DOOL Discussion Group -- About mom...no need to respond!!

DOOL Discussion Group

Topic: About mom...no need to respond!!

Topic Posted by: Kat
Date Posted: Fri Apr 25 19:00:59 2008
Additional Comments: I was mentioning this in Kitty's topic above, but I thought I'd ask you guys this - does anyone know anything about infusion? Mom is going to be getting infusion treatments once a month and I have no idea what it is, and haven't had one minute today to research it. If anyone from the MediaDomain has had any experience, please share! So, mom and dad love her oncologist. She is finished with the radiation. We took them to see her oncologist today and he is against chemo, completely. Besides the fact that my mom couldn't handle it... She looks pretty good and they were both in super good spirits!! I'm very happy right now. I love seeing my parents laughing. I saw where she had the radiation and its on the right side of her head about two inches above her ear, towards the front. Anyhoo, we're sitting there in the waiting room and a salesman came in that Ken used to work with - funny, we saw him there the last time we took mom to see her oncologist. He told us about when he had throat cancer. OMG! It was a horror story about chemo. I'll spare you the details. I was telling dad about it and they said mom's oncologist is against chemo. Thats the doc I want if I ever get cancer. Scared the hell out of me how sick this man was from chemo. So count your lucky stars when you feel good!!! Enjoy the day. I've learned so much from all this - I'm NOT going to complain and bitch, like I used to, over all the little stuff that means nothing!!

Posted by: DENIM
Date posted: Sun Apr 27 9:10:50 2008
Message:
Just stopped in to say I love you. (((((((KAT)))))))))

Posted by: cc
Date posted: Fri Apr 25 22:04:06 2008
Message:
Hey kat! My SIL had IV treatments, but I didn't hear the term infusion. I don't live close enough to be around for her appointments, but I heard people talking about the IV's & saying it was about half an hour. I thought we were still calling it chemo, at least I was. Do you want me to ask any questions for you? Sounds like your parents are dealing pretty well..... I hope you are too. Hugs & prayers.

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Hi CC! No, you don't have to ask any questions. I'm going to look online when I get a minute to concentrate and read. Ken is home with the ball game blasting! LOL! I can't think clearly right now!! :) BTW, thank you for your support...Kat

I hate that ball game blasting in the background. At our house, it is always SOME ball game. I get so tired of hearing those announcers drone on & on, I want to strangle them. Unless, of course it's my team & I'm interested, which isn't often. Mrcc has the game blaring right now. cc

Ken watches the Giants and I love the A's! HAH! Kat

Posted by: sam
Date posted: Fri Apr 25 20:31:43 2008
Message:
Kat, I don't know what infusion is, but as far as chemo goes, if you have cancer and chemo is your only hope, I think you take it. My friend has been on it for over a year because of Non-Hodgkins and it's totally ravaged his body but without it he would have been dead long ago. He probably won't last the year at this rate, but when someone tells you it's your only chance, I don't think you'd say no. Your mom's doctor must have reasons for not wanting her to have it but I'm sure if it was a young, otherwise healthy person who has the chance to beat cancer with it, it's a no-brainer.

I hope she does well. I haven't followed the entire story so I don't know where she has it or if it's curable but I hope this infusion helps.

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Well, I have a HUGE fear of throwing up. Cannot stand vomitting. So that would be a hard choice for me, seriously! Some people handle it well...and I heard that it all depends on the type of chemo. I'm sorry for your friend, Sam, but I seriously doubt I'd do it no matter what. However, I've never been in the position of making that choice...thank God! You know? How do I actually know if I would or wouldn't...I can't answer that. But this man told us that he had a tube in his stomach and he would have to feed himself by bottle thru this tube and as soon as he fed himself, he'd throw it back up. Lost over 50 pounds. The UP side (no pun) is, he is alive and well today!!! Kat

It's not the fear of dying, it's fear of pain. The doctor said to me this week that if/when there is another occurance, ''we'll give you chemo''. I said nothing, but inwardly - no you won't. The 'standard' NHL is more aggressive each time it returns. I'm not willing to go through that; the way I think at this point. But if one has family, etc. maybe they have a reason to do anything for more time. And some people want to stay alive at all costs because they are afraid of death. / Sapphire

Sapphire, isn't it a choice? I mean, its YOUR choice and a doctor cannot force you, right? In other words, they can't say they'll drop your insurance if you don't take the chemo! Chemo can be so horrible. I say CAN be, because as you well know, it can be different with each person. If I had 3 doctors tell me if you don't take the chemo, you'll die, I'm pretty sure I would. But it might be too traumatic for me! Now, my mother had chemo the first time she had breast cancer when she was 59 and she never got sick! They gave her pills for nausea, but she told me she never took any...Kat

Posted by: Sapphire
Date posted: Fri Apr 25 20:11:52 2008
Message:

Guess what, Kat? That would be me also. Getting tired of me popping up? :-p I had 4 Rituxan (immunotherapy) infusion treatments, 1 week apart. (a year ago today was #3) Do you know what your mom is being infused with? I know that my non-hodgkins lymphoma is not the same as her fight.

From the Rituxan website: Infusion - The placement of a fluid into a vein. The fluid is injected through a catheter, a long narrow tube that has been inserted into a vein, and is pumped in or allowed to flow in by gravity.

I had an IV in my arm for 4-6 hours after they gave me tylenol and benadryl. The pump was programmed and had 2 bags hung. One rituxan and the other wasn't.

I hope that any side effects of radiation isn't bothering your mom too much.

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Sapphire! Hi! Well, I have NO idea what mom is being infused with, but dad said it will take half an hour and there are NO side effects. They took her through the facility and thats the same place they do chemo. It worked for you, right?? You are doing well - I hope! Since my parents do NOT allow me IN, so-to-speak, I guess half the time and I try and get all I can out of them. Talk about frustrating! LOL! Kat

Actually, not so much. It helped the secondary eye inflammation, but made the tumor larger. I am my own little category, as the oncologist told me once again this week. / Sapphire

Wow, thats tough. And it must be difficult to research!! Kat

Kat, inside please............. Sapphire

Posted by: Papaya
Date posted: Fri Apr 25 20:01:04 2008
Message:

Hey Kat! Here is the NCI's definition of infusion -- in other words, IV drip. Is mom getting the infusion for her bones?

''A method of putting fluids, including drugs, into the bloodstream. Also called intravenous infusion.''

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HI Papaya!!! Yes!! Thats it!!! Thats what dad said - something about her bones!!! When we take them on Friday, I'll try and get more out of them!! Kat

She'll probably get Zometa or Aredia. They're like high dose Fosamax. I had Zometa for a while a few years back. The side effect, for me, was joint and skeletal pain for a few days after infusion- like a mild flu. {{{Hugs}}}/Papaya

OH!!! Thanks Papaya...I had NO idea about this!!! I'll take that hug and send one right back to you!! (((HUG)))..... :) Kat

Posted by: Dana
Date posted: Fri Apr 25 19:15:35 2008
Message:

I don't know anything about infusion. But I did a little search and found this.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,869610,00.html

Replies: (list all replies)

Oh Dana!! Bless your heart! Thank you!! :) Kat