• billm

    Member
    February 14, 2011 at 2:38 am

    Hi hwg,

    The appetite might be the one that throws you for a loop. I craved stuff I never liked. Keep lots of different snacks around and pack some of them for when he’s at chemo.
    The only time I needed the meds was before going in the car, easy, 20 minutes before leaving. Have him drink plenty of water, helps with the chemo drugs. Also watch for constipation, some of the drugs given with the chemo drugs will cause that. The chemo bag works very well, might throw in some light snacks and a light jacket too. Towards the end he might need/want a ride for treatment because of the fatigue. Also, glasses or contacts, the chemo could cause a shift, so tell him not to panic. The chemo can take a lot of patience for the caregiver watching the changes during treatment.

    Bill


    5.24.10 Final staging T2G3 7.28.10 Started Gemcitabine, Cisplatin neoadjunctive chemotherapy
    11.2.10 RC with NEO 11.18.11 First year CT shows possible liver tumor
    12.8.11 Confirmation of TCC BC mets to the liver 6.27.12 Final round of Dose Dense MVAC
    7.26.12 Final scans showed no tumor or no metabolic response10.18.12 Wife leaves, now a single dad
    10.31.12 New scans show metastic return to liver 2.4.13 New scans for treatment, no other sites found
    2.20.13 New chemo regiment started, will run at least 12 weeks
  • hwg

    Member
    February 12, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    he is taking compazine if he gets nauseous which he has not he eats hen he is hungry he has some muscle pain in his back but that is all for now that he says is bothering him he is not vomiting he will have have his his bladder removed in june or july

  • jimswife

    Member
    February 12, 2011 at 6:44 pm

    Is your husband having problems with nausea and vomiting from his chemo or are you just being proactive with regard to the n&v? Jim just eats whatever appeals to him and his amount of food taken in has been dictated by his stomach since his surgery. Right now believe it or not the most appealing foods to him are spicy foods and they don’t upset his stomach. He has to have LOTS of flavor to overcome a strange taste he has had at the back of his tongue since he was in the hospital so it isn’t apparently chemo related. I was just wondering.

  • hwg

    Member
    February 12, 2011 at 4:33 pm

    we have not seen a nutrionist no problem with his eating he eats about 4 small meals a day

  • jimswife

    Member
    February 12, 2011 at 4:09 pm

    Jim carries his “chemo bag” with him when he goes to chemo. He has all the things that make his stay with them as comfortable as he can be. Carboplatin takes awhile to infuse so may as well be comfortable and have stuff to do. Below are some of the things in his “chemo bag” You can come up with your own ideas as well.

    an Ipod or radio with earbuds to listen to things other than what’s going on in the chemo room to take you away from it all for awhile.

    Books on tape

    Jim brings his mug of drink he likes

    His overnight bag So he isn’t up and down the entire time he is at the chemo place.

    A good book to read Ove the past 6 months of chemo Jim has read lots of good books he hadn’t had time to read.
    [u]
    A pen + paper
    to make notes of things to do or just notes.

    I try to tuck a note telling him how much I love him somewhere in his chemo bag also, it never hurts to let him know that often! Hope this has helped you some with some ideas. I am sure others may have some ideas as well.

  • jimswife

    Member
    February 12, 2011 at 1:25 am

    Hi, HWG, Jim has just finished today his next to last chemo treatment after what will be 6 months of post op chemo. He had cisplatin (which is I believe the same as what your husband will have) and gemzar. He had very thick hair and as of this time his hair has really thinned a lot but he still has hair. He laughs everytime he showers and tell me that maybe we can find some bald person who would like his hair for a toupee! Humor has helped us get through this and this forum is the best filled with great people.

  • hwg

    Member
    February 1, 2011 at 12:12 pm

    thank you

  • flamenco

    Member
    February 1, 2011 at 9:18 am

    Hi,
    Cold cap treatment means that each time you go for a chemo treatment, the nurses fit a close fitting cap over your hair on your head, which is then chilled to a very low temperature. This apparently helps to prevent a good deal of the hair loss which may have resulted. In my sister·s case she did lose some hair, but unless you knew she was having chemo, you would not have noticed any difference.I don·t know what drugs she was on, but it was to treat breast cancer.

  • hwg

    Member
    January 31, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    thank you for the information hope my husband is as lucky as you were

  • gracie

    Member
    January 31, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    hwg,

    I had carboplatin and my hair just thinned – I did not lose it all. That is typical for carboplatin I believe.

    I bought a wig – just ‘in case’ but did not need it. Any hair lost came back after the treatments stopped.

    Gracie

  • hwg

    Member
    January 31, 2011 at 10:56 am

    what is a cold cap treatment

  • flamenco

    Member
    January 31, 2011 at 9:24 am

    My sister has just been through chemo, and had “cold cap” treatment which helped prevent major hair loss.
    Diane

  • hwg

    Member
    January 30, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    met with nutritionist gave him suggestions on what to eat but not how to comfort him does anybody not lose their hair?

  • rhea

    Member
    January 29, 2011 at 11:43 pm

    Sorry but I am not sure of that specific chemo, but my husband has been on 10 differnet ones and they each have a bit of a different side effect if at all. Our doc gave us a info card that stated all the possible side effects, which may include, nausea, upset stomach. My hubby would sometimes get nauseus after eating a few bites of food. I read some where that hot (temperature) food can cause it. Also they say have 6 small meals, of course healthy fruits and veggies, protein. Are you able to meet with a nutritionist if available?
    Good luck, Rhea

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