Hi
Following on from a previous thread. Mum has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She will start chemo imminently before surgery.
I understand that chemo will start in 1 to 2 weeks. It will be 6 cycles and last 18 weeks. Each cycle is 3 weeks: the drugs are given, one bad week, one immune-suppressed week, one "good" week.
Mum is 76 (77 in June). She is relatively active and she is independent. She lives alone. She does have various underlying health issues (IBS, Fibromyalgia and mild COPD). She was recently hospitalised twice (successively, two weeks in total) for collapsed lung due to chest infection caused/worsened by inhaled vomit. Recently (over the hospitalisation) prone to nausea, vomiting and inhaling that vomit (possible that oesophagous not always working as it should?). Low pain threshold (fibromyalgia related?).
We live 45 mins to 1 hour drive away (depending in traffic). We have a very active, rather noisy 5 year old. I am an only child. Dad died 11 years ago.
Mum has private meducal insurance (no limit on cancer cover, Bupa). She will be using this. It may open doors like "chemo at home etc).
How can I help support mum through the chemo? It is obviously a marathon and not a sprint. I know that the effects of chemo can vary dramatically depending on both the drugs used and the individual, but am worried that this massively (especially because of the IBS, Fibromylgia and recent hospitalisations related to vomiting).
Also, my husband's grandma is 92 (had an operation yesterday to fix the collarbone which she broke in a fall). Our plan (husband, son and I) was to visit her during the school Summer holidays for a couple of weeks (they live in California, us in the UK). This would be around cycle 4 of mum's chemo. Is this going to be possible (worried about leaving mum)? What are the practicalities?
Any help/advice appreciated. I have supported mum through operations/hospitalisations before, but not chemo (she didn't have chemo for the lung cancer). Although I undrstand what chemo is (and that it can be incredibly horrible), I find it hard to understand how best to support (and independent) person with it.
Thanks
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.
General health
Help supporting (Mum) through chemo?
7 replies
QTPie · 24/04/2015 23:03
OP posts:
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.