Well it’s finally here. Chemo Day 1 is tomorrow. I have been dreading this day since I learned that I would need chemotherapy, but now that it’s upon me, I feel ready. I went last week for a “Vein Assessment” and the nurses do not think I need to have a mediport installed for the chemo delivery. I am hoping that my right arm is up for the task as my left arm can’t share the burden due to the lymph node removal on that side.
Yesterday was supposed to be wig shopping day, but it turned into Hurricane Irene day (More on Facebook on this subject if you are interested). Luckily I had already stocked up on the prescriptions/supplies I needed for tomorrow. I knew what to buy thanks to loads of great tips and tricks from some women who have been through this. This also inspired a serious clean out/reorg of our bathroom closet and large purchases at CVS and Smile Herb Shop (picture below).
I thought it might be nice to compile tips and tricks that I received from the women who plowed through this before me:
Tips
– Let the RN know Immediately if you feel sick, dizzy, etc… They may need to adjust the flow of the infusion.
– Take Claritin (not Claritin D) for any pain you may get from your Nuelasta shot (or whatever they give you the day after chemo to boost your white cells).
– Stay well hydrated – Three days prior to chemo start drinking at least 3 quarts of water a day – continue to hydrate throughout (especially for the two days post chemo). These are potent toxins being pushed into your body and you don’t want them sitting for too long in your kidneys and bladder. They can cause bad UTI’s.
– Do take your anti-nausea meds exactly as prescribed (do not wait to see if you are going to get nausea).
– As you are detoxing from chemo, wipe well with a wet wipe because the toxins can irritate your skin in that area. Aquaphor or Vaseline can help protect it also.
– Use loads of moisturizer. it sucks your skin dry. Be careful going out in the sun- you will burn easier.
– The mouth is particularly effected by chemo. Mouth sores and thrush can happen quickly. Some remedies include mixing a gargle rinse with 1 table spoon baking soda, 1 table spoon salt and warm water. Mix well and gargle/rinse often. If they get bad, you may need a prescription for something stronger.
– Try to go to a “Look Good…Feel Better” program. They are offered at most hospitals & cancer centers. You do not have to go where you are treated. You get a nice makeover, free cosmetics and meet other women. Have an eyebrow pencil on hand as eyebrows and eyelashes will be lost in addition to the hair on your head.
Remedies
Acid reflux – Take Pepcid with chemo & then for 2 weeks
Dry eyes – Refresh eye drops
Dry Mouth- Biotene mouth wash, chew ice during treatment
Fever- Digital thermometer
Mouth sores – equal parts benadryl and Maalox (swish & spit)
Constipation/diarrhea or both – Have Colase and Immodium on hand
Fingernails – Tea Tree oil 2x per day before chemo & throughout treatment
Yeast infection – Acidophilus capsules 3x per week
Immune System- New Chapter Multi and Medicinal Mushrooms
Bone Pain- Claritin
Bone Density- Bone Strength from Whole Foods
Cancer prevention- Green tea
Anything to add to the list? Thanks everyone!
Additional advice:
Wig shops in Maryland- (Check your insurance company, some carriers will cover the cost or partial cost of a wig. My BlueCross coverage will cover 90% of one wig up to 350$. Your doctor may need to write you out a script for a “head prosthetic”)
Amy’s of Denmark, http://www.amyofdenmark.com/
Cancer Center at Howard County General Hospital, http://www.hcgh.org/content/cmcrc/default.htm
I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow, Al, and in the weeks to come. Good luck!
Thinking of you, Alison. Lots of luck tomorrow and I’m totally here if you need anything. xx
Queasy drops and Queasy pops contain ginger a good anti-nausea
You can buy them on line
Ginger drops http://www.gingerpeople.com or whole foods.
Thinking about you and your family
Thanks Jennie, so good to hear from you, I am sure I’ll see you again when I start up radiation with Dr. Kroog…
Look forward to it.
I forgot one website chemocare.com
See you soon
Lots of love and healing thoughts are being sent through the ether to you right now, Al! I can’t imagine all that you are/will be going through during this chemo process, but I do know you’ve got some wonderful folks around you for physical and emotional support, so don’t be afraid to lean on them!! As far as mouth sores go, my doctor has prescribed a daily folic acid tablet since I’ve been on methotrexate. Granted, the methotrexate is a MUCH weaker chemo than what you’ll be getting, but I’ve found the folic acid has managed to keep the sores at bay, so far. Might be worth asking about. xoxo, Missy
P.S. I am VERY impressed with your organized home pharmacy … I’d like to hire you to come organize my closets when you’re feeling better!! 😉
Honestly, Alison, you are my h e r o ( ok, technically heroine.) I read this blog with my mouth wide open in awe of your courage mixed with grace/humor. Jabbing your abdomen with needles? Thrush-fighting mouth rinses? Chemo? Sixteen babies? What’s next? Levitation? You are teaching us all that the confines of your mind do not have to limit what your body is capable of. Bless you for writing down the pretty damned incredible list of things you have taken on thus far. with my love, Dede
PS: Can someone lend you “Midnight in Paris” to watch during chemo? And a pashmina? (I work at the cancer center and people are always needing a warm wrap during infusions) oxo
😉 Thanks Dede! Dreaming of the Cape next summer when all of this will just be a distant memory.
Alison, you are one amazing young lady….you write with such spirit and eloquence! Your journal will indeed be useful to any and all who follow in your footsteps. On a personal note, I received a bit of good news this week in my own experience with prostate cancer. Following a prostatectomy at Hopkins a year ago and a disappointing post-surgery PSA of 0.2, at Dr. Patrick Walsh’s recommendation I completed 40 radiation treatments in late June – and without side effects I’m happy to report. The goal of the radiation was to achieve an “undetectable” PSA at the next exam. That exam occurred this week, and the PSA was in fact “undetectable”. Thus, the radiation did its job. I hope and pray your chemo and radiation treatments will produce the same result for you. You continue to be in our thoughts and prayers, Alison.
John and Patty Reich
Hi John/Patty-
This is great news! Sending you good thoughts and prayers too! I love to hear that the radiation was such a breeze and also worked so well!
XO, Alison
Dear Alison, You continue to amaze! Such calm, clarity and productive fortitude in the face of this f”#$#ing roller-coaster is mind-boggling. Please know that I’m thinking about you in these tough days after your first session. The “look good-feel better program” sounds like a plan, because if anyone can pull off a Nefertiti – it’s you with that gorgeous skin and limpid (never thought I’d use that word…but it just popped into my mind after looking back at those great shower pics) eyes.
Please don’t think that I mean to make light of this ordeal that you are facing with such grace and even humor, and which you have the generosity to share with us so openly. But as mom used to say, “I need to laugh at what I can through all of this.” After having spent a couple of days with your Mom and Dad up at the Cape, I know that they will keep you smiling.
lots of love, Amy
thanks Amy, I needed this pick me up note right now, the chemo really makes it all so real for some reason, and I am finding lots of emotions are popping up. your mom is right though, you do need to laugh at what you can and keep smiling, because it all just keeps rolling whether you like it or not! i hope i can pull of nefertiti! ha. sending love to you too! love, al
Hey Alison – I’ve been thinking about you since I met you at Sibley in July and today while trying to research PT Amanda Kane your blog popped up. I had thought about trying to find your email off the last SG email and asking who you saw, but google worked just the same. [btw she’s booked all month 🙁 ] I meet with the oncologist for the first time post-surgery tomorrow, so I’m super anxious to see what they recommend. And if I end up on the chemo route – I will be using your tips! I hope everything went well and I hope to run into you sometime in the future.
Hey Carmen! So good to hear from you, I sent you a couple of emails. Talk soon. Best, Al