MDA
    I also had chemo at MDA. & was kept very comfortable. Only one person at a time can be in the room with you. You will be able to get necessary drugs for nausea & pain at the hospital. I do not remember feeling bad the first few hours after chemo. When you get home never hesitate to call MD or nurse if you are having problems. You will be given printed info. & guidelines re. chemo problems. Also, look into signing up for your own secure e-mail site so you can send questions to MD & nurses. They will answer them. Once again, be sure to read all printed info. given to you. Good Luck, Prayers are with you. MC
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #6
    RandiK said:

    thanks
    thank you so much, this is the kind of info she was wanting to know. she also was wondering did your chemo make you sick, being that she has a 4 hour drive home will she need to be concerend about it Monday affecting her.

    Carbo/taxol
    If she gets the standard treatment of carbo/taxol, it takes a while to feel. 72 hours for me. You should start the anti nausea pills as soon as you get home. I had no nausea with these, but you never know. My most pronounced problem was constipation so find out what the nurse recommends. I had to start stool softeners the day ahead and go to laxatives the day of to handle it. I also had bone pain in my legs and had to take some tylenol for that. My husband never stays with me because it is a boring 8 hours for that. Saundra

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