Preparing for Chemo

[Hazel30]

Hi everyone, my Mom is getting her catheter put in this friday so I think she'll be starting her chemo end of next week.
My Q is:  Is there anything she can do for her self to get physically prepared for chemotherapy?  Also is there any side effects she should be looking for after her port is put in?  
Thanks so much

[Gina21]

Fiana - your Mom is so lucky to have such a loving, wonderful daughter! A positive support system of family and friends is essential as she goes on this journey. And that is exactly what it is - a journey. Some days will be better than others, both physically and emotionally. I was diagnosed at 46 also with Stage IIIC. You take one day at a time ----

My first chemo was 6 treatments of carbo/taxol. I started having flulike aches and pains in my muscles. One thing that I found that helped was something called Glutamine powder which can be purchased at health food stores. About 2 weeks after my first treatment my hair started to come out. After about a week of dealing with it I shaved my head. There are advantages to being bald - it's really low maintenance! It was so easy to throw on a wig or bandana. I had 3 different wigs; red, brown and blonde! I had a lot of fun with it - I named each one of them and would always ask my husband "who do you want me to be today?". You really have to try to keep your sense of humor through this whole experience! To me, losing my hair was a small price to pay - anyway it came back curly and thicker!

My oncologist treats my cancer as a chronic disease, since it is recurrent. It came back after being in remission for about 18 months. If we don't beat it, we do have a plan a,b and c. We have discussed all kinds of treatment options and clinical trials, but the chemo I'm on now is working. My doctor and I are realistic, but yet we choose to be optimistic about the future. Try not to get caught up in the survival statistics - it can be really depressing. There are so many treatment options available now. I have met women who have been diagnosed with Stage IIIC that have survived without recurrence for many years - the longest being 18 years! I've also met those who have had a recurrence and still survived many years! We are all individuals - only God knows what the outcome will be! I look at it this way - I'm determined to be around for a long time. I know that something good is supposed to come out of all this although I might not know exactly what it is right now!

You mentioned that you knew a lady that is currently in remission. It is wonderful that you have that type of inspiration. Make certain your Mother is surrounded by positive influences, including doctors! I'm a firm believer in the effect a positive attitude can have on an individual. Sometimes it is really difficult, but you have to do what I said at the beginning - take one day at a time.

I wish I could do something to help. I'll keep you and your Mom in my thoughts and prayers --- Gina

[gah_70]

Hi Hazel - I completed my 6 cycle treatment for OVCA on December 29.  I agree with Gina about the port. I have small veins, and had been poked and prodded so much during the surgery process that the port is the only way to go.  I had the port put in the day before I had my first treatment, and the surgeon left access, so when I had my first treament, I didn't have to suffer through getting poked so soon after placement.  The only problem I have with mine is that it flips every time I lay on my side.  It isn't painful, but I have to be sure the drum side is up whenever access is needed.  

I had a 40 lb tumor removed this past August, and was diagnosed at stage 3C, as well.  I had a complete hysterectomy, and about 12 inches of large intestine removed.  It had also spread to my diaphragm, and even though my doctor got about 99% of the cancer, chemo was recommended for what remained.  My doctor was very up front with me in telling me that it is easy to get OVCA in remission, but it does commonly recur.  But there are other treatments available, so if it comes back, you try something else.  It is NOT a death sentence.  You just keep treating it.  I don't know how old your mother is, but my doctor also said older patients typically have a better response to treatment as far as it not coming back (I am 35).  I have a firm belief, however, that attitude is half the battle.  I believe I am winning this fight, but if for some reason it comes back, then I am prepared to fight again.

Of course, every case is different, and your mom's doctor should tell her what things she can do to help with side effects of chemo.  One of the most uncomfortable side effects I had was muscle pain.  It's kind of hard to explain the type of pain, but I compare it to what it feels like when you have the flu.  It was a general soreness that was primarily in my feet, legs, and wrists.  My doctor suggested a supplement called Glutamine to help lessen it.  It is my understanding that Glutamine is commonly used by body builders before and after workouts to help with protein synthesis so their muscles don't get sore.  I found it in my local pharmacy in the section with nutritional supplements.  It comes in both powder and pill form.  My recommended dose was 10 grams 4 times a day until the soreness subsided...usually 5 or so days after treatment.  The powder form contains 5 grams per scoop, whereas the pills only have 1000 mg per pill, so it was easier to just mix the power up in some orange juice, or even iced tea rather than take 40 pills a day.  The powder has no taste.  I started taking it 2 days before my treatment to hopefully get a jump on it before the pain started.  You might want to ask your mother's doctor about this, and see if he thinks this might be something that could work for her.  You might also want to ask about protein.  Because you don't really feel like eating a lot after treatment, it was recommended to me to make what I did eat high in protein.  That will help keep white blood cell and platelet counts up, which, in turn will help fight infection.    

Hang in there.  It's a long road, but each day and each treatment gets you that much closer to healing.  I am sending my thoughts and prayers to you both!!

[Barney22]

One thing which was suggesed to me which was useful was to take any form of laxative which suits you before your chemo session if you are prone to being constipated - the chemo made it worse for me (not true of all people and some develop diarroea) and became an ongoing problem until I took the advice seriously.

[Hazel30]

Hi Gina, thanks for the info.  She will be receiving taxotere and carbo platinum for 6 treatments and I think she'll be starting in 1.5 weeks.  You actually responded to one of my posts in the past and I wanted to ask you several things about your reoccurance.  What are the doctors telling you as far as beating this.  Reason why I ask, we've got a 2nd opinion from an ovarian cancer specialist and this guy was so bold he basically broke it down to us that our hope is to beat this and hope for it never to reoccur because if it does your chances of beating it for good are slim to none.  My mother and I became very upset by his aproach so we decided to stay with her original oncologist who performed the surgery. He is very optimistic and positive which is a very good energy to have in this type or any situation.  She is stage 3c and had a complete hysterectomy several weeks ago, still recovering from the surgery.  Im just curious to know what to expect, I hear good and bad, it confuses me, saddens me, yet makes me full of happy hopes.  I know a lady 30, 2.5 years in remission after a 43 lb tumor stage 3.  She is my inspiration and keeps me going whenever I feel sad but I know the statistics of this diseas and honestly when I think about it I feel nauseas, sickened, and dont feel like dealing with anything.  My mom means everything for me, she relies on me to help her through this and Im ready to do anything for her to beat this for good.  Sorry so long but I thank you for listening.
-Fiana

[Gina21]

Hi Hazel30 - I have been going through chemo since Dec 2004 for recurrent ovarian cancer. I was originally diagnosed Sept 2002 and also went through 6 rounds of chemo at that time. I continued to have it administered by IV in my hand, until my veins became increasingly more difficult to access.

I had a port put in April 2005 and it was the best decision I've made! The first time it was used was about a week after it was put in. It was a little tender at that time, but has been fine ever since. All my blood draws, chemo and any IVs are all done through my port. I love it and wouldn't have it any other way! Mine is used twice a week, once for a blood draw and the other time for chemo. I have not had any problems whatsoever with my port. Actually, everyone that I know that has a port is very pleased with it. It sure beats having to be stuck 5 or 6 times trying to find a vein! The surgeon should tell your Mom what to expect regarding risk of infection, fever, etc.

As far as physically preparing for chemo, I know that one thing that I always do is make certain that I am well hydrated before I go in for my treatment. I drink a lot of water anyway, but I increase the amount a day or two prior. I don't have much of an appetite for food or drink for a few days after chemo.

Do you know what type of chemo your Mom will be on? Let us know how she is doing. I will be keeping her in my thoughts and prayers -- Gina