Cancer Support and Caregivers Who Are Trail Blazers!

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by Debby

I have chemo today and when I am done I will only have ONE treatment left.
Here's to the nurse finding a vein the first try today.

Congratulations on being almost done....and hope it goes smoothly for you today.

Hey everyone, I have a question...

My mother is getting chemo every two weeks, a treatment at the oncology center and then a pack that she wears for 48 hours that continues it.

They don't have to find a vein each time (like Debby....ouch!)....because she has a port in her chest that evidently goes to an artery or a major vein or something. I'm just wondering if anyone knows....is that normal? Does it mean anything? It just got me wondering...

[Tommi]

Originally Posted by JustJo

Congratulations on being almost done....and hope it goes smoothly for you today.

Hey everyone, I have a question...

My mother is getting chemo every two weeks, a treatment at the oncology center and then a pack that she wears for 48 hours that continues it.

They don't have to find a vein each time (like Debby....ouch!)....because she has a port in her chest that evidently goes to an artery or a major vein or something. I'm just wondering if anyone knows....is that normal? Does it mean anything? It just got me wondering...

Yes Jo, it is very common in chemotherapy patients. The port-a-cath is normal. Especially since your Mom has lost so much weight and not eating well. It's easier for routine treatment, and if there should be an emergency, they have direct access should the veins collapse.

Per Wikipedia
In medicine, a port (or portacath) is a small medical appliance that is installed beneath the skin. A catheter connects the port to a vein. Under the skin, the port has a septum through which drugs can be injected and blood samples can be drawn many times, usually with less discomfort for the patient than a more typical "needle stick".
Ports are used mostly to treat hematology and oncology patients, but recently ports have been adapted also for hemodialysis patients.
The port is usually inserted in the upper chest, just below the clavicle or collar bone, leaving the patient's hands free.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by JustJo

Congratulations on being almost done....and hope it goes smoothly for you today.

Hey everyone, I have a question...

My mother is getting chemo every two weeks, a treatment at the oncology center and then a pack that she wears for 48 hours that continues it.

They don't have to find a vein each time (like Debby....ouch!)....because she has a port in her chest that evidently goes to an artery or a major vein or something. I'm just wondering if anyone knows....is that normal? Does it mean anything? It just got me wondering...

Should I feel insulted? Did you miss the "I had the exact same cancer/treatment as your mother" information somewhere?

Yes, that is normal.

The infusion is for around 4 hours and then you wear the pack for 48. When the pack becomes empty (there is a battery that starts beeping), you go back to the infusion place and they disconnect you (some insurances pay for a nurse to come to your house). As a side note, you don't have to run over to the facility the moment the beeper goes off. Just remove the battery and get over there when you can.

For me (and evidently a number of people), the exhaustion would set in immediately AFTER the pump stopped. Subsequently, since I worked full-time, I would have my infusion Wednesday morning, then have the pack from Wed-Fri. I would get it off on Friday (I would run over to the infusion place...across the street from my job... at lunch time), and then sleep all weekend. It worked out great. You should ask your mom her "tired time", so your vacation "events" can be scheduled around it.

[JustJo]

Thank you all...and sorry Dapper...my brain has gone dead
After hearing from Entycing and Tommi I had one of those duh moments and smacked myself in the forehead...

She's being readmitted to the hospital...her friends have been calling me...I've been trying to reach my sister then realized she's at Burning Man (and therefore out of cell phone range) until the 5th or 6th...basically losing my mind.

I'm waiting to hear what her status is this evening...and trying to figure out if I need to get on a plane right now or what.

More than anything I wish I simply didn't have to deal with this...which then jumps up and smacks me as an incredibly selfish thing since she is dealing with much worse. Her friends are putting 2 and 2 together and realizing that she's told each of us one tiny bit of information here and there, claiming she doesn't know more, and keeping us in the dark about some things that she's told others. Right now, we're comparing notes...and the full story isn't looking good.

The oncologist's office weighed her in at 96 lbs this afternoon and doesn't know why she is having pain in her abdomen 2 months after her surgery. They did an x-ray that showed nothing...more tests to come.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by JustJo

The oncologist's office weighed her in at 96 lbs this afternoon and doesn't know why she is having pain in her abdomen 2 months after her surgery. They did an x-ray that showed nothing...more tests to come.

Ok, so now I feel like an asshole for yelling at you. Sorry.

Let me tell you the first thing that came into my head when I read your post.

2 weeks after my surgery I was readmitted to the hospital because I had a blockage (read: could not poop) due to adhesions. This excruciating pain just came from out of no where and I had just gone to the bathroom only a couple of hours earlier, so it really made no sense.

It is more common for the adhesions to develop a year after surgery; thus, the reason the fuckers in the ER didn't seem too concerned about the amount of pain I was in until they did a CAT scan.

Find out if your mother has gone to the bathroom.

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Ok, so now I feel like an asshole for yelling at you. Sorry.

Let me tell you the first thing that came into my head when I read your post.

2 weeks after my surgery I was readmitted to the hospital because I had a blockage (read: could not poop) due to adhesions. This excruciating pain just came from out of no where and I had just gone to the bathroom only a couple of hours earlier, so it really made no sense.

It is more common for the adhesions to develop a year after surgery; thus, the reason the fuckers in the ER didn't seem too concerned about the amount of pain I was in until they did a CAT scan.

Find out if your mother has gone to the bathroom.

I think we were typing at the same moments and you, my friend, are anything but an asshole.

She has a colostomy and says things are working normally....but she's also barely eating and dehydrated....so I'm not sure.

I'm dialing the hospital (again) as I type to see if she's settled in there yet....ugh.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by JustJo

I think we were typing at the same moments and you, my friend, are anything but an asshole.

She has a colostomy and says things are working normally....but she's also barely eating and dehydrated....so I'm not sure.

I'm dialing the hospital (again) as I type to see if she's settled in there yet....ugh.

Maybe in the end this hospitalization will be a good thing. Maybe it will get her strength back up resulting in her chemo treatments taking less of a toll on her. Something like 1/3 of all chemo patients have to quit due to weight loss and other side effects.

Please let us know how things are going.

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Maybe in the end this hospitalization will be a good thing. Maybe it will get her strength back up resulting in her chemo treatments taking less of a toll on her. Something like 1/3 of all chemo patients have to quit due to weight loss and other side effects.

Please let us know how things are going.

Nothing definitive....but I'm feeling somewhat relieved.

She's in the hospital, definitely there for at least a few days...getting IV fluids and back on the TPN so she's getting some nutrition. She sounds better..thanks to several IVs of fluid and some painkillers...but she also sounds far more relaxed to be back in the hospital.

They'll be doing some tests to determine what's causing the pain, but in the meantime they're most concerned about the dehydration and malnutrition. It looks like the TPN may become a longer term thing that will go home with her, and the oncologist said that he'll be ordering at-home care once she is released as well.

I haven't managed to talk to him yet and all the info is coming second hand through my mother and her friends....but it's an improvement to know that she's in good hands.

[deb_U_taunt]

Glad to hear she is being admitted, so they can keep a watch on her. They can rehydrate her fairly quick.

Originally Posted by JustJo

I think we were typing at the same moments and you, my friend, are anything but an asshole.

She has a colostomy and says things are working normally....but she's also barely eating and dehydrated....so I'm not sure.

I'm dialing the hospital (again) as I type to see if she's settled in there yet....ugh.

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by Debby

It is normal. The reason I didn't get a port because of I won't be doing hormone treatments after chemo and they did't need as many blood draws. I can tell you I wish I got a port early on. (The nurse didn't get it first try today, but only ONE left!!!!!!!!!!)

Ouch....I can only imagine how rough that is....the port does seem easier and makes a lot of sense. I'm so glad you have only one left!

Originally Posted by Debby

Glad to hear she is being admitted, so they can keep a watch on her. They can rehydrate her fairly quick.

Me too....her BP is back up to 113 over something....it was down to 90...and she sounds better. Her weight of 96 was fully dressed....can't even imagine that for a woman who has been slim her whole life at 145ish.

They've already gotten 2 quarts or liters (whichever it is they use) of fluid into her, and the TPN to be started shortly. I'm sure that will help a lot.

[deb_U_taunt]

It is normal. The reason I didn't get a port because of I won't be doing hormone treatments after chemo and they did't need as many blood draws. I can tell you I wish I got a port early on. (The nurse didn't get it first try today, but only ONE left!!!!!!!!!!)

Originally Posted by JustJo

Congratulations on being almost done....and hope it goes smoothly for you today.

Hey everyone, I have a question...

My mother is getting chemo every two weeks, a treatment at the oncology center and then a pack that she wears for 48 hours that continues it.

They don't have to find a vein each time (like Debby....ouch!)....because she has a port in her chest that evidently goes to an artery or a major vein or something. I'm just wondering if anyone knows....is that normal? Does it mean anything? It just got me wondering...