DM starts chemo on Thursday

[IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads]

Lymphoma diagnosed on 23rd.
OCVP (?) chemo starts on Thursday .
What should we except? She lives alone, I’m the only one of my siblings within 200 miles, I’ll be doing all the caring (also have 2 teens/preteens and a full time job!).

*expect, not except.

My 74 yr dm has a similar blood cancer, diagnosed last year. I had to organise all her meds in a days of the week pill box. She was quite ill before she started the chemo and then we had lockdown, she ended up living with us. She slept a lot, was quite weak and wobbly at times.

Now back living at home, on a different chemo, coping well alone. I think it depends on what the health is like at the start, and how their body tolerated the chemo, everyone is different.

I joined a Facebook group and get a lot of help and advice on there.

Depending on the chemo type and intensity her immunity can drop quite a bit in the days after chemo. She will need a lot of hygiene, care and not mingling with other people to avoid infections (which would then need secondary treatment).
She will need nutritious food although her appetite will be poor/nausea etc.
If she loses her hair she will need emotional support.
There will be scans after every few cycles and blood tests before every chemo (this is not always the case though).
After the first 2 cycles you will know the routine and what to expect.
Hope it goes well.

Ah, than you both. Yes, I’ve thought as far ahead as needed a pill box. I imagine I’ll be walking the dogs a lot too. @CrystalMaisie, what is the name of the FB group you joined?

Wavey

This is the chemo regime I am on, I'm on round 4 of 6 and so far it's been OK. Rage settles in on steroid withdrawal though, but I'm only 41.

Lots of pills at the start but it eases off.

All the best to your mum.

Check out Lymphoma Action Support on FB. :)

I don't know about the Chemo, my DF's Lymphoma was unfortunately too advanced for treatment.

For the DDogs though the Cinnamon Trust can help you with volunteers to walk the DDogs until your DM is fit enough to start walking them regularly again. It should help to take some of the load off you as well

Is it worth either getting a volunteer to walk dogs as pp suggested or hire a dog walker if that's going to take up a lot of time? My mum struggled with food at times so lots of little meals, snacks etc - her sense of taste has changed a lot. She was tired but not ridiculously so but would have struggled to drive herself to her later appointments- she was ok to drive herself to her first round

@PaddingtonStareBare so sorry you're going through this.

Love your username

My mum didn't finish the chemo, it was too much for her. She needed support in accepting this was OK. That was a few years back now and she's had good years since.

We’ve had a good sit down and talk a outgoing this this afternoon.
Been through the side effects. Joked that she might actually feel better!
Been through some of the literature provided.
Filled the freezer with soup.
DM volunteered that she thinks she needs a dog walker (there are many locally), and we’ve contacted a local cleaner to see if she has space.
She moved locally to me earlier this year, so I have been taking her to all her appts so far. She’s going to tell my siblings tonight. she didn’t want to spoil their Christmases (not sure how I feel about this since I was the one who got the news with her 2 days before Christmas).
Feeling a bit apprehensive and massively grateful for the NHS and the speed at which DM has been treated.

I’m sorry that you are facing this too @PaddingtonStareBare; skirt to hear about your DM too @KirkstallAbbess, but glad she’s still having good years. Great username!