Practical help advice

[awarmglow]

Hi all. My lovely mum in law has had a mastectomy and is shortly to start 12 weeks of chemo plus Herceptin injections. She's 78 and is otherwise in good health. She'll be well supported practically through treatment but I wonder if there are extra things I can do to make her comfortable? My own dad is having immunotherapy for stage 4 lung cancer and the treatment is almost completely side effect free so there's been nothing we've needed to do for dad to ease the impact (aside from our presence of course). What might help my mum in law's side effects, whether through nutrition or some kind of complementary treatment?

Thanks

It really does depend on the type of chemo she is having. If she is having docetaxal I found the mid cycle joint pain to be the worst bit, and everything tasting like soggy cardboard. Some variations do cause nausea and upset tummy, with the nausea it is essential to take the meds issued before your chemo as it is harder to manage once it takes hold.

From experience freezer meals are good if she doesn't feel like cooking. Things to distract her to pass the time, eating and hydrating, avoiding nasty germs.

A good fragrance free moisturiser and some dark nail polish to slow down losing your nails.

Otherwise, follow her lead and see how she goes. Everyone is different so it's hard to guess.

Thanks @Minxmumma

Be well x