My partner has just finished 20 sessions of radiotherapy for lung cancer. His breathing is now worse than before he started treatment. Does anybody know if this is to be expected after treatment
Sorry for late reply, i was in bedlast 2 days after recent treatment
i wrote this email just now n it disappeared and this is my second one , may b something to do with me being slow typer
Great yr partner home and looking better , being stronger helps with chemo
if i may ask which chemo hes having, usually its cisplastin with something else
I had chemo and this is what i did , mine was carboplatin n taxol
Kept away from anyone with cold coughs. ..we dunt want unwanted infection esply day 7 to day 14 ish post chemo
Ask for a cold cap , i didnt as i didn't know, its like a freeze hat concoction on head while chemo is running, less likely to lose hair, not everyone suitable for it , ask the nurse
Definitely ask for cold mits , hand n foot freezing gloves ,less chemo get in foot n hand n less likely to get side effects of tingling, numbing of fingers n toes, i tried it after i had symptoms as nurse was too bizy on first cycle, it helps
Err this is tricky but works, paint nails clear or colour, it helps from nail breaking, i only put a clear coat on day of treatment
Moisturise skin a little before n following days after treatment, they give aveeno cream free but i used any moisturiser when i could
i did oil my hair pre chemo but not sure it made a difference, the cold cap wud have been better
I also used a supplement i read online called AHCC glycans, they are chinese shaitake mushroom based supplements, apparently reduce side effects of chemo on immune system, pls pls check with his oncologist specialist before taking the supplements. Look it up on amazon reviews . I guess yr partner not allergic to mushrooms or anything
i still use ahcc supplement as i read it boost immune system
Vit D as mine is v low, unfortunate a bit late
Drink plenty to flush kidneys out from chemo , no alcohol
Plenty of rest n some leg exercises just shuffling in bed to keep circulation
Eat what can , no raw veg n food well cooked , think to avoid infection
Day 7 to 14 ish usually immune system can drop n prone to infection, avoid crowds n cough cold people, third week better
Keep hotline hospital number in phn n dunt hesitate ask if any queries
Get a temperature thermometer, daily temperature n when feel unwell or hot, if temp over 37.5 deg or under 36 deg ring hotline
Remember he may not get any side effects, some dont, its individual
And having a good support helps so so much i hope you didn't mind me tell you the above
Hi Karina hope you are feeling a bit better. Liam sailed throgh his first treatment thankfully. We are armed to the teeth with anti sickness pills lol.
Many thanks for your really helpful suggestions. I never even thought about getting something as basic as the thermometer. Liam eats little and often so that should help. We have been absolutely blessed with the treatment so far. The oncology nurses are fantastic.
Thankyou for your mail, im feeling better after days in bedmostly, well i can only do what i can
I got a mouth thermometer i found that best , i could not do the ear one Yea temperature every day v important
Eating little often good , throw some stuff he likes by bedside , he will snack on them
i also drank lucozade for energy n chocolates yeahhhh , i assume he can take sugars
Food meat has to be well done for now , and eggs too well done , i avoided eggs
Drink drink drink so important first few days
Dunt forget moisturise, n no hair dyes
You are a caring partner , makes all the difference, u just dunt realise
And if yr partner or yrself need local support google support group in yr area , the council has a list...online. Unfortunately i dunt drive n transport to the lc group is a bit far for me
Take each day as it comes , it gets better
Oh i also had some sanitizer wipes in house, but good hand washing is enough, and using mouthwash regularly to keep mouth ulcers away. I was advised a child toothbrush if i develop mouth ulcers
Glad to hear that you are feeling a bit better. Our summer has sort of stated here, so things looks a bit brighter. On the other hand the windows look a bit dirtier lol.
Liam doing well now apart from being tired and occasionlly nauseous. He is managing to eat well by my standards but believes that he is not getting enough. His appetite has always been double the average persons intake.
Thankyou and i hope you both had a luvly weekend with lotta chocs yeah
Its rain n err rain n wind here we live up north, the hot days we had are gone for now
im feeling better n out of bed, i think my school friend from London coming see me , was a mental boost , we haven't met since school many many years ago n reconnected recently
Try lucozade n choc for energy drain , it helps, its strange with chemo, it saps energy right out
And rest plenty but please exercise legs too , like getting out of bed n going down stairs. ..every little helps
Eat unhealthy i was advised cos of my low weight , if weight ok eat healthy i would say , i get the impression u make delicious meals. Remember no raw veg fruits for first two weeks after chemo to avoid tummy bugs
For nausea i was prescribed omeprazole, its an indigestion stomach tablet good for heartburn too, it helped a lot . I also took ginger tablet
It gets better with time n then they hit u with another cycle, its worth it
please make sure he has a check up two weeks after each chemo to monitor his blood n chest xray, its standard where i am
Hows u doing yrself , i think having a caregiver , they take on so much while we cannot and are not able to cope by oneself , its a blessing we are very grateful for
Hi Karina, sorry for late reply. Liam was taken to hospital on Tuesday night with very nasty infection. He is in isolation and having meds for low white cell count. I think they started chemo too soon after radiotherapy.
Hoping to see an improvement in next day or two. His appetite is coming back slowly and he will soon be eating everything in sightl.
Sorryyyy did not know you messaged as did not log on fora long while
Ahhhhh nooooo ...i hope by now your man is better and out of isolation, think they kept him there as immune system very low n make it safe for him
I hope you were allowed to visit
i think u rite the chemo started may be when he was not fully recovered from his chest infection, mine too got worse after chemo n i was admitted with very low dangerous blood count
Dont worry the staff used to treating this however worrying it felt for us at the time
Once recovered PLS DISCUSS with his onc specialist if he can have immune booster injections G csf injection(granulocyte stimulating factor ), i had to have them and they helped keep my blood levels up after chemo, its usually given by district nurse or self given if shown how to, starting 24 hrs after chemo , i had one injection for 5 days but i only did 4 .days..my choice , it can give joint or bone pain , better with pain killers
Lots of patients i am told have the immune booster injections, i wasn't given them until after a serious infection
Hows both of you doing now
Hope both are now smiling and going good
Sorry i had anxiety n low mood issues just to add more fun. ..u know ...i could not log on but i did think of you n mentioned you to my friend
Great to hear from you. Liam restarted his chemo on 15th May. so far he hasn't had a single side effect. He is on the injections and steroids plus constant antibiotics. He is eating me out of house and home which is fantastic.
