hopeseeker
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Dear Gavin,
Thank you so much for the links and they were helpful for sure. I appreciate all info I can glean and learn.
It turns out that my MIL is allergic to the chemo Gemzar. Since her first treatment she has had shortness of beath which is the lower 02 levels, but this time it was accompanied by a bad cough. She didn’t understand why everyone was so concerned and said that it always passes in a little while.
She had mentioned the shortness of breath to the office at her first oncologist office, but somehow the info didn’t make it to the dr or they didn’t see it as a serious issue then.
Her new oncologist will be changing her to a new chemo drug to replace the Gemzar. My MIL was worried it would not be as effective on the cancer, but her dr told her it would be. I also assured her that it would be a good change.
If she has been having an allergic reaction this whole time it could very well have been causing many other issues. I also feel that a new chemo may even be a good switch if the cancer has become at all resistant to the Gemzar.
She goes back next week for another chemo treatment with th new drug which we don’t know yet which one it will be. I am assuming they will keep her on the oxaliplatin for large dose.
I am not sure but I’ve read and been told that there would be a fever with sepsis? Someone else can answer better then me for sure.
Her platelets were back down to 70 on Thursday and she was very upset to the point of tears when the dr told her no chemo. She really wants the chemo to be more regular and she has missed so many she feels.
She will go back again on Thursday for a platelet check and to see what kind of chemo regimen they can establish.
My husband and I were able to take her out for dinner Friday, but she barley eats and gets tired so very easily. She is doing better with the pain, but I could tell she was having some while we were out.
These sytmoms worry me. She has lost so much weight, and she has edema in her legs and feet. We just tell her to rest often and take it easy in hopes of her saving energy to fight this wretched cancer.
Dear Mary,
I didn’t see your post when I responded to Debbie earlier, but I thank you for your input!
I read the link to posted for me and that had a lot of great info too. I appreciate it very much.
I need to do some more research for the possibility of this vacation. We could be very flexible on what we did there, and she has a wheelchair she can use for trips out and about to eat or sightsee. She could also stay at the cabin and rest. We would for sure get a cabin that had a room for her to sleep in, and we would bring plenty of pillows and such for her to prop up and sleep or whatever is comfortable for her.
I do so want this to be a reality for us because it will be wonderful memories for us all. I want my husband to have some good quality time with his mom which he has not been able to have for many complicated reasons that I won’t go into.
Dear Debbie,
Thank you for your advice! I am thinking of calling to talk to my MIL’s oncologist to see what he suggests also. I think its important for us to take this trip and to make sure she has a great time.
She was only given 6-9 months with chemo and although I know that is just a guess I don’t want to assume anything and then it be too late.
Karen,
So sorry it took me so long to respond. We have been overwhelmingly busy lately!
My MIL was able to have her small dose of chemo on Thursday and she was very glad she could. Her platelets were at 83. Her oncologist wanted them to be in the 100s, but let her have her small dose of chemo. Her dr wants to see her weekly for platelet testing now.
Her oncologist also told her to take her morphine more often and her breakthrough meds less often and she seems to be feeling less pain now. She can still “feel” the pain but it’s tolerable.
She is supposed to get eloxatin (oxaliplatin) and Gemzar (gemcitabine for her large dose and then just one of those (not sure which one) for her small dose the next week. Hope that her platelets stay up and she can keep up her chemo schedule because she says she feels better while getting it.
Thanks,
HopeseekerKaren,
THANK you so very much for the info and links. I read them and feel much more informed and will pass this info on to my husband and MIL. I hope that my husband will be able to speak to the onc soon about meds and possible chemo change or other options if she can’t handle this chemo type any longer.
Today is supposed to be another chemo day for my MIL if her platelets have rebounded on their own. I’ll post about the results of her visit as soon as I hear from her later today. I
t’s been 4 months since diagnosis and she has done very well up until this last few weeks which has me worried some because I know how fast growing and chemo resistant this cancer can be. I also know the drs prognosis isn’t always correct so the 3-6 without chemo and 6-9 with, are just guesses and no one really knows how well a person can fight and even beat something like this!! I’ve seen many on here that have lived YEARS past their predicted time frame.
Thank you all again for all the information, support and care you show! I am a researcher by nature and have a need to know why, what and when we can get things done or changed or keep going with what’s working. This site has been a huge help in that!
Lainy,
Thank you very much for your input. I agree that there is no reason my MIL should be in pain with all the options there are now. I think part of the issue is that she does not like the effects it has on her. She says it sort of knocks he out when it hits her system. She said she gets so sleepy but doesn’t really sleep. I just tell her to take that time to sleep and see if she can get r step up since her body is fighting so hard.
Thank you again for your input.
Melinda,
Thank you for your input. The fact that she is in pain even when on 30mg of morphine every 8-12 hours with oxycodone for inbetween concerns me. I always thought drs could prescribe something to dull and take care of the pain.
She goes back on Thursday to see if she can have another chemo treatment. If her platelets are still too low then I think my husband should insist on some alternatives and another scan if her pain does not ease up. Also going to look into palliative care for her. She may fight that though because she is determined to fight and push through this and not let it get the best of her. Maybe if we explain it as pain management and not palliative care she will be more willing. We shall see.
Hopeful,
Happy 42nd ANNIVERSARY! What a milestone, and I hope it’s a great day for you and your husband.
Sincerely,
HopeseekerMarion,
So sorry to hear of your diagnosis. You have been a help and so kind to so many on this board. I’ve only been on here a few months but have been blessed by your input and support for me and so many others posts that I have read.
Take care of yourself and get better soon!!
marions wrote:You may also want to inquire about Neulasta, a white blood cell boster.https://www.neulasta.com/learn-about-neulasta/
Hugs
MarionMy MIL said her white blood count was fine. I am not familiar enough with any of this to know how it all works with chemo and lower counts. Can platelets be low and everything else be in the correct range? Will boosting white blood cells also help boost platelets?
Iowagirl wrote:I have had considerable dealings with low platelets because I developed a blood cancer from my bile duct chemo.It was explained to me that normally, platelets are not transfused until they get down to 15K (in my case). That may or may not be different with low platelets from the Oxiliaplatin. Anyway, the reason for waiting until 15K is that at that point, it starts to become too low. They don’t usually transfuse before 15K because platelets only last about 4-7 days in the body. However, they “can” rebound fairly fast. The only time I got a platelet transfusion was when I had a port put in and my platelets were too low for good clotting….and one time when the platelets dropped below 15K.
I would certainly raise the question of a platelet transfusion though….and also your concerns of not being able to have her do chemo, which was obviously helping. You deserve some answers…and more than she’s just having chemo pain.
Julie
Julie,
Thank you for your input. It makes sense that they would wait to do a transfusion only when counts are that low.I do feel we need more explanatioun as to the pain she is experiencing. Her oncologist doesn’t want to do another scan until the end of Sept or bringing of October since they did one in a June.
Dear Debbie,
Thank you for your kind words and advice. My MIL lives a little ways away so we don’t get to go to the Dr with her to be able to help and get the dr to try different options.
My husband can contact the dr and speak to him, but I was just curious as to what we should ask for or push for at this point?
marions,
Thank you for your reply and great info. I will pass it on to my husband so he can talk to her oncologist. She does not have insurance of any kind, but is getting help through a foundation (not sure which one) and Medicaid.
She is so young to be fighting this and we know she can fight hard if she had the right tools and help!
