Second round of chemo

lenjam

Mom just had her second round of chemo and is so sick. Yesterday whole body feeling tight,
today throwing everything up. Her first round she didn't have any of this. Will round three be as terrible as this? She was so hopeful after her first round and only have fatigue as her side effect. Now, she's a little depressed at being so sick because she didn't have it the first time. However, her CA125 went from 1700 before surgery to 349 after surgery and one round of chemo. I think that must be a good sign, right?
Now that she is on Coumadin for the blood clot she got in the hospital she has to get blood work done every couple days to check her levels. They can't seem to get that figured out and
she's very discouraged about that. I try to keep upbeat for her and tell her there is a light at the end of this tunnel. It just gets so hard to hear her voice and the pain. Haven't been able to see her since her white blood levels were low and afraid of infections. Since I have a 4 year old don't want to take a chance on getting mom sick, even if I don't have anything, I could give her something. I hate not being able to see her. Dad needs a break and I feel useless to him.
Thanks again everyone on this board you all give me such hope just knowing you're out there.
Jami

nancy591

kids
Hi Jami,
Glad your Mom's ca125 took a nice dive. Do you know how low her counts are? Did her healthcare team suggest not to be around kids? My kids were 3 and 5 when I went through my inital treatment. I had no choice but to be the primary caretaker. During my new treatment my WBCs fell and I still never caught anything. Sometimes everyone in the house was sick with a cold except me! I also voluntered at the school 2x a week without any problems when I was undergoing active treatment. Now I'm not suggesting you do this I am just saying some people are more 'fragile' then others. Good handwashing is the key to not spreading germs. If you really feel the toll of not being able to help with your Mom talk to her doctors and see what they say.

Barbara53

every cycle different
Two things, Jami. That 349 is probably high, because continued inflammation from the surgery will push it up a bit. My Mom's didn't really drop until after the 4th chemo. She did not have a terrible time with infusion number 2; for her the baddie was number 3, and the rest were better. When I read your post the first thing I thought was that this is probably you mother's worst cycle and the rest won't be as hard.

Keep calling and send her lots of cards. Is there a close family friend you could call to spend some sitting time to give your father a break? I've done that once or twice, and Mom's friends were so so grateful that I asked for their help that they cried.

hockeygolf7

Nausea
Isn't there anything that she can take for the nausea. I was on at least 4 different nausea medications just to make sure I wasn't sick like that. Please talk to the doctor about something for her, she shouldn't have to go through that. Prayers and good thoughts.

lenjam

nancy591 said:

kids
Hi Jami,
Glad your Mom's ca125 took a nice dive. Do you know how low her counts are? Did her healthcare team suggest not to be around kids? My kids were 3 and 5 when I went through my inital treatment. I had no choice but to be the primary caretaker. During my new treatment my WBCs fell and I still never caught anything. Sometimes everyone in the house was sick with a cold except me! I also voluntered at the school 2x a week without any problems when I was undergoing active treatment. Now I'm not suggesting you do this I am just saying some people are more 'fragile' then others. Good handwashing is the key to not spreading germs. If you really feel the toll of not being able to help with your Mom talk to her doctors and see what they say.

Kids
Nancy,
My mom has a visting nurse that comes in to do her blood draw and check her drains. She has two chest drains that have to be drained every couple of days. The nurse is the one that advised against going out or having any visitors. My dad is so super cautious that if someone suggests something he thinks that it's gospel. He's just so afraid of her getting something. She's had so many other issues come up since getting her diagnosis.
She just got the results of her latest blood draw and she's good for now. So I think they would be okay with me visiting now.
I have so much admiration for you going through this terrible disease and still being a mom. I can't imagine how hard that is. Your kids are adorable.

saundra

hockeygolf7 said:

Nausea
Isn't there anything that she can take for the nausea. I was on at least 4 different nausea medications just to make sure I wasn't sick like that. Please talk to the doctor about something for her, she shouldn't have to go through that. Prayers and good thoughts.

Anti nausea
I just heard today of a cancer case in which the anti nausea drug was actually causing the nausea. A switch in prescriptions cured the nausea. There are many different ones to try. Saundra

newhopechurchli

saundra said:

Anti nausea
I just heard today of a cancer case in which the anti nausea drug was actually causing the nausea. A switch in prescriptions cured the nausea. There are many different ones to try. Saundra

Yes...
I have heard of that too... where the medication had to be switched. Not every medication works for every person... maybe it would be as simple as getting a new prescription.

wendybill

Still out here and thinking of you
Hi Jami---- I just read your latest post and wanted you to know I am thinking of you. I am hoping that your mom's nausea is better today. It just sounds awful. I hope that you have been able to see her. I feel for you. You are really an amazing support to your family.
Wendy