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My wife begins an 8 treatment Chemo regimen soon and I was wondering when the drugs will really start kicking her ***. Hair falling out, etc. I know it affects everyone differently. I want to be as supportive as possible.

2007-01-17 15:33:35 · 7 answers · asked by John S 2 in Health Diseases & Conditions Cancer

7 answers

Always ask the oncologist and oncology nurses what to expect. I suggest you go to the doctors office (WITHOUT your wife) to freely discuss expectations and probable occurences.

Typically, by the third treatment hair loss begins. If her hair is long, and hair loss is imminent, have her cut her hair shorter, and shorter PRIOR to the loss--this will make the loss easier to handle. (During the loss period, she will wake up to find clumps of hair on her pillow.)

Every drug and every patient are different. Both my parents didn't become nauseous until about 18-30 hours after treatment--and this can be helped by drinking water. Also, some of the pain meds may make her ill as well. If this happens, YOU need to be the one to ask the doctor for something else; your wife will not feel like discussing it.

Somewhere about the fourth or fifth treatment, she may become depressed (don't know if it's the drugs or the whole mental aspect of it all). Anti-depressants worked wonders for my dad.

About this same time, "chemo-brain" sets in--this is the brains reaction to the drug toxicity in the body. It's temporary dimentia and confusion that usually passes 4-6 weeks after the LAST treatment.

I also urge you to read "Cure" magazine. It's free, and most oncologists have it in their offices. It helps you understand ALL aspects of how cancer affects peoples lives--patients, caregivers, children, etc.

And just remember, potentially, this could be the best time you and your wife spend together. The intimacy cancer treatment forces between patient and caregiver is like no other. Having been the caregiver for both parents during their cycles, I can honestly say I wouldn't trade it for the world...nor would I like to repeat it either!

One thing I said over and over to both (when they tried to hide how they were feeling) was "you have to love me enough to show me your worst." Sometimes this breaks through like nothing else.

Good Luck to you & your wife!

2007-01-18 02:53:54 · answer #1 · answered by firehorsegirl 2 · 0 0

chemotherapy affects everyone differently and often depends on where that chemotherapy site is. Some people are affected from the first treatment with nausea etc but not everything has same level of symptoms. Its probably more important to read all the information from the oncologists and ask questions so you are able to recognise when it is a result of the chemo and what support is required such as contacting the Dr or just changing diet to assist with comfort

2007-01-18 05:10:10 · answer #2 · answered by whispa1954 1 · 0 0

Chemo treats everyone differently. I've done nearly 30 doses, half of those high dose (enough that I lived in the hospital for a month) Yet, I barely had side effects.

Typically, chemos effects seem to hit a couple days after her treatment and then will gradually get better (in time for the next one)

Tell her to drink LOTS of water! That is probably the best thing she can do for herself. It will keep her from becoming constipated (most chemos do that to you) and it will flush those nasty chemicals out of her body quicker. Staying hydrated really helps with chemo side effects.

As for hair and stuff, I started losing mine after my third treatment.

2007-01-18 02:22:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

it will start kicking in right away, but everyone is affected differently. Some people will experience almost no symptoms, while others will hardly be able to live due to the horrible side effects. Which chemo agents are used also will effect the symptoms experienced. Hopefully your wife will have few side effects and a complete recovery as well. Good luck to you both.

2007-01-17 23:44:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

i am glad you are going to stand by your wife through this my mom took chemo once a week plus the cancer pill she was on texatear chemo along with bendryl it took about 6 treatments before her hair started to fall out the pill is what made her sick she also lost her finger nails she has had 32 rounds of chemo and has just had her breats took off the 16th of this month and was home the next day and is doing great when they start to lose there hair it hurts there feeling and they will start talking about shaving there head and if thats what they wont support them in it i shaved my moms head for her not all people lose there hair or get bad sick my mom is now getting ready for her next 32 rounds of chemo she said she is going to beat this thing and she will she is 61 years old good luck and god bless you

2007-01-18 10:17:47 · answer #5 · answered by mountainchowpurple 4 · 0 0

My sister after breast masectomy had her 2nd chemo only yesterday. In the first sitting she had vomitting on the first day and after that she felt very tired and weak from 2nd day to 7th day she is advised to drink lots of water or cool drinks and she did and her blood count came down to 3000 on the 14th day causing her body pain all over her body and after that from 15th day she started recovering and her blood count started improving by thousand every day and she started losing hair from the 19th day and she had her second chemo on the 22nd day or say 1st day for second chemo and this time she had less nausea and her hair keeps on falling and she has dropped nearly 60 % of her hair till today but still she is not bald as of today and she has less degree of symptoms than she had on her 1st chemo and she has to undergo six more ( totally 8). Hope this answers your question and I also pray for your wife for a speedy recovery.

2007-01-18 08:06:54 · answer #6 · answered by ssmindia 6 · 0 0

i started losing hair a few days after my first treatment.

2007-01-20 03:14:17 · answer #7 · answered by barb 6 · 0 0

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