Living alone during chemo

Kate-caregiver

Hello everyone!  I just joined you all today and have learned so much already--thank you!

My mother is about to begin her first round of carboplatin & taxol and she lives alone.  I'm trying to plan how much I should be with her in the coming weeks and months.  Should I plan on spending the night for the first few nights after each chemo treatment?  What about help during the day--do you think someone should be there all day at first and then taper off after 3-4 days post chemo?  I've heard symptoms worsen with each round so when does it get to the point that she needs help all day?

Thanks so much for your suggestions in planning for her care.  I would love to hear what worked for others.  She has uterine serous carcinoma, stage 3c.

 

 

 

TC2000

My father also lives alone

Hello,

i am new to this site as of today and read your post and thought I would respond.  My father was diagnosed with stage III lung cancer in December of 2013.  When he began treatment he started too with caroplatin and taxol.  He also lives alone.  My dad did ok with these medications as he had no nausea or sickness, but did loose his hair and was very tired.  After each round of chemo he became even more tired.  By far, this was the worst for him.  He lives about 30 minutes awat friom me so at the beginning my sister and I were with him after our work day which was mostly in the evenings and had other family members checking on him periodically throughout the day,  I have learned with each new medicaiton the symptoms can change and some are better and some are much worse.  My dad is now stage four and the chemo drug has since changed.  With this new drug he has no appetite and more tired than ever.  I'm not sure if any of this helps but you will know what is best to do after each chemo treatment and as symptoms change. We found there were some days my father had trouble doing small tasks so it was much easier for him when we were there to prepare meals, do laundry, dishes, etc.   Everyone tends to respond much differently.  I am sorry to hear about your mother.  i know what you are going through.    

Kate-caregiver

TC2000 said:

My father also lives alone

Hello,

i am new to this site as of today and read your post and thought I would respond.  My father was diagnosed with stage III lung cancer in December of 2013.  When he began treatment he started too with caroplatin and taxol.  He also lives alone.  My dad did ok with these medications as he had no nausea or sickness, but did loose his hair and was very tired.  After each round of chemo he became even more tired.  By far, this was the worst for him.  He lives about 30 minutes awat friom me so at the beginning my sister and I were with him after our work day which was mostly in the evenings and had other family members checking on him periodically throughout the day,  I have learned with each new medicaiton the symptoms can change and some are better and some are much worse.  My dad is now stage four and the chemo drug has since changed.  With this new drug he has no appetite and more tired than ever.  I'm not sure if any of this helps but you will know what is best to do after each chemo treatment and as symptoms change. We found there were some days my father had trouble doing small tasks so it was much easier for him when we were there to prepare meals, do laundry, dishes, etc.   Everyone tends to respond much differently.  I am sorry to hear about your mother.  i know what you are going through.    

Thanks

Thank you so much for the response!  I'm sorry for what your father has gone through.  I appreciate your thoughts--I will just try not to be too rigid and go with the flow as things progress.  Best to you and your Dad!