Chemotherapy
- Thread starter cyflier
- Start date
I underwent radiation for a totally different kind of cancer. I don't have any advice on chemo, but I can offer some insight on her upcoming radiation.
With chemo, it's much like a roller coaster. You feel super-terrible right after treatments, and then better when the drugs run through your system - it's very up-and-down, from what I understand.
Radiation is shaped more like a very gradual inverse bell curve. Your first few treatments, maybe even the first week or two, you feel fine. Then, you start to feel a ton of fatigue - and your energy level just stays bottomed out until a bit after treatments end.
I'm incredibly fair-skinned, so I got third-degree burns in my radiation zone. I had to use Aquaphor lotion at first, and then they had to prescribe me a special zinc compound when that wasn't enough and my skin burned off. It takes a long time to recover from radiation burns, and she will likely want to see a dermatologist once a year to check that area for skin cancer.
Best wishes to her speedy and full recovery. <3
With chemo, it's much like a roller coaster. You feel super-terrible right after treatments, and then better when the drugs run through your system - it's very up-and-down, from what I understand.
Radiation is shaped more like a very gradual inverse bell curve. Your first few treatments, maybe even the first week or two, you feel fine. Then, you start to feel a ton of fatigue - and your energy level just stays bottomed out until a bit after treatments end.
I'm incredibly fair-skinned, so I got third-degree burns in my radiation zone. I had to use Aquaphor lotion at first, and then they had to prescribe me a special zinc compound when that wasn't enough and my skin burned off. It takes a long time to recover from radiation burns, and she will likely want to see a dermatologist once a year to check that area for skin cancer.
Best wishes to her speedy and full recovery. <3
I'm really sorry to hear that, my wife was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma this past spring and underwent 12 chemo treatments from March-September. It's not fun and I know there's a lot of different chemo meds out there and there's a lot of variation from how people respond to it, but I will say for the most part it was not as terrible as we were expecting.
I think both of us going in imagined it being a lot of throwing up and constant sickness, but that really was not the case. They have very good nausea drugs available, my wife actually did not throw up once during the entire treatment. She did have days when very few things sounded good to eat, and did have some of the changing sense of tastes that they probably warned you about so you just have to adjust your meal plans to whatever sounds good to her at the time. Keeping hydrated really made a difference, especially in the days following treatment, drinking a lot of water really did help.
For my wife, the days immediately following the treatment weren't the worst. It was days three through five, when the pre-meds they give you before the chemo treatment have worn out that were the hardest for her. On those days just making it through work would wipe her out and she would need to sleep as soon as she got home. After about the fifth day, she would start feeling better, at least until the next treatment when it starts all over again.
To keep this somewhat short, it's a grind going through this, especially once you get towards the middle of it, but it's not going to be all bad days. On days she's feeling good, take advantage of it, get out and do something fun. As I'm sure you know at this point, it probably feels like everything has changed but some of that can be changes in a positive way, just going out to eat or going for a walk together can be a lot more meaningful. It will also probably bring you a lot closer together, after you go through something like this together it's much easier to just let those little things go that may have started arguments before.
i am kbud wife. I started my cancer journey when I was 14. It returned through the years in varies stages and came back when I was 46. I had a double mastectomy and chemo and radiation. Each person goes through it differently. I will tell you getting a port was one of the best things that I did. chew peppermint gum when they are flushing it, takes care of the taste, they make a magic mouth wash for the mouth sores and popsicles help. I used iowa acupuncture for the nausea as the medication didn't work. stay on top of the drugs or she will be more miserable. i used a sauna and the bathtub for the bone pain. it depends what type of chemo she does, I did dose dense, and I was er positive. Somedays i did not even have effort. it took everything i had to just exist. I had to talk myself into getting out of bed. If she doesn't want to do whatever you think she should do, don't get mad at her if she doesn't do it. she will have all she can handle some days and even though you are trying to help, it may be to much. don't eat any of your favorite food, you may not ever eat it again. ice will begin to taste like dirt. Essential oils help. if she has any questions just message Kbud he will get it to me. I am so sorry this is an incredible tough situation.
Very sorry to hear of your new journey. Thoughts and prayers to you both.
My wife was diagnosed with DCIS (pre-breast cancer) caught by 3-D mammogram about a year after I was diagnosed with metatastic (to thoracic lymph nodes) melanoma.
My first year of treatment to try and control it (no cure yet exists) consisted of immunotherapy until my immune system started to attack the lining of my stomach and esophagus. Plan B was and still is targeted therapy on a gene mutation in my type of melanoma. The specialty pharmacists classify my drugs (pills) as first level of chemo. Side effects have been from mild fatigue and headaches to chills and high fever that have put me in the hospital a couple times. Due to non-cooperation by a couple of effected lymph nodes (tumors) we added ten radiation treatments (Plan C) the first two weeks of October. Today's scan showed that the protesters are back in line and under control. Targeted therapy will continue as will my cancer journey.
My wife had a lumpectomy and sixteen radiation treatments, is now on hormone therapy and doing very well.
Our faith, and support from family and friends has helped us stay positive overall. We take the journey a day at a time and make the most out of the peaks, and help each other through the valleys.
Your wife's journey will be unique to her circumstances but absolutely bearable. Please know you have the support of this Cyclone Fanatic who is also giving you full clearance to go kick cancer's ass. Best of luck to you both. (PM if you need to).
My wife was diagnosed with DCIS (pre-breast cancer) caught by 3-D mammogram about a year after I was diagnosed with metatastic (to thoracic lymph nodes) melanoma.
My first year of treatment to try and control it (no cure yet exists) consisted of immunotherapy until my immune system started to attack the lining of my stomach and esophagus. Plan B was and still is targeted therapy on a gene mutation in my type of melanoma. The specialty pharmacists classify my drugs (pills) as first level of chemo. Side effects have been from mild fatigue and headaches to chills and high fever that have put me in the hospital a couple times. Due to non-cooperation by a couple of effected lymph nodes (tumors) we added ten radiation treatments (Plan C) the first two weeks of October. Today's scan showed that the protesters are back in line and under control. Targeted therapy will continue as will my cancer journey.
My wife had a lumpectomy and sixteen radiation treatments, is now on hormone therapy and doing very well.
Our faith, and support from family and friends has helped us stay positive overall. We take the journey a day at a time and make the most out of the peaks, and help each other through the valleys.
Your wife's journey will be unique to her circumstances but absolutely bearable. Please know you have the support of this Cyclone Fanatic who is also giving you full clearance to go kick cancer's ass. Best of luck to you both. (PM if you need to).
I went through chemo when I was in my late twenties. It can be brutal. I would develop side effects after each treatments that would literally be torture and you couldn't take anything to help minimize those effects so basically you just had to power through it. Just when you're starting to finally feel better, it was time for another treatment.
But you hang in there and just realize that every day that goes by is just one day closer to the day that the treatments will finally be over and life finds its way back to being normal again. I can't really explain it but being a survivor gives you a whole different outlook on life and I find myself appreciating even the little things that I took for granted before.
My thoughts are with you and your wife while she tackles this difficult time in your lives. Hang in there, the day will come when this will all be behind you.
But you hang in there and just realize that every day that goes by is just one day closer to the day that the treatments will finally be over and life finds its way back to being normal again. I can't really explain it but being a survivor gives you a whole different outlook on life and I find myself appreciating even the little things that I took for granted before.
My thoughts are with you and your wife while she tackles this difficult time in your lives. Hang in there, the day will come when this will all be behind you.
My heart really sank reading OP and all the additional posts here. So many stories shared, and so many positive outcomes. Best wishes to you and your wife.
Both parents had cancer. Mom had problems with depression Luckily we found a doctor she was very comfortable with and could talk to. Watched my dad very closely for signs so that it became a part of his treatment
Someone sent me this after I had gone through surgery and treatment
I think its a good read. Hoping the best for your families journey.
https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/1628266?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false
I think its a good read. Hoping the best for your families journey.
https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/1628266?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false
Absolutely so true. I did not cope well mentally during and after. We had young children at home so we didn't talk about it at home. I didn't want to bother other people with my problems, didn't even tell my parents and siblings until after I had surgery (testicular cancer). I went into denial and didn't process what I was going through. This triggered a long downword spiral that almost led to divorce. Luckily I got the help I needed. Its been 11 years now and i'm still recovering. I guess bottom line. Expect the full range of emotions, be on the lookout and step in if needed. Wishing your family the best through tbis journey.
If you happen to be using Mercy Hospital, get to know Dr Deming. He is the best!
