[modelcarguy]

I need some input about the effects of Chemo treatment on an elderly lady. What should we be watching for? Symptoms of a reaction , etc?
Mom had her first Chemo treatment Wednesday and I do not know what to watch for. She has always been very active and has lived alone since Dad passed in 2000.
This is the first year she has not gotten on the roof to put up Christmas lights. She got my niece's husband to do it for her.

[Puffyprue]

common side effect are nausea,hairloss, diarhea or constipation i think there is still few side effect ..if u worried u should talk to her doctor and i believe her doctor will give more useful information ..iam sorry about your mom....i hope all best for her

[Blue93]

There are probably more possible side effects then kinds of cyostatica. Ask her doctor what common side affects are for the kind she is receiving.
And if you're uncertain about something, just call her doctor.

Prob most important things to watch is making sure she stays hydrated and making sure she doesnt have a fever. For her immunesystem will be zero she will get sick easily so hygiene is extra important... If she can't eat mention it to her doctor..
But im sure you already knew these things. Take care of yourself too, you're of no use to her if you get sick too..

Lucas

[jerrymichele]

Also, is she does start getting really sick, they can give her meds to help her feel better. I do wish the best for her and the rest of the family.

[Beholden]

Sorry your mom is sick. Glad you are wanting to help her.

After working in a cancer treatment docotr's office, one of the best things is to ask her nurses who give her the chemo....and her doctors. Is it an IV or does she take pill form of chemo?

Often a patient's family member would come along during the treatments both as a "driver" and for moral support. Why not go with and you can ask all sorts of questions. The patients who sit around with your mom can be very uplifting for you all. I've seen it before when one patient is just so much support for the entire group.

But because each person is different, and each chemo is different, ask those who are giving it to her. Depression can one of the side effects as well, and that is one thing to watch for that is often part of the illness as well as the chemo.

Being tired - dry mouth - ulcers in mouth - food tastes bad, no desire to eat - heart or liver problems - what kind of cancer does you mom have?

So there are just no good ways to answer that question in this sort of forum. But I understand why you ask it here. Good luck with getting informed.

Originally Posted by modelcarguy

I need some input about the effects of Chemo treatment on an elderly lady. What should we be watching for? Symptoms of a reaction , etc?
Mom had her first Chemo treatment Wednesday and I do not know what to watch for. She has always been very active and has lived alone since Dad passed in 2000.
This is the first year she has not gotten on the roof to put up Christmas lights. She got my niece's husband to do it for her.

Hi Modelcar Guy,

Im sorry about your mother . find out what kinds of chemo she is being given . there is usualy two kinds .and they have different side effects

once you get the names you can goggle / Like

"side efects of Cisplatin" or taxol .

they give the most common side efects first to the most rare.

it would be very good for your mother to know what to look out for .

and report anything unusual .

No I woud not expect her to be able to go up on the roof.

Sounds like shes leads an active life . Not many women are fearless enough to go up on a roof!!!!.

I think if you go into my profile youll find a link to what Nightbird started for Cancer support.
and some good sites for support.

PS. I grew up in Ohio .. and My Mother was...

Chezch ..

LOL!!!!!!

Take care

Patricia

[nightbird]

Dear modelcarguy,

You have been given wonderful replies here...

There are different types of chemo used for the various cancers ~ and the condition of a patient has much to do with some selections, at times.

There is a class ~ by the American Cancer Society (ACS)~ that I found so helpful.

It's called Chemo 101 ... all you need to know is the cancer and they can pretty much tell you what will be infused in the chemo cocktail, but you may know thru your Dr. also, then tell them and in a wonderful powerpoint class, you will learn the side effects and how to lessen them... Dr's have found that many patients who take this class (or other forms of information) have less problems during chemo.

Hydration is important, and the nurses who infuse the patients will also check the patient in visits and hydrate as necessary.

It's important to keep a clean house and keep the kids, and adults who have colds, etc., away from the patient until they are better... as the immune system will be compromised during (and for a time after, depending) treatments.

It's great if you have people help her... if she becomes fatigued.

Also, a shower seat and porta-potty might be in order if this elderly person has need of things as such.

Remember to be hopeful.. as there is hope for cancer patients today!

Another good thing is that this patient get some exercise every day ~ you know ~ keep moving!

And about food, well, make sure the patient is eating...

There is more, so much more, in the way of support today.... thru your local cancer center, which you may already know... age is not an issue!

Also, the ACS has classes and groups all week long for patients and their families, that support, and teach patients how to get through their treatments and feel understood.

It is shocking news at first, so it's good if someone with a notepad and pen goes with the patient in the beginning, especially, to the appointments, as the patients mind hears bits and pieces as well as confuses things due to the trauma of the diagnosis.. or fear... or shock.

It will improve. Support from family, friends, and a support group will take one FAR!

There are trials that showed patients in supportive situations survived longer and felt better than those who were isolated!

I have a friend who's grandson is a chef ~ and he comes over a few nights a week with all her meals for the coming days! She not only is well nourished, she is so happy to see her grandson a few times a week.

Another patients was able to have their granddaughter (a young adult) paid thru her medicare for taking care of her a few hours a day ~ like to her appointments, and taking her to her support group, and running her errands and straightening up her house...

And then there is the wonderful volunteers in your community just wanting in the sidelines for the call to help another person get thru cancer.

Don't be shy about this... whatever you do.

The churches, the ACS, and support groups have volunteers to help when needed, and what a wonderful thing to volunteer for, isn't it?

Many of the volunteers were once cancer patients ~ so there is a nice balance of information and hope there as well.

Once you get started, and begin on the path of healing, your patient will have more info as time goes by... and if one can help, the sooner and better the info will be.

My best goes out to this cancer survivor ~ as many are considered a survivor from the moment they hear the words 'you have cancer'...

May hope and love and courage and something beautiful fill each day for you special relative.

Peace and Support,
Nightbird

p.s. you may pm my acct. at any time

[modelcarguy]

Thanks for the replies. I do appreciate them. This is all new to me. Mom is in her mid 80's but has always been active. She has helped a couple of her sisters during their cancer fights and was with them to the end. She has the notion that a diagnosis of cancer is a death notice. So far she seems to be doing ok. I can not make it to her house every day as she is a 30 mile drive away but one of my sisters lives across the street from her.
She has breast cancer and has had a mastectomy. She was still working every day but I think she quit at the end of this season. She had to walk to work each day.

Thanks all of you.

[Beholden]

Your mom is very special! 80 and still was working! And she climbed up on her roof last year!!! She has spirit!

You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

[nightbird]

(((((modelcarguy)))))

Thanks for getting back to us...

There is a small forum, that you can access thru my profile page, called 'surviving cancer'.

While it's not really a talking, share, tell-all type of forum, due to the nature of the subject... there is alot of info on there, and great books, cookbooks etc., all for cancer patients and their families, and some other info.

Please feel free to access the forum, join it if you like, and add any comments.

We all check in there from time to time, so leave any questions there also, if you like as well as anywhere here on the health forum.

I hope you get to visit a local cancer support center in your Grandmothers area ~ it's so cool nowadays ~ what is available and how much the local communities have for patients... it will warm your heart and definitely answer any questions you have ~ IRL.

Peace & Hope,
Nightbird

[Beholden]

So, how's your mom doing on this Valentine's Day modelcarguy?

Hope you have a good one yourself!

[modelcarguy]

Originally Posted by Beholden

So, how's your mom doing on this Valentine's Day modelcarguy?

Hope you have a good one yourself!

Thanks for asking. Mom has finished her Chemo treatments and now waiting to see if she needs radiation. She is staying at her older sister's home for a few weeks to visit with her siblings. They all live close to each other in that county. That scares me as her older sister will be driving her around to do the visiting. Mom does not drive.
She seems to be in good spirits and only has a few problems from the chemo. Nausea and hair loss is the biggest ones.

[Beholden]

Originally Posted by modelcarguy

Thanks for asking. Mom has finished her Chemo treatments and now waiting to see if she needs radiation. She is staying at her older sister's home for a few weeks to visit with her siblings. They all live close to each other in that county. That scares me as her older sister will be driving her around to do the visiting. Mom does not drive.
She seems to be in good spirits and only has a few problems from the chemo. Nausea and hair loss is the biggest ones.

Great that she is visiting with sibblings, that's so important for her. The nausea can be bad, at least that was what I have heard from the patients at the cancer center where i worked in medical records. Did she buy a wig? There were so many pretty wigs the lady's wore. I liked them so much I went out and bought myself one so if (when) i would have a bad hair day, I could just slap it on my head.

You are a 'worrier' about your mom and the older sister's driving...try to relax and know her sibblings are the best medicine. Good luck to her with radiation, should she need it.