First time here. Hello everyone

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  • thxmiker
    thxmiker Member Posts: 1,278 Member
    #22
    Welcome to the forum!   We

    Welcome to the forum!   We are sending our thoughts and prayers for you to be able to find a good solution for your husband.

     

    There are a lot of people with a lot of various cancers.  When you have questions, probably several people have been down the road before.  We are all afraid of the unkown.  So, when people can share their experiences, it takes a lot of the unkown away.

     

    My advice for all new to cancer.  Nutrition and hydration are your worst enemies. They complicate the adverse reactions to chemo. I did not believe it enough when I started my cancer journey. I am now an advocate for great nutrition. and keeping hydrated.   Juicing adds micro and macro nutrients that one can not get from a pill. Plus it tastes great also!   Whole foods and no more chemicals.  No box, frozen meals, fast foods, these are adding to the issues. We were fast food for lunch and occasional boxed food for dinner.  When we stopped our health came back.  We both lost weight and feel better.  I am in better shape now then when I started my cancer journey. Take it seriously.

     

    Best Always,  mike

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    #23
    annalexandria said:

    OT-glutamine?

    Just wondering if they have your husband on this, Jen?  It's supposed to really help with neuropathy.  It was standard tx at my cancer clinic when you did chemo, but I think it can also help after you finish tx.  AA

     

    Nope Ann...they havent
    Nope Ann...they havent mentioned this. I actually just emailed the onc today to see what she could give him for it....i will ask about the glutamine. Thanks!
  • devotion10
    devotion10 Member Posts: 623 Member
    #24
    I can imagine that your world has been turned upside down

    right now with your husband's diagnosis and having two young children.  This is understandably very difficult.  

    This forum: A great place with strong support and advice. Please ask any and all questions that you may have and someone with experience will provide you kind advice.  We have members who have benefited from both conventional therapies and some with alternative.  You will learn a great deal here and can have a place to safely express your emotions.  

    Being a caregiver: I am also a caregiver and my husband is no longer receiving chemotherapy. Do not let this discourage you as my husband's situation is rare.  But even given our situation, my husband who was 68 when diagnosed, has lived over four years since his diagnosis and he was able to work full-time for 3.5 of those years while having chemotherapy. There really is life after a cancer diagnosis and there is also life during treatment. You will see this as time goes on. 

    Once treatment begins: What I want to say to encourage you is that I think that you, and your husband, will find the strength you need at the times you need it most. This is the way it has been for my family and others I have spoken to. Right now, you are helpless and everything seems out of control, but once you have a plan in place and treatment begins I think you will feel much better.  

    Gather a strong support system for your children: Because you have young children, you will need strong support systems in place to provide child care for you when you need to attend medical appointments with your husband. As many distractions as possible for them may be necessary so that they do not have to deal with the intensity of the emotions until things calm a bit. 

    Caretaker/patient differences: Sometimes there is a difference in the way individuals in a couple will process the experience of disease.  One person may want to know everything, read every statistic, and explore treatment options while the other may not even want to talk very much about it.  Your relationship as a couple and your realtionship with the disease will evolve over time. Right now, perhaps just listen to your husband's concerns and find someone else to listen to yours if he is not able to handle it.

    Oncology social workers: I do not know if you are at a major cancer center, but inquire if there is an oncology social worker associated with the practice. I think folks wait too long to explore this option.  Having an individual that can counsel and provide support to you as a couple and also individually is essential.  

    The picture of your family is lovely.  Please come back to us and, if you feel comfortable, share the results of your meeting with the oncologist on Monday.

    Best to you,

    Cynthia

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