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Original poster

Can it be like this with chemo?

25 replies

mckenzie · 26/10/2011 20:48

we've been away for a few days and went to see grandad today, first time in 7 days and he is half way through the second bout of chemo and looks absolutely awful. Is it a horrible coincidence that the cancer is suddenly making him very sick at the same time as having the chemo or is this just the reaction to the chemo itself?
He'd aged about 15 years in a week.Sad

OP posts:
LaPruneDeMaTante · 26/10/2011 20:55

Oh poor you Sad
Chemo does really take it out of you - it can be a few days after the initial dose of a round that it really hits. It's basically a set of poisons which kill the cancer cells, but of course they have horrible (and mainly temporary) side-effects.
HTH

Original poster
mckenzie · 26/10/2011 21:00

Thanks laprune. It really scared me today. I think I knew it was just the effects of the chemo but I needed to have it affirmed. Thank you.

OP posts:
LaPruneDeMaTante · 26/10/2011 21:20

That's ok.
It's really hard, really worrying. Hope all goes well.

Original poster
mckenzie · 26/10/2011 21:33

thank you.

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pinkstarlight · 26/10/2011 21:57

aww your poor grandad chemo as explained to me is like being poisoned thats why you get all the nasty side effects. make sure hes getting the right medication to help him through i had to have mine changed a number of times,dont let him plod on and suffer they tend to start you off with the cheaper medication that doesnt work as well but remember you can ask for something stronger.

Original poster
mckenzie · 26/10/2011 22:02

Thanks pink, sorry to hear you have been though this. It's actually DCs grandad, not mine. Although today henlooked old enough to be mine Sad

I got him some information today from the association that is specific to his type of cancer so I'm hoping this might help to give us some ideas and ways of making him more comfortable and ease the side effects. I do worry though that he has got rather down mentally, which is totally understandable but I think it means he's not eating properly not just because it hurts etc but because he can't be bothered. That really worries me.

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pinkstarlight · 26/10/2011 22:22

when i was diagnosed i was adamant i was going to eat properly but then the sickness took over its so very difficult then i lost my taste of food and everything tasted like acid then of course your bloods get low.this is why i say about the side effects and making sure he has the right medication to get through.

pinkstarlight · 26/10/2011 22:29

oh i forgot to say that the low moods are very common its horrible to feel ill/tired all the time,its quite common for people with cancer to be given low doses of anti depressents while on treatment its not only the physical side of things but the emotional side of things the stress of waiting to find out if its spread if treatments working etc.

Original poster
mckenzie · 27/10/2011 17:47

thanks again pink. i'm seeing him tomorrow and I'm going to ask those questions. Are you all clear now?

OP posts:
smee · 27/10/2011 18:33

mckenzie, ask if they've done a blood count/ checked if he's neutropenic as that's a way of telling if they're overdosing with the dose. They do their best, but basically all they can do is give you the drugs based on a height/ weight ratio. Pink's right as basically they're poisoning you, but the idea is not to take it too far. On my second chemo I was so ill, they said if they'd carried on at that rate it could have killed me. Was a bit shocking to hear, but they sorted it quickly and reduced the dose by a third for next round. Might not be that at all though, as chemo can just make you horribly sick. Hope he's okay. Sad

pranma · 27/10/2011 20:06

I had chemo and thought I was dying!no hair,vomiting,taste buds making water taste thick and metallic and most foods yukky,weary beyond weariness etc etc so the chances are it is the chemo.It works by killing off fast growing cells and cancer cells are the fastest of all but some 'normal' cells in mouth,gut etc get killed off too.Ask him what he fancies to eat and drink-I found chilled sparkling water with lime juice went down well.

RumourOfAHurricane · 27/10/2011 22:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
mckenzie · 27/10/2011 22:58

thank you for all these messages. I'll print this out and take it with me tomorrow. I spoke to MIL tonight and she said he'd had a slightly better day today which was great news.

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pinkstarlight · 29/10/2011 01:45

mckenzie smee is right they have to get the chemo dose right they changed to a different chemo on my 4th one and i had a very bad reaction with the most horrific side effects including a blood clot.i then had to take a long break they gave me the next lot at a very low dose but again my body reacted and they had no choice but to stop treatment was told that they had over dosed me and i was so full of toxins if they gave me any more they would have killed me.i have since had my op and have just finished radiotheraphy. im fine now but am still suffering side effects from the chemo have been told it could take me a year to be back to normal,but hey im still here and i will recover.

pop on the tamoxifen thread in general health if you have any more questions,the ladies there are really helpful

Original poster
mckenzie · 29/10/2011 21:00

thanks very much pink. I read your story (or some of it anyway) on the other thread. I'm really pleased for you. I hope you continue to get stronger and stronger and better and better.

I saw him yesterday and he looked so much better than wednesday (thank goodness, he'd really scared me) which makes sense because of course with each day he is further away from that last bout of chemo. Next week he should be even stronger and then of course, it all starts again.

MIL is worrying me more now. She also has elderly parents alive who keep her busy and one of them demands a lot of her. I've offered to help in any way I can but unfortunately, the demanding one will tell me she's fine and does't need anything and then 30 mins later, she'll call MIL and tell her she needs an ambulance! Ok, slight exaggeration but you get my drift.
I'm hoping that by being an ear for her to moan to will help a little as apart from that, I feel a bit helpless. I'm sure she feels helpless too as far as the cancer is concerned. You want to have the pain etc don't you, not your loved one?

OP posts:
pinkstarlight · 30/10/2011 15:16

thanks mckenzie thats really nice of you.

i found on my first 3 lots of chemo i was at my worst for the first 10 days (i was on 3 weekly cycles)then would start to pick up.the only other thing to remember is the chemo builds up with each cycle so you tend to get more and more tired as the treatment goes on..

that must be really hard on your mil but she sounds very lucky to have you,seems like there is not much you can do to help even though you want to.the main thing is that she knows your there and willing to help in any way you can believe me that means alot.maybe there could be little things you could do for her like offering to do her shopping,odd meal or just somewhere she can escape to when she needs a break.

Original poster
mckenzie · 30/10/2011 21:53

no, thank you. Your advise and information has been very helpful. I'm going to see Mil tomorrow - just pop in for a chat. I think you're right that all I can do for now is be here if she needs me.

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Original poster
mckenzie · 14/11/2011 18:47

He died this morning Sad. The third bout of chemo was last monday and he has been really poorly ever since. MiL called the doctor out friday and he gave some sleeping tablets and meds for his blood pressure. Sunday morning he was unconscious and MiL had to call and ambulance and yesterday was touch and go but by last night they told us he was stabilised and doing well. MIL went home and when she called this morning the nurse said he'd had a good night and MiL couldn't come to visit until regular visiting hours (2pm). Couple of hours later, his son gets a phone call (as next of kin, grandad F and MIL weren't married) to say he's taken a turn for the worse and to come to the hospital straight away and he called MiL but neither of them got there in time. It seems he had a blood infection, was badly dehydrated and had problems with his heart. I don't as yet know exactly what it was that he died from but MiL is in pieces - they were such a 'couple'. They did everything together Sad And it's so sudden. He was only diagnosed a short time again and was so healthy, even with the cancer. thanks for listening. Sorry for going on so.

OP posts:
Footle · 14/11/2011 19:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ManCrushedToDeathByALift · 14/11/2011 20:33

I'm so so sorry OP. Just came on the thread to see if I could help and read your horrible news. What a terrible shock, and so unexpected. Really hope you and MIL are coping with all this. Much love xxx

Elibean · 14/11/2011 20:39

I'm so sorry Sad
It sounds unexpected and truly shocking for all of you, my heart goes out to your mil and to you.

Elibean · 14/11/2011 20:40

And dp, sorry, meant to put that.

Original poster
mckenzie · 14/11/2011 22:43

thanks guys. Your words of comfort are much appreciated. just got back in from MILs. SIL is staying with her tonight. We've had lots of tears tonight but a few laughs too.

OP posts:
smee · 15/11/2011 16:24

Oh no.. Poor man and poor all of you. Must be tough. You look after yourself. Sad

Original poster
mckenzie · 15/11/2011 19:53

thanks Smee.

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