My cousin's wife is going to start treatment soon. Is there anything that I could do to make their life a little better? I was thinking of making a meal and dropping it off. Thanks.
2007-10-12 04:38:15 · 5 answers · asked by ♥ Elizabeth ♥ 4 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
Hi girl and welcome back!!! I think that is a nice idea. Something that helps is to use plastic silver silverware as a lot of folks think they can taste the metal in the utensils and that it distorts the taste of the food. Ask what she would like...sometimes it is bland food and sometimes they like salty or stronger tasting things..
Listening always a good thing. Give hugs and touch them...you can't catch cancer...
I have a sister in law with breast cancer and i wear a pink bracelet at all times. several times a day I play with it and when I do I think of her and send up a quick prayer..for her and my brother to be strong. My brother wears one too!!!
Prayer always help too!!
Again....nice to see you here again....and good luck to cousins wife..will remember ya'll in prayer.
2007-10-12 13:26:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Good answers so far.
Making a meal for her is a good idea; don't say 'If there's anything I can do...' - just do it. Cook a meal, clean the house, pick up her kids from school - anything that will make life easier for her when she's feeling tired and ill.
If her chemo regime is going to make her lose her hair (they don't all cause hair loss, her oncologist will advise), then it is a good idea for her to cut her hair very short, and then shave it when it starts to fall out, because otherwise it gets everywhere - you never realise how much hair you have till it starts to fall out.
People's reactions to chemo vary; some people feel fine much of the time, others get very ill. She will probably feel nauseous; if she's actually vomiting she should get her anti-sickness medication checked and changed straight away.
She is as likely to put on weight as lose it during chemo, because of the steroids. I could only face very bland foods a lot of the time - mashed potato etc. She should eat whatever she feels will make her feel better - forcing yourself to eat healthily if you can't face it at this time does not help.
As well as the diarrhea mentioned above, severe constipation may be a problem in the days following each chemo. I suggest a Lactulose syrup plus a stimulant type laxative like Senakot, plus glycerine suppositories. Sorry, not much about chemo is dignified.
I found, as many people do, that the week or so following each chemo was the worst - the time when I felt ill and exhausted. The following two weeks before the next treatment I felt more normal.
An unpleasant tinny taste in the mouth is common and I found pineapple chunks, especially frozen ones, helped with this.
Ginger in any form can help relieve nausea - fresh ginger, ginger biscuits, crystalised ginger etc. I found cola helped relieve it too; some people find it more effective if it's allowed to go flat first.
Association sickness can be a problem for a long time after chemo ends; she shouldn't eat her favourite foods before or after each chemo as this may put her off them. I used to love fresh juices, now they make me sick because i had some straight after my first chemo.
Good luck, I hope her side effects are minimal. Good friends like you help people get through these diffficult times.
2007-10-12 13:43:55 · answer #2 · answered by lo_mcg 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Making a meal and dropping it off would be very helpful.
I ate lots of bland high protein foods to keep blood levels up so the chemo would move on time. Like cold hard boiled eggs, Arbys or Rax roast beef sandwiches, sliders (white castles), crackers and chilled bottled water. She needs to stay AHEAD of the nausea by taking the anti-nausea pills before the nausea comes...after the nausea comes , you don't even want to look at a pill. And it is good to have immodium on hand for diarrhea that goes with chemo (ask the doctor if it is ok first).
When the hair starts falling out too much hair gets all over the place...so sometimes it is better to shave it all off and wear a wig (have chemo doc write an rx for "hair prosthesis" and insurance should cover it).
2007-10-12 11:47:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I didn't feel like eating at all so I made myself, I didn't want to loose weight. Nothing really tasted the same so cooking was hard, bringing a meal in or taking her out would be good. If there isn't someone else to do it kitchen and bathroom cleaning is good. Also if she gets sores in her mouth peach's in heavy syrup helped me and I used peroxide instead of the swish and spit stuff, does that taste terrible. Good luck to her. Get a wig fast, when they say 3 weeks they are right. American cancer society has good wigs at great prices.
2007-10-12 13:00:00 · answer #4 · answered by pecansunday 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
my sister just finished chemo and is starting radiation 5x for 5 weeks... she really did well, they gave her pills to stop the "feeling" sick. they told her to eat small portions. apparently in her case (pancreatic cancer stage 3) the type of cancer killed her taste buds, every thing tasted like card board. she was very tired...... i made her banana bread and cranberry bread... that seemed to be OK for her......
being there for her or offering to clean her house or do errands might be the best answer.
you are a good friend.
2007-10-12 16:11:15 · answer #5 · answered by ncbound 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋