1st treatment - 1st trimester

beachinmom said:

CONGRATS---and a few tips.
Congratulations on your pregnancy. I am sure it gives your hubby something happy to look forward to and take some of the focus away from cancer. I would think it could be a GREAT diversion.

The neuropothy started w/ treatment one for me as well. It didn't get a whole lot worse, so that was good. I did have some tricks/or tips I will share.

I too craved juice or flavored drinks, so I bought the little individual juice packs, or welches bottles and they don't have to be refrigerated before, so I drank them at room temp.

Bottled water or flavored water. Also we had a home water dispenser that had a hot spout, so I could easily mix hot and cold to get a warm water that was easier on the throat.

The fatique was the hardest, coupled w/ some nights of not being able to sleep. So, I made myself a priority and slept every time I felt like it. I was fortunate in that I am a stay at home mom, w/ kids that became pretty self-sufficient for a while. I tried to eat healty and made drinking alot of water a BIG priority. I know it helped w/ the constipation problems of treatment.

I am sure you will get plenty of tips....Good luck...

Oh, on the nausea, I communicated well w/ my dr.'s and started w/ good med's and moved up to Emend when it got bad. I only vomited once during treatment. The nurses always said, "nausea should be the least of your worries or side effects because we have such good meds to treat it." I would just have to communicate well so we knew how and if the particular med was working for me.

usakat said:

Life!
Hello Laura,

The delicate bittersweet beauty of life never ceases to amaze me. What you and your husband are living with is a painful, but beautiful irony - a scary life altering disease like cancer and the upcoming birth of your child. These are the things that make my heart swell with empathy and compassion, but at the same time, celebration. I suppose it's the unfortunate trials and tribulations that make the joyous and happy events all the more sweet. Perhaps this is where gratitude can truly be learned and felt in a visceral way. Either way, I'm so sorry to hear of your hubby's struggle with cancer, but congratulations on your pregnancy.

As for your questions, this would be my advice from a been there - done that perspective...

1. vomiting - did you avoid it? Did you take the anti nausea pills on a regular basis or only when you needed them?

~ Chemo for me was a six month hurl-fest. I was the vomit comet. I swear I could hit the bull's eye (toilet) at a run from three feet with projectile vomit. I was astounded by the ferocity of which the contents of my stomach vacated my body. It was gross, but fascinating all at the same time. It was also a huge pain. Like me, your hubby may not be able to avoid it - some of us are just unlucky like that, but there are ways to deal with it.

First and foremost - TALK TO HIS ONC AND CHEMO NURSE! They can alter the anti-emetics meds with a change in dosage or type of medication. Start with the Compazine (prochlorperazine), then move to Zofran (Zofran also comes in a suppository if hubby is struggling keeping things down - you would be surprised at what you're willing to do to feel better when you feel like crap), but if he still suffers, ask for Emend. Unfortunately, many insurance companies will either not cover Emend or will require a high co-pay. If this is the case with your hubby, have him try to hold out as long as he can until the last several treatments and be sure to ask the onc for pharmaceutical samples of the Emend. Kytril is also now offered in a tablet form, so you might ask about that as well.

Other things that help are ginger products - ginger ale (room temperature), ginger hard candy, ginger oil applied to pulse points on the wrist (an old sailors remedy). Lemon drops are good too.

If it turns out that hubby is a hurler, like me, it's a side effect he will have to manage. DRINK LOTS OF FLUIDS!!! Dehydration is the enemy. Drink room temperature liquids - Water, diluted Gatoraid (cut with water, sparkling water or lemon-lime soda), I enjoyed weak herbal tea (black tea can be harsh) with lemon, anything else that hubby likes and can tolerate, but let him know it may come up, but it's okay - if comes up, it comes up. Just don't give up!

Food - Nourishment is important and sometimes the right food can actually settle the stomach - counter-intuitive, I know, but it can work. Share your Saltine crackers - what's good for the pregnant lady is good for the chemo patient. They actually do simmer down an angry stomach. My mom, a four time cancer survivor, told me about the BRAT diet. B = Bananas, R = Rice, A = Applesauce, T = Toast.

For me, hurling up a banana or some applesauce was tolerable, not fun, but tolerable. Applesauce should be the spice-free (no cinnamon) and lightly sweetened kind - all natural is all the better! Bread should not be too grainy, go for the smoother varieties. Soup was always good too - again the smoother, less spicy soups - good old Campbell's chicken soup...try the Low Sodium Healthy request soup.

Food and liquids should be consumed slowly - no downing food or drink in a rush. He'll just have to wait until after treatment to slam a slice a pizza and a cola.

Dealing with the urge to purge when you're out and about can be troubling. I puked EVERYWHERE! Gas station, public parks, side of the road, at my cancer center, other people's houses, movie theater, various spots up and down the 55 and 57 freeways in SoCal, etc... It was horrible until I started carrying my favorite fashion accessory during chemo - The Chuckie Bag! Use zip-lock freezer bags, stuffed with paper towels and facial or toilet tissue. The paper absorbs the liquid and gives you a container to dispose of easily. I never left home without them. Make a few for hubby - he'll love you for it.

2. fatigue - any tricks here?

~ Fatigue happens - accept it. Chemo is a time of fighting and healing and the body's response is fatigue. Let your husband be restful. So what if the lawn doesn't get mowed or the cars are unwashed. Sometimes it's hard for a cancer patient to stop being caregivers and allow themselves the be care receivers. Let hubby know it's okay to let unnecessary things be left alone if he is better served by rest, sleep or relaxation. He'll have his chance to be everyone's go-to guy again, but for now if he would heed to his body's needs, he will recover all the more quickly when he is done with treatment.

3. cold beverages - we seem to have to microwave everything. But some juices just don't heat up well for breakfast! What do you drink when you can't handle the cold?

~ Room temperature for everything. I would avoid too many fruit juices - they are too acidic and can cause stomach upset. Diluted apple or white grape juices are good served at room temperature. Nothing out of the fridge or ice chest!

4. any other helpful hints would be great!!

~ LIVE!!! Go to the movies, have a picnic, go to a comedy club, rent your favorite funny and sentimental movies (go rent Young Frankenstein), play board games/cards, plan a special event for when treatment is over - like the birth of your baby...hey a coed baby shower might be fun (have you ever seen a grown man drink beer from a baby bottle? It will make you laugh until you cry, and laughter through tears are always so cleansing). Have people bring gifts for baby and inspirational messages/gifts for hubby. Make it a true celebration of life. Live life in spite of cancer.

Keep checking in here and let your husband know there is support for him out there/here. Let us know how we can help!

Wishing you and your husband many blessings for healing, comfort, good health and lots of happiness. Sending you good thoughts and prayers...

Katie