Chemotherapy

[anyadvice4mex]

Has anyone's child had chemotherapy? Could really do with some advice from someone who's been through it with their child before I do

I’m sorry you are going through this. What has your child been diagnosed with, and when does their treatment start if you don’t mind me asking?

Thank you. It is chemotherapy to remove a remaining part of a tumour they couldn't get too, it's carboplatin and vincristine , next week

My son had chemotherapy for treatment of a brain tumour.

I will try and help you if I can.

Is it being done as an outpatient or inpatient? Vincristine is usually given as a push through a syringe and I can’t remember how carboplatin is given. Are you going to a general hospital or special children’s unit?

How was your child on the first dose they received? Did they become unwell each day and become sick etc? I know each child is different and each response doesn't mean it'll happen to mine. I'd just like to hear the experiences.

Outpatient. Vincristine takes seconds and carboplatin takes an hour or so apparently

I don’t have experience as a parent but as a nurse

I would say they give anti sickness medication depending on how sick your child is likely to feel with each medication. It’s usually fairly well controlled and if it’s not they’ll add other meds in until it is

Hi my daughter is currently having chemo for a low grade glioma. She started with carbo/vinc but had to change due to allergy.

The first 3 months induction are tough. Her counts were low, she had (I think) 4 transfusions, lots of hospital stays with fevers. She was epically sick when we got home from the hospital after the carbo but we figured out her anti sickness regime and got it under control.

After induction was much easier and she went back to nursery. She’s now thriving and the chemo has killed the left over cancer cells.

I actually think the vincristine was in some ways worse. She gets horrible constipation which is difficult to treat for a week or so, and pain in her back and legs which can keep her up at night. Lactulose will be your new best friend!

Which hospital are you being treated at? Have you linked in with some of the charities?

Message me if you need anything.

Xxx

@diamond400 how many stays at hospital did you have? Do kids regularly get temperatures? When did her hair start falling out? What was the first night after treatment like?
Really sorry your daughter has gone through this

@anyadvice4mex so many hospital stays. The longest was 2 weeks when she had a Hickman line infection. Obviously with winter comes all the colds and flu. We kept E at nursery - I think it was worth the in and out of hospital. They are more likely to get temps as their immune system is compromised. Make sure you have a decent under arm thermometer!

Hair - it thined on carbo/vinc but since she had to switch meds it’s totally fallen out bless her. She didn’t have a lot to start with but now her little buddies have got hair it’s more noticeable.

First night - won’t lie, horrible. Epic sick, full cot change and bath. Really brought home what she was going through. Get the anti sickness meds in them!

This is E! She has an excellent quality of life loving with cancer.

@anyadvice4mex , my Son had both Vinc and Carbo until he developed an allergy to Carbo ( I believe this is common so don't panic if it happens) so we moved over to Cisplatin and another that's escaped my memory! Cyclo something

DS was 6 when chemo started. Carbo made him very sick so be prepared for that, vincristine made him ache and gave him sores in his mouth. His hair thinned considerably. All this was very hard as a parent to watch, children are amazing though - he was so brave

Happy to chat further if you want to PM/Email xx

Cyclophosphamide. Same happened to E. She literally turned red! She seems to tolerate the cis/cyclo better than carb, apart for the need to have it as an inpatient.

That's the one Diamond! DS used to get raging temps and vomiting 4 hours after the Carbo dose. Used to land us in hospital all the time as they tried to figure out if he had an infection. After a few sessions the link was spotted so he was moved off the Carbo

Thanks for the reply's to you both, I am sorry your children have had this too.
When receiving the chemotherapy do they feel it effecting them over the hour?

It's been a while since DS was on it (2015-16) so I can't really remember, sorry. I know he felt sick pretty quickly

Which hospital are you under @anyadvice4mex ? If you don't mind saying x

Clinic in Coventry x

Outpatient x