Daughter is a survivor

maplegrnny
maplegrnny Member Posts: 6
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
My daughter just underwent a mastectomy before Christmas and is to start her chemo Friday. Yesterday the dr did a "Port" and by last night she was upset and crying when she called. She said her arm was very bruised and the incission was bleeding. She was calling her dr when we hung up. Have some of you also experienced this discomfort with a port. I think she was really having a rough day and Today was no picnic either as she was having some sort of scan on her heart. I know she is scared, I am scared for her. What advice do you have for a mom who lives 400 miles away? I am making arrangements to be with her for her 2nd and 3rd treatments. She will be receiving Adriamycin and Cytoxan. (sp) Your messages on this web site have helped.

Comments

  • me2
    me2 Member Posts: 20
    #2
    The port is a pain. I never did get use to mine, didn't hurt just uncomfortable. But this too is just part of all of it. Stay positive, pray alot, and let her know how much you love her and how proud you are of her. Cards are great especially funny ones.
  • jrowe
    jrowe Member Posts: 13
    #3
    Hugs to you. It is just as hard to be a mom to a daughter with breast cancer as it is to be the one that has bc. I was dx with bc in May and completed my chemo in December and am currently receiving my radiation treatments. I had a port placed (mine was placed at the time of the mastectomy) and it was wonderful. It is so much easier having a port for the chemo to go into rather than using blood vessels every time and risking the medication going into the arm rather than the blood vessel. It is also great because they draw all the blood for the blood tests from the port rather than the veins in the arm. Her arm bruising and some bleeding from the incision would be normal. My port area was bruised after placement (mine was on the upper right side of my chest) and bruised after every treatment. The bruising is just from small blood vessels being broken. If there is a large amount of bleeding from the incision she should definitly be checked. A small amount from healing is normal. I had the Muga scan also before I started chemo. The muga scan gives information about the function of the heart. Chemo is very toxic and can cause the heart function to diminish. Which did happen in my case! I just had a post chemo muga scan done and it showed the toxicity of the chemo caused my heart function to go from 56% (normal) to 45%. I had the scan done because I had shortness of breath with the chemo that still continues. Fortunately there is nothing I have to do, once the toxicity of the drug subsides my heart function will go back to normal and the sob will go away. This can take 3-4 months after the chemo. Not everyone is affected by chemo this way though. I received Adriamyacin and Cytoxan also for 4 cycles, and received docetaxol for 4 cycles. I will happy to answer any of your questions that I can. It has been a long and very rough 8 months for me. But, I can finally see an end. Everyone told me that radiation would be so much easier, which I don't really find too true. I am having side effects from it also! I consider it collateral damage! E-mail me with any questions, and if I can help I will. rrowe@newnorth.net
    God Bless You and your daughter
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #4
    jrowe said:

    Hugs to you. It is just as hard to be a mom to a daughter with breast cancer as it is to be the one that has bc. I was dx with bc in May and completed my chemo in December and am currently receiving my radiation treatments. I had a port placed (mine was placed at the time of the mastectomy) and it was wonderful. It is so much easier having a port for the chemo to go into rather than using blood vessels every time and risking the medication going into the arm rather than the blood vessel. It is also great because they draw all the blood for the blood tests from the port rather than the veins in the arm. Her arm bruising and some bleeding from the incision would be normal. My port area was bruised after placement (mine was on the upper right side of my chest) and bruised after every treatment. The bruising is just from small blood vessels being broken. If there is a large amount of bleeding from the incision she should definitly be checked. A small amount from healing is normal. I had the Muga scan also before I started chemo. The muga scan gives information about the function of the heart. Chemo is very toxic and can cause the heart function to diminish. Which did happen in my case! I just had a post chemo muga scan done and it showed the toxicity of the chemo caused my heart function to go from 56% (normal) to 45%. I had the scan done because I had shortness of breath with the chemo that still continues. Fortunately there is nothing I have to do, once the toxicity of the drug subsides my heart function will go back to normal and the sob will go away. This can take 3-4 months after the chemo. Not everyone is affected by chemo this way though. I received Adriamyacin and Cytoxan also for 4 cycles, and received docetaxol for 4 cycles. I will happy to answer any of your questions that I can. It has been a long and very rough 8 months for me. But, I can finally see an end. Everyone told me that radiation would be so much easier, which I don't really find too true. I am having side effects from it also! I consider it collateral damage! E-mail me with any questions, and if I can help I will. rrowe@newnorth.net
    God Bless You and your daughter

    Visit me at www.urcctc.com
    Conquering Cancer Through Christ
    then see about getting your daughter to visit us.
    The ladies here are wonderful. Lots of helpful advice, love and re-assurance.
    At CCTC we also have a message board and pray for one another. You can never have to many prayers or
    (((HUGS))) Love, hummingbyrd
  • jake10
    jake10 Member Posts: 202
    #5
    god Bless. from 400 miles away there is not much you can actually DO, but you can still be there for her. Be a good listener and then calmly lead her to the right choices or actions. When she calls crying because something hurts or she's sick, listen to what is really going on and you will know what to advise her to do. And if you don't know what to say, say that.
    The cards are a wonderful idea, especially the funny ones. You develope a sick sense of humor becoming a cancer survivor. Love is your greatest gift. Good Luck, Love Beth

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