Living Alone - Diabetic about to have treatments.

2017MotherHasCancer

Hello Everyone.

I hope someone can share some experiences with me regarding my Mother's treatment and living alone.   

My Mother is 70 years old, Diabetic and lives alone in an "stand alone apartment" overtop a garage that belongs to a church that is open Wed/Sun.  There are 17 stairs leading to the entrance.  No neighbors.

Full Hysterocomy completed 8.21.2017  At least Stage 2 Endometrial Cancer / Cancer of the Uterus  (the doctoris interchange these terms)  CT of Chest completed  9.6.2017 and we are waiting for results/re-staging if it has spread.

Chemo -  Carboplatin and Taxol are to begin 9.13.2017 for a period of 9 weeks (depending on weather and her labs,  that could be extended) 

Radiation will be inbetween for an additional 6 weeks M-F

Chemo of Carboplatin and Taxol for an additional 9 weeks

I know every person is affected differently, but it is possible for a person to live alone and care for themselves completely during this type of treatment at 70 years old, stairs and being a diabetic?  (she does little to control her diabeties.  i.e. Ice cream for breakfast, a bowl of Cool Whip with a handful of strawberries thrown in etc.   The last meal I recall her cooking was sometime in the early 1980's. - - I honestly do not know what she actually "eats.")

I live 500 miles away, and at my urging, she is teetering on the idea of living with me during treatment but she seems to think she will be able to drive herself to/from treatments and it may not be nessary for her to stay with me.

Just getting an idea if I AM the one that is overthinking this.

Thanks.

 

 

MAbound

Welcome

So glad you found us. What your asking is very hard to answer because each of us handle treatment differently.

How well has she be handling her post-op recovery? That might give you some clue as to how she'd handle chemo and radiation on her own.

Infusion days are usually ok as far as feeling sick, but about 2 or three days later the fatigue and other side effects are going to kick in and those are the days to be concerned about.

The effects of chemo, especially the fatigue, are cumulative so expect the side effects to last longer and longer as treatment progresses. There are a myriad of possible side effects, but not everybody gets them. The most universal ones seem to be the fatigue, constipation, and loss of appetite. It's going to be a tough couple of months for your mom once she starts this and I hope she appreciates the support you are considering giving her. It won't be easy to do it on her own.

 

2017MotherHasCancer

MAbound said:

Welcome

So glad you found us. What your asking is very hard to answer because each of us handle treatment differently.

How well has she be handling her post-op recovery? That might give you some clue as to how she'd handle chemo and radiation on her own.

Infusion days are usually ok as far as feeling sick, but about 2 or three days later the fatigue and other side effects are going to kick in and those are the days to be concerned about.

The effects of chemo, especially the fatigue, are cumulative so expect the side effects to last longer and longer as treatment progresses. There are a myriad of possible side effects, but not everybody gets them. The most universal ones seem to be the fatigue, constipation, and loss of appetite. It's going to be a tough couple of months for your mom once she starts this and I hope she appreciates the support you are considering giving her. It won't be easy to do it on her own.

 

Thank you for your post.   I

Thank you for your post.   I too think her time during treatment will be more than she realizes.  

janaes

I am a single mom and was

I am a single mom and was whwn I went through treatments.  I lived by myself with my 13 and 10 year old.  I will just say I needed there help.  I had family that lived that lived not to far  and they help emensly.  I was alone at times but with out the help of others I wouldnt have made it.

Lou Ann M

Physically maybe

I was 65 when I went through frontline treatment.  There is a possibility that I may have been able to handle the physical part of treatment.  I drove, I worked full time side effects were not too bad.  I would not have been able to handle the emotional side of all of this by myself.  This is an emotional rollercoaste.

Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

Hummingbird6

Finding Support

I just completed 6 cycles of carbo/taxol and brachytherapy for endometrial cancer after TAH/BSO, and although I lived alone and was very active and independent at age 61 before all this,  it was not enough.  My daughter moved in to help me. The fatigue and nausea were so severe days 3-6 that she had to push fluids, I would not have gotten up.  I fell frequently. As the folks above write, it got worse with each cycle. It is also hard to predict since each person responds very differently to treatment. 

Consider what support system your mother has near her home,  people really do want to help when there is a need.  Can the church help, or a visiting nurse, or friends close by? The recommended treatment you outline is many months, it may be best to start out near where she will be having all tthe treatments (driving 500 miles from your place, then back, to her treatment team may not be realistic). Continuity in treatment team is important. 

Wishing you strength and compassion.  This is a long road, but many of us have successfully managed it with support.

 

 

 

2017MotherHasCancer

Hummingbird6 said:

Finding Support

I just completed 6 cycles of carbo/taxol and brachytherapy for endometrial cancer after TAH/BSO, and although I lived alone and was very active and independent at age 61 before all this,  it was not enough.  My daughter moved in to help me. The fatigue and nausea were so severe days 3-6 that she had to push fluids, I would not have gotten up.  I fell frequently. As the folks above write, it got worse with each cycle. It is also hard to predict since each person responds very differently to treatment. 

Consider what support system your mother has near her home,  people really do want to help when there is a need.  Can the church help, or a visiting nurse, or friends close by? The recommended treatment you outline is many months, it may be best to start out near where she will be having all tthe treatments (driving 500 miles from your place, then back, to her treatment team may not be realistic). Continuity in treatment team is important. 

Wishing you strength and compassion.  This is a long road, but many of us have successfully managed it with support.

 

 

 

Thanks for your response

Thanks for your response Hummingbird6.   We are deciding between her moving in with me (during treatment) then begin her 3 month follow ups back in her home state of Virginia once Chemo/Radiation/Chemo treatments are complete.  The other option is for my Mother to "stay put" and try to  do this alone with people stopping in every so often to check on her.

Her sister lives near, and is happy to help, but it may be too much to tackle as she has other responsibilities of her own. 

This is a very difficult decsion not knowing how she may or many not react to treatment.  I would hate to uproot her only for her to breeze through treatment and resent moving here for 6-9 months for "no good reason".

We are likely to learn the results of her chest CT over the next few days, and that may determine if she refuses treatment.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.