Chemo....what Is It Like?

Everyone is different. Everyone I knew who went thru breast cancer did great. I.e., teacher would leave school Friday and be back Monday. Also depends on personality. My best friend who lived with me for a year did great. She had heavy duty chemo. It was only to prolong her life and it did by 18 months. She would finish her chemo, take a short nap and we would then go on. She had a terrible cancer but an incredible sense of humor and positive outlook. In today's world, they give so many drugs before the chemo to counteract any effects. It truly is amazing. Try and keep a positive outlook and remain upbeat. She will have her moments and that is ok. If I ever told you the things we did, you would wet your pants. Lol. We dressed up as nuns and went to radiation. It was hysterical. All the nurses we knew did not know it was us! The waiting room cracked up. We bungi jumped at the mall. Rode a kids train around the mall. Had makeovers. When we went to have her head shaved, we just embraced the new Debbie. We laughed. We also knew that eventually the end would come and had our moments when we talked. Deb always did my flower boxes. She loved doing it. A week before she passed, she said "did you do the boxes yet". I told her no. I got the look, went home did them and brought back pictures.

I think your sister will do great and live a long life.

Oh forgot, when she started chemo the waiting room was a very depressing place to be. We took care of that with a laughing dog who rolled around on the floor. At first no one knew what to think. Then one person started to laugh and so it went. Before we knew it people were laughing and talking to each other. They thanked us for the laughter we brought in to them.

So do not be afraid to laugh and have some fun with her. That is the one thing we noticed people were afraid to just be themselves.

Prayers and hugs. We also tried on wedding gowns. Why. Just because. Lol.

Each person reacts differently to the treatment. My dad had one that they told him he would probably loose what little hair he still had. But his actually got a little thicker. I do know she will have good days and bad days. My dad would wear his for a week, it attached to a port that was surgicly put under his skin near his colar bone. It took a few days once they took him off to feel close to normal. When she's having good days if she has the energy try to get her to do something fun. Also while she's on chemo don't go or take anyone near her if they even have a cold. She will get sick easyer while she's one it as it's lowering her amune system. The best you can do is love her and let her know you are there for her. You might ask her husband or parents if they need you to pick stuff of from the store for them. Cause if they are taking her to all her apointments they will be tired too.

My best friend/business partner went through a few rounds of Chemo and rounds of radiation.

She did pretty well, but there were things we all had to do.

We had to stay away from her, if we were not feeling well. even a slight sore throat. I had whooping cough and could not see her for almost a month..

If we took her prepared food, we had to make sure it had been cleaned before preparation.. You can purchase the fruit and vegetable soaps at the store.

She did not want us to stay at the clinic when/ where she got her chemo. They are each assigned a nurse. She had to arrive by 9 am and was there until 5:00 pm.. The patients are in a big room in these big recliners. She took her own blanket and a sack lunch. Really no place for visitors to sit.

So we set up a pickup to take her and a pick up to bring her home.

She would be worn out. and then maybe a day later or a few days later, she would not feel great.

She lost her sense of taste. So we had to remind her to eat. We kept a list to be checked off. We kept a tight schedule on her medications.

One thing that really helped her pass the time, was an ipad. A group of us got together and gave her one.. Then people sent her gift cards for itunes and netflix, hulu, so she could read books, watch movies, watch TV shows, listen to music, play games,keep up with email all while resting at home or at the clinic, hospital.. etc..

It is different for each person. Everyone needs to remember this is about what she needs.

My friend and I were VERY open about how we were feeling. I told her it would in no way hurt my feelings if she just needed to be left alone.. And if she wanted or needed me there for prolonged times.. to just be honest and I would do my best.

This was all about her. I was honored to be able to help in any way, but I was in no way going to have my feelings hurt if she needed alone time.. especially with her husband, I told him the same thing.. That when he just needed time alone with her.. to shoo us all away and we would be fine with that.

Hang in there. Offer and accept her requests the best you can. But do not take her or your mothers behaviors personally.. Let their behaviors be theirs.

It really does depend upon the type of chemotherapy drugs that are being used. Some drugs have less side effects than others. My FIL is on chemo drugs (thoracic cancer) along with a cocktail that has allowed him to keep his hair, not have any nausea, and hasn't been too bad. He's only had some problems with loose stools.

My friend had a different cancer (Hodgkins Lymphoma), and her chemo was pretty brutal. Lots of nausea and vomiting, hair loss, exhaustion, weight gain due to steroids.

So yeah, it really depends.

She will be assigned a nutritionist who will help to ensure that she's getting what she needs based upon the type of chemo she's on. I suggest finding out if you can attend this appointment with her ifyou're going to be providing a lot of her food. Also, some of those informational appoinments are hard...because folks on chemo get "chemo brain," where they struggle to remember everything that was discussed. I also suggest that you get her a digital recorder and a comfortable to use notebook/pen, or anything that she'd use to take notes. Write everything down.

It depends, but my dad who went through chemo said he felt like he had the flu all the time.

It will depend on the combination of drugs in the chemo. Some are better on the system than others.

Know that sensitivity in smell and taste change. Perfume may become offensive. Cooking certain foods may become offensive. Spices may become the new normal in all the food and possibly the hotter the better.

What Laurie A says is true. It will depend on the length of time for the chemo and the type of facility you are in. My husband a chair next to him for a friend to sit it. They also gave the patients a sack lunch which did not have any offense smells or odors as each person's smell has to be considered. A sign was also posted about no outside meals being brought into the facility. There is a tiredness that settles in. She maybe awake one minute and asleep the next. She may feel cold when every else is warm or hot.

The above were observations from my husband who is in treatment.

I did not do the chemo. I had radiation instead. I chose a lumpectomy over a radical mastectomy. While going through doctor's visits to treatment I came across two pamphlets for diets while going through chemo and radiation and followed the radiation diet.

My treatment was for 8 weeks five days a week for about 10 minute treatment. It took me 2 hours to drive to the center as there was not one closer to my home. I got a metallic taste in my mouth for about a week at the beginning of the treatment that went away. There were times that I was more tired than others.

Just remember to be there for her.

the other S.

When my friend went through chemo and radiation (for breast cancer) she worked a reduced schedule.
Once every 2 weeks she'd be off on a Thurs for a treatment and then rested at home for Fri through Sun.
Her boyfriend (now husband) was living with her so he drove her where ever she needed to be and was with her.
She had some pretty freaky hallucinations right after treatment.
Once her chemo and radiation was complete they put her on chemical menopause for 5 years (her type of cancer fed off hormones so they suppressed them).
She's fine now but she was very very tired and weak when she was going through it (this was about 20 yrs ago).

My husband started chemo last summer for colon cancer (at age 46) and finished in January. He did fairly well all things considered...still worked ...he'd be pretty tired on the days he had the pump removed....and he still has some of the neuropathy in his hands and feet....and half way thru his 10th treatment (out of 12) he had an allergic reaction to the oxaliplatin (spelling?) which is not uncommon...so he didn't get it fo #11 and 12...and the day he'd come home w/ the pump(everyother week) he'd be starving and wired from the steroids....they usually give you steroids and antinausea at the beginning to help w/ the nausea...he had minimal nausea...no vomitting and didn't loose his hair; he actually decided to grow a moustache just because...and there was the temperature sensitivity to the cold due to the oxaliplatin....
everybody reacts differently to chemo....and depends on the cocktail..
I wish her well and your in my prayers

A friend is doing chemo for the first time (in her first round of breast cancer, she didn't), and it's going very well so far (after 2 treatments in 4 weeks). Good anti-nausea drugs, so she's feeling well after treatment. Her hair is starting to go, she went to the wig place a few weeks ago, to be prepared. She doesn't have any nutritional restrictions and is eating well.
So far, so good - the treatments have improved in the last couple years. Good luck to your sister!