Essential Oils

Lou Ann M

i have been wondering about essentials oils mainly to help with the pain I have in my hip and shoulder, so I ordered a small set from Amazon and asked my Oncologist about using them.  He said that as long as I didnot put it in my mouth he had no problem with it.  He said injesting it may not be good with my treatment. Rubbing it on and using a difusser was worth a try.  I am trying frankincense and myrrh on my hip and shoulder and at times it seems to help.  Lots of other combinations to,try but these were already mixed, because I bought them at a holistic medicine store for Neuropath.  It did wore for that but didn't last for very long.

Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

Nellasing

I use doTERRA and love them

I got to hear Dr. Z at a seminar once and I really like him- you can follow him on FB - here is a link to some of his essential oil info. 

http://drericz.com/category/gods-medicine/dr-z-essential-oils-database/

Glad you are trying them and enjoying them so far.   (((HUGS)))

nateandkatesmom

Spark Naturals, Inc.

LouAnn

I have been using essential oils for awhile. My daughter has degenerative disc disease from many years of dance. I ordered from Spark Naturals after seeing posts on "One Good Thing" a blog that has lots of recipes for home remedies. We have been really happy with the products and remedies.

Of course, I am sure your pain is more intense, but Jillee, the author seems very informed and discusses mixing the essential oils with carrier oils for better absorbtion and for it to last longer. You might want to check the blog for ideas; it is free. If you decide to order from Spark use the code JILLEE and you get 10% off the entire order. You can use the code every time you order.

HTH

Big Sister 5

UPSC

My sister starts chemo on Tuesday 2/14 for UPSC. Her husband, daughter and I will be caregivers. I want to make her as comfortable as possible after her treatment. Can anyone give me suggestions that help you during your treatments. I am very nervous and scared for her and want her as comfortable as possible. She will be getting two types of chemo over 18 weeks; then radiation. I hope everyone on this site is doing well and I thank you for any information you can give me.

 

Lou Ann M

Welcome

Welcome to the club no one wants to belong to.  This is a good place for advice and support.  your sister is lucky to have such a good aupport system.  There is a thread her called "Ladies going through chemo " that can give you a Lot of very helpful advice.  It was written but a number of ladies as they went through this and and it kind of chronicles their trip.    As scary as it is, chemo very doable.  My husband went with me every time and sat with me.  Just not being alone was a big help.  I took various things along to intertain myself while I sat there.  Music to listen to and an IPod. , an I Pad, pencil games, drawing materials, adult color books, are some of the things I have used over the four and a half years that I have been doing this.  Snack are also nice.  My infusion center has TVs and volunteers come around with snacks and warm blankets.  I have a wonderful friend that brings me a small gift back the night before chemo.  If your sist is getting Neulasta after her chemo, taking Claritin the day before and for several,days after may help with the bone pain it can cause.  Her doctor should give her scripts for nausea and constipation.  She needs to be proactive about both.  Many of us have found Myralax to be a life saver.  She will need to,stay hydrated.  So she need to drink and drink some more.  Eating is sometimes hard.  Soups, smoothies and popcycles helped me.

Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

Big Sister 5

Lou Ann M said:

Welcome

Welcome to the club no one wants to belong to.  This is a good place for advice and support.  your sister is lucky to have such a good aupport system.  There is a thread her called "Ladies going through chemo " that can give you a Lot of very helpful advice.  It was written but a number of ladies as they went through this and and it kind of chronicles their trip.    As scary as it is, chemo very doable.  My husband went with me every time and sat with me.  Just not being alone was a big help.  I took various things along to intertain myself while I sat there.  Music to listen to and an IPod. , an I Pad, pencil games, drawing materials, adult color books, are some of the things I have used over the four and a half years that I have been doing this.  Snack are also nice.  My infusion center has TVs and volunteers come around with snacks and warm blankets.  I have a wonderful friend that brings me a small gift back the night before chemo.  If your sist is getting Neulasta after her chemo, taking Claritin the day before and for several,days after may help with the bone pain it can cause.  Her doctor should give her scripts for nausea and constipation.  She needs to be proactive about both.  Many of us have found Myralax to be a life saver.  She will need to,stay hydrated.  So she need to drink and drink some more.  Eating is sometimes hard.  Soups, smoothies and popcycles helped me.

Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

thank you

Lou Ann, thank you for giving me these tips. I never thought about her time during the adminstering of the chemo. She will be having two types of chemo: carboplatinal and Taxiel (not sure of spelling). The first round is supposed to take about 6 hours. I am going to pack a bag for her. Her husband is wonderful and will be with her each time. Monday we have a support meeting with the p.a. in the drs. office. She will be giving us information regarding her diet etc. Also, she will be taking anti-nausea meds. That is her biggest fear right now and I can't blame her!! I hope your health is doing well right now. I am praying for everyone in this "club no one wants to belong to." Thank you for all your information and suggestions. God Bless You!

Kvdyson

Big Sister 5 said:

UPSC

My sister starts chemo on Tuesday 2/14 for UPSC. Her husband, daughter and I will be caregivers. I want to make her as comfortable as possible after her treatment. Can anyone give me suggestions that help you during your treatments. I am very nervous and scared for her and want her as comfortable as possible. She will be getting two types of chemo over 18 weeks; then radiation. I hope everyone on this site is doing well and I thank you for any information you can give me.

 

Big Sister 5, so very sorry

Big Sister 5, so very sorry to hear of your sister's diagnosis. I am the youngest of 5 very supportive siblings so I can tell you from experience that having your support along the way will mean a lot to her. 

The best advice I received about treatment was 1) stay hydrated - if you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated, 2) keep moving - even if it's only a few steps - do it, 3) eat high protein meals - your body needs the protein to recover properly, 4) take probiotics during radiation - they help with keeping you regular, 5) take Miralax during chemo, it helps keep you regular and 6) stay positive - you can't control much about what is happening to your body but you can control how you react to it.

Treatments are never easy but they are generally do-able. Stay hopeful and good luck to your sister! Kim

Big Sister 5

Kvdyson said:

Big Sister 5, so very sorry

Big Sister 5, so very sorry to hear of your sister's diagnosis. I am the youngest of 5 very supportive siblings so I can tell you from experience that having your support along the way will mean a lot to her. 

The best advice I received about treatment was 1) stay hydrated - if you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated, 2) keep moving - even if it's only a few steps - do it, 3) eat high protein meals - your body needs the protein to recover properly, 4) take probiotics during radiation - they help with keeping you regular, 5) take Miralax during chemo, it helps keep you regular and 6) stay positive - you can't control much about what is happening to your body but you can control how you react to it.

Treatments are never easy but they are generally do-able. Stay hopeful and good luck to your sister! Kim

Kim, thank you so much for

Kim, thank you so much for this information. I am making a list of all the suggestions and keeping it with me. Our support meeting is on Monday and they will also be giving us information. This is so overwhelming and hitting home now that its a few days away.

Thank you again for all your support and suggestions. Lynn

Nellasing

Big Sister 5

Chiming in with the other voices to let you know we will be thinking of and praying for all of you as you move forward on this journey.  Trying to stay in the day I am in and not get too far ahead seems to help me.  Packing a "go" bag also helped so that I had everything ready and could just walk out the door without fretting about forgetting something.  A friend of mine came and each time she brought me a "gift" of a new angel.  The 1st one was for my chemo pole and I always brought her with me and hung her there to watch over the meds as they went in.   Someone told me to sit close to the bathroom because not only should you keep drinking your water (your urine will burn if you don't drink it I found) you will also be getting liquid so you need to go often. 

I can not stress enough to stay ahead of the constipation with water and drugs- you really need to get that chemo OUT as soon as possible and that is one of the exits.

Please know you can come here with questions and your sister can sign on herself if she wants to.  Big ole (((HUGS))) and prayers!

PS does your sister have a port yet?  You may want to get on that sooner than later- the meds are very hard on the veins and I am SO THANKFUL that I got my port and I intend to keep it!!   Speaking of veins- she may want a nice warm pad - which they have available- on her arm as the meds are cold- they were to me- if she doesn't yet have a port.

NoTimeForCancer

Big Sister 5 said:

UPSC

My sister starts chemo on Tuesday 2/14 for UPSC. Her husband, daughter and I will be caregivers. I want to make her as comfortable as possible after her treatment. Can anyone give me suggestions that help you during your treatments. I am very nervous and scared for her and want her as comfortable as possible. She will be getting two types of chemo over 18 weeks; then radiation. I hope everyone on this site is doing well and I thank you for any information you can give me.

 

Big Sister, please know that

Big Sister, please know that none of us could make it through this journey without the love and support of family and friends.  I can't even imagine what my sisters were thinking when I told them I had cancer.  You are welcome here anytime to ask questions for your sister or get an insight in to what your sister might be thinking.  

CheeseQueen57

I second all the recommendations...and

I was scheduled for 18 weeks of the same therapy (only made it through 14) and had 28 days of external radiation and 3 internal treatments. Before I began therapy I bought myself a Pandora bracelet and a few charms. My intention was to add a charm for every week I completed therapy. It was a real motivator for me and actually many friends and family ending up getting me charms. Now I've completed my frontline therapy and I've got a beautiful bracelet which I call my "survivor bracelet" that reminds me how much I am loved. 

I also set up a CaringBridge site because I have friends and family all over the country and it would have been impossible to keep them up to date with my progress without the site. But the added benefit to me is the caring and motivational comments my friends and family shared with me through those long months (and still do!). 

I had my "chemo" bag with snacks (nuts, fruit, hard sugarless candy). Snacks they had there are pretty junky. I always took my own lunch in an insulated bag. I took my own blanket (although they have them there). I had one made at collage.com with all my favorite pictures of my family. I also took one of those horseshoe  neck pillows like you use on a plane. I also took coloring books, my iPod, earbuds (in case you have a noisy neighbor) and had my playlist ready. I also had some Tums in my bag cause heartburn is common.

I second drink lots of water and try to be by the bathroom. I always asked for a copy of my labs. And because I was jazzed up on the steroids, I baked muffins every week for the infusuon staff. They seemed to really enjoy them and they remember you!

I found between watching a little TV, using my iPad, listening to music, coloring, eating my lunch and going to the bathroom, time really did go by quick. My husband was in and out but he didn't sit there for the entire time and I didn't want him to. 

Good luck. They meds they give for nausea are amazing now, she really shouldn't have too much trouble with that. Although later taste perception may be altered. Be sure to let us know how things go. 

CheeseQueen57

BTW

Your sister will probably feel pretty good for the first few weeks. I was out walking and feeling pretty good. Hair goes about 2-3 weeks so she might want to be prepared with wig, scarves, hats. 

Big Sister 5

Sister

Ladies:

My deepest thanks to all of you for taking the time to respond to me. You are all an inspiration to me and I am hopeful things will go well. We had our meeting yesterday for the support group. The PA was wonderful. She was informative and very upbeat. I was nervous about going mainly because I didn't want to cry in front of my sister. However, the PA took all that anxiety away. She starts today and I am bringing her and her husband lunch. 

My love and prayers to out to all of you! Again, thank you for your kindness. Lynn

Nellasing

Big Sister 5

Thinking of your sister and her husband today as they begin frontline treatment.  The chemo nurses are some of the nicest, most caring people and they will help walk them through every step.  We'll be thinking of you as you bring them lunch and go through the feelings that will no doubt come up.  I hope you have someone to talk with and share with because you don't need to keep all this bottled up inside you either.  Stress is very bad for our bodies and I hope you can find ways to let it go.  Please do come here and vent if you want or need to- you can say things to us and ask us questions that you may feel very reluctant to ask your sister.... it's ok- we understand and there is nothing off limits here!  Big Big (((HUGS)))

Kamushka

What a great Big Sister

I love that you are there for your sister and her husband! I had six chemo sessions every three weeks lasting anywhere from 8 to 9 hours because I had problems with my port. My hair fell out after chemo #1 but your sister's body will be hers alone as will her symptoms. Never had trouble with nauseous the meds they infused and the patch I wore home that lasted seven days worked wonders! When the neuropathy was unbearable they reduced the taxol to 80% and put my hands and feet on ice and it helped tremendously. I am not a complainer so I had to force myself to tell them how I was feeling so the side effects would not become permanent!  My husband came and sat with me for chemo one for all those hours and it was "bring your own chair" for him because the infusion place was small. For chemo two my son in law volunteered to come with me because my husband had to get a follow up on his four year rectal cancer battle. our daughter came to chemo three, our one son came for chemo four and the other came for five. For the last chemo, my husband came but our daughter came with flowers and balloons to celebrate the final chemo. They chose to come they said because they wanted to see what it was like and it really helped us bond closer. When my husband received his chemo, he took four pills four times a day and they came in the mail! The kids gave me a goody bag to take each week with a bestseller, snacks and a t-shirt to wear with a phase like "keep calm and chemo on"...."coffee first than chemo" .....   "chemo sabe"....." fIght CANcer (with the letters I CAN in a different color" ) and " one more chemo and I'll glow in the dark" it was fun to see what they picked out for me to read, wear, a n d eat!.......Good luck to all of you! 

BluebirdOne

Are we being punked?

Harmanygroves

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1695958#Comment_1695958

Laughing my * * * off!