Outrider1
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Posts posted by Outrider1
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If you are making a stop for Katie, would it be possible for me to join in? I just live about 5 minutes southeast of Dallas. I haven't taken a road trip in sssooooo long.
Dawn
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Kristi,
I took dexamethasone (generic decadron) while on chemo, I only took the steroid for two to three days after the chemo infusion and the two days of chemo pills. The roid rage is noticable in me in about two days. I also found out recently that the side effects I thought were due to the chemo came from the steroids. You might ask his Dr.s if he can take them for a shorter time (depending on his regime, mine was once every four weeks a 3 hour infusion and two days of pills) or at a lower dose. That also makes it not so hard to step down off of them when he no longer needs them.
I found that the ativan (anti-anxiety pill) help tone the roid rage down some. The anti-depressants I took, were for major clinical depression from a couple of years before my cancer diagnosis, so I was off of those by that time, and decided that I did not want to go back on them unless absolutely necessary. Zoloft (setraline is the generic name) was my magic pill, it worked great. But I had to keep upping the dosage as my body built up a tolerance quite quickly (that doesn't happen with everyone). There are a whole slew of different types of anti-depressants that they can try if you don't think the one he is on is working.
Hope that helps a little.
Dawn
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Oh! and I am going to mosaic my mask and then put feathers all around the outside edges to look like one of those Vegas show girl headdresses.
I plan on starting that sometime this week end.
Dawn
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Thank you all for the words of encouragement.
I have broken out my pretty orange Barbie hair (wig) and am going to have my daughter help me trim more to my style. If I can figure out how to stiffen felt, I am going to stiffen the brim of one of my hats to wear. I have decided (after someone pointed out the other day I was having a pity party (not unkindly, mind you)) that I was going to get back on track and not let a little loss of hair derail me getting my life back as close to normal as I could get it.
Thank you all so much.
Dawn
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Being a navy vet, these pictures remind me of the old saw; Red sky at night, Sailors delight; red sky in morning, Sailor take warning. (this saying is actually a very good predictor of the weather).
Beautiful pictures.
Dawn
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PCI- preventative cranial irradiation.
I call it "frying my brain" or "the microwave treatment"
but it is used as a preventative especially with those of us who have SCLC. I did not have any mets to the brain, which was fortunate as I had them just about every where else.
Dawn
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I have done just that.
My daughter took the clippers to all the rest of the strands left. I gave my scalp a warm soothing soak and then she rubbed body butter into my scalp for me. My sister has sent me some bandanas for my birthday, but I need to wash those first, but I got my favorite (which she also sent me the first time) and put it on.
A little spa treatment and pampering, and I am feeling a little better. I'll worry about the smoking tomorrow.
Dawn
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I stopped my PCI on Monday last, as I felt we had done enough to be effect and at that point I was having minimal side effects(aside from the side effects of the steroids. I stopped them mainly because I have an aversion to messing with my brain, since I only have one, and Brain transplant techniques have not been perfected yet.
Anyway, on Thursday last I started to experience the start of the shedding. Just a few hairs more that normal, so I thought okay, maybe this will be all. Friday, a few more than Thursday, so I was still not really concerned. Saturday, the day of the Great Achievements BBQ (to celebrate all of my milestones like my birthday, totally clean scans of Mar 8, 09, getting my smoking down to 1 1/2 ppd from 3 1/2 -4 ppd, etc) it started coming out in clumps.
Now, I was well aware of the fact that the PCI could cause me to lose all the new growth (about 2 inches all over), even told the Rad. Onc. I was not worried, as I have a wig if I needed it and some great bandannas.
I was not prepared for how I felt this morning. I got so ANGRY(which made me miss my target of 2 less cigarettes today, than yesterday, as when I get angry enough to cry, I tend to smoke more, which made me angrier). I got so mad that I cried, which is something that I have not done during all of the last year dealing with this. I have never asked "why me" (I always felt, why not me? I am no more special than the next person), have tried not to let my Dx. run my life, (you know, kinda like, I have cancer, but cancer doesn't have me). I was sooo mad, I just started pulling it all off ( at this point it was not attached to the hair follicle and was making my scalp hurt) and crying(I'm just glad I was home by myself and that the kids had gone out for a short while). I was hoping, by the time, it was over, I would feel better. But nope, I am still pissed off. When my oldest daughter got home, I asked her if she would take care of any of the strands that I missed, and she said she would (although the thing that has bothered her the most has been the loss of my hair,(she says she just does not like seeing her mother bald, bless her heart!)).
So, although I don't want to bring anyone down, I thought that if I shared this with others who have been down this particular path, that maybe I wouldn't be so angry. As I typed it out my anger seems to have started to lessen, and although still teary about it, at least I am not so angry.
That in itself is a blessing.
Dawn
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To which she replied,
"I'm not sure, hun...where are we at again?"
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Thank you all so much. What a lovely way to start the afternoon!.
We are waiting till Sat the 28 and then we are doing a BBQ here at the house to celebrate all of my milestones.
Turning 50
6 months NED
And doing something that I never thought I would be able to do. Dropping from 3 1/2 packs a day to 1 1/2. and in the last two days dropping another 1/2 a pack a day. ( I am really proud of this one! This has been as hard as fighting the cancer itself.)
Oh! and did I mention, .......My daughter is making CAKE!!! WOOHOO! I get cake and I don't have to make it!!!
I have been truly blessed to have found you all and this site.
Dawn
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I do mosaics and paint on glass.
Dawn
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I am not co-ordinated enough to dance, but I can still sing. And I do a lot. Country and classic rock and sometimes even in off seasons Christmas, gospel and spirituals.
Music speaks to the soul.
Dawn
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Hi,
My name is Dawn and I live in North Texas. I am a widowed, Navy vet and have 4 kids, 3 dogs and a cat who thinks he has servants.
My introduction into the soap opera I seem to be living actually started with the sudden unexpected death of my husband in 2002. It makes the story much longer so we will leave the first part for another time. My first steps in this new direction of the story started in March of last year.
I went to the ER for a killer migraine. They did a Ct and found...just brains and a killer headache. Three weeks later, I was back with what I though was a pulled back muscle from laying on the that hard, cold, metal table of the CT scanner and moving off of it wrong. I could barely walk. Well another CT and and x-ray. They thought diverticulitis but also saw a mass on the lung and one small "nodule" on the right adrenal gland. Anitibiotics for the diverticllitis and strong words to "get thee" to the VA (Veterans Affairs) for the lung mass.
I had to fight with the VA to get an appointment within less than 2 months, but they finally saw things my way and two weeks later, I was in. More x-rays and another CT. My PC (primary care) DR. gave more antibiotics for the "diverticulitis" and requested a PFT. After that, I didn't have to fight for anything and things started moving pretty fast, which was a good thing, as I was getting progressively worse and unable to walk on my own. He also requested a bronchoscopy which was for the same week. The PFT came back fine, although I was having shortness of breath and had had for a while (as noted to a different PC the prior November along with intermittent pain in my right back, you see where this is going, don't you?) During the bronchoscopy, they were able to get a biopsy and I was informed the next week that I had SCLC, probably ext., I was then seen by the Oncologist the same week. By that time, I was in so much pain, that I could not walk, stand, sit or lie on my right side. I had to talk to the Onc. laying on a couch in the waiting room as it was the only flat surface available. We were to start chemo the next week. The Onc. then sent me back to my PC for more antibiotics for the "diverticulitis" and scheduled a PET scan as well. The PC refused the antibiotics and said to let the Onc. decide. He never once said CANCER or mentioned that he thought the problem was related; but it gets better (said with sarcasim). After two rounds of chemo and the PET, I had to go back to the PC for swelling in my teeth due to an infection (I have extremely bad teeth, that I am unable to have repaired and which the VA will pull but not replace..sorry gotta be able to eat and to do that I need teeth, so I gotta keep what I got). He refused and accused me of "abusing" antibiotics. Since you can't abuse those unless you don't take them all (which I do, cause I know better) and the fact that he has still never once mentioned to word cancer, I demanded another PC. (at this time my PC is the head attending in the department). The third round of chemo is when I found out the "diverticulitis" was actually cancer in the lymph nodes in the left groin and that the "small nodule" on my right adrenal gland were metastasis from the lung. It is also when I found out that it was in my left femur, left hip (at the back of the socket joint), left 7 rib, left cervical , a small spot on my spine near my tail bone,and right jaw lymph node under the jaw line. It was during the exam with the Onc, that I found the lymph node in the right axillary (armpit) area. because it was so swollen and I was having extreme difficulty in lifting and using my right arm. No wonder I couldn't move!
To back up just a bit, with in one hour after receiving my first round of chemo, I could walk, not well, but on my own and no chair. I still needed a walker, but on my own feet. I could also sit for about 5 to 10 minute stretches and it was sheer heaven to lay on my right side again.
Third round of chemo, the walker was in the closet waiting for when I might need it again, significant shrinkage of all masses.
Was doing so well, that 4 rounds turned into 6 rounds of chemo with very little side effects and what ones there were, I easily controlled.
Just after round 6, PET showed nt activity what so ever with the exception of a small spot on the lung primary which was thought to be inflamation.
PEts in November, Jan and March , all show the same lack of activity.
PCI started last week, with the MRI showing small little blotches more consistent with multiple sclerosis in the plaquey areas of the brain (take a dropper and drop some colored water on a white paper towel...the spots are perfectly round with feathered edges. That's what they look like) and one area that looks like someone drew in an elongated oval with a pencil directly on the scan... not color inside the oval just the out line trace of one. It looks more like someone drew it on than an actual growth of some kind. And as I mentioned the inside of the oval is the same color as the brain outside, no white,no lighter or darker gray. Just looks like some one drew on the scan. Really weird.
Anyway, that is the current episode in the soap opera that has become my life. As I said in the beginning, there is more, but it is not really pertinent to cancer. I f you would like to know about it, let me know, I will be glad to relate it, as I have learned a lot form the whole ordeal of living it. But it is a long story.
Dawn
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I saw this article and thought to share it as it seems a good way to just help your body work better. It is not targeted to cancer patient but to everyone in general to help "spring clean" out your body. The big thing is it does not push certain products or require hard to find items.
Just something healthy and wholesome you can do to help your body.
I did not copy the article because I wasn't sure how to remove any of the advertising on the page and I did not want to abuse the copyright.
The link:
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/1 ... alize-you/
Dawn
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Hi,
After my husband died in 2002, I was a basket case and ended up in the hospital thinking I was going crazy. This was after about 15 ER visits with severe panic attacks which I had never had in my life up to that point. I was put on paxil (allergic reaction). Then we tried welbutrin. I could feel it working, like little sparks in my head just over my left ear but inside. It was really a strange feeling. Stopped that. When I went into the hospital we tried remeron which I took for about 4 to 5 months before stopping because it did seem to be doing anything. I eventually started taking zoloft in 2004 which was the best stuff since sliced bread. It got rid of a lot of the anger that I was experiencing (I was diagnosed with PTSD and major depression due to the circumstances of my husbands death and anger is a big issue with PTSD). Unfortunately, I had to switch to effexor because my body built up a tolerance to zoloft too fast and I had to keep increasing to dosage. Effexor made me a zombie and I just sat on the couch all day watching TV and not wanting to even get out of the house, which is not like me as I like getting out and driving and such. I had a terrible time detoxing off of effexor and actually ended up in the ER with withdrawal after the DR. tried to switch me to another drug that wasn't in the same class as effexor without doing a slow step down.
The big thing is that you have to try different and combinations of different drugs sometimes to find the right fit. It is hard because most SSRI (selective seritonin reuptake inhibitors, (paxil, zoloft, welbutrin)) and SNRI (selective norepiniphrine reuptake inhibitors, effexor) take 4 to 6 weeks to become fully effective in the body and that makes the wait for it to really work and for you to notice they are working difficult.
After the effexor, I just decided that the chemicals in my brain would get back to normal on their own with out my taking other chemicals and taxing my liver out. I did however learn some really good coping techniques that I use often (especially since with my cancer diagnosis, I have found out that I am extremely claustrophobic...lol. If it's not one thing it is another.) I also have a standing prescription for Ativan (generic lorazapam) which is an anti-anxiety pill which does help. I take that as needed and have yet to need it with my PET scans and radiation treatments (although I had to have conscious sedation (or twilight sleep) to endure an MRI...durn claustrophobia!).
If you would like some help with some coping techniques, just let me know, I'll be glad to help.
Just know that there is nothing wrong or bad with trying medication to help. If you need them and they help you, take them. Just know the side effects so that you can keep your doctors informed and especially do not take more than recommeded or stop them without doctor approval and instructions.
Also know that letting go of a lot of the stress by talking, journaling or blogging or coming here to vent is probably one of the easiest things you can do to help yourself, especially here with people who know exactly what you are going through and can help.
If there is anything I can do to help you let me know. I will be glad to give you some ideas on where to look or with what I know, to help make this easier for you.
Dawn
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I have been looking for a place to come with concerns and for some support, mainly to give my 24 year old daughter a break. She can't do it all and it is a shame that it took me having cancer to show me just how capable she really is. After my husband died suddenly and very unexpectantly in 2002, and I fell apart she took over for a while till I could pull it all together and she was just 17 then. Shes a keeper, that one.
As far as friends they must have just been only my husbands friends as they all seemed to disappear after he died and as I have not really been in job market, I have just not made any new ones. But I am trying to change that.
Family? Since we are military brats, for a while we were all spread to the four winds, but now however, my mother lives in GA with one of my sisters (she si 72 this month and still working as a nurses aid (my mother, that is ). My brother and his wife live in GA near Atlanta which is north of where my mother lives and another sister (really my daughter(which would maker her my baby sister), but adopted by my mom and dad....a long story) lives pretty close to my mother.
My younger sister, who is another of my rocks lives in SC. She would be here now, but as I know the hardship if would create for her family, I said no. She will be here when I need her, but that time is just not now.
Anyway, thanks for the welcome, I look forward to meeting and getting to know you all. I truly meant what I said about getting together for a glass of tea or coffee, however it would have to be at the first of the month when my pittance check arrives. But the offer stands here at the house. We make a mean iced tea here and the coffee ain't so bad either. We can sit outside and watch to dogs run and drink tea and enjoy the little things in life.
I may try to make the support groups...if only I could find Trophy Club...lol
Again, thank you
Dawn
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Just a note about Social Security.
All lung cancers are considered permanently disabling by the Federal Government and SSA. As a matter of fact I can't think if any cancers that are not on the list. The list is available in their webpage.
Apply for SSI (Supplemental Social Security insurance) and SSDI (Social Security Disablility insurance) at the same time. The ssi starts immediately (if you are qualified, ei. make no or very little income) and comes with medicaid. The medicaid disappears for 24 months when you start to receive the SSDI with has an (arbitrary no reason for it) waiting period of 5 months and you do not get any back pay for the months you wait or if receiving SSI the difference in the two.
I had a nationally know law firm tell me that you have to be destitute to get what the federal government deemed by law that you have to contribute to. And they were not lying. I know from experience. SSI is a pittance (I got $637 a month...tell me that is enough for a household with a 16 year old and mother with cancer). My disability is not much more, which is ridiculous considering how much I have paid in since I was 16 years old, served in the military ( a lot of people that have not served do not know that military members pay the same taxes) and worked my butt off and realistically speaking not expecting it to be paid for the next twenty years. (Not being a downer, just realistic. I would love another twenty and will take it anyway I can get it with or with out the Federal government's help)
If he is able, he needs to make the claim himself or ensure that you have power of attorney to do it for him as it will just make it much easier.
If you need other assistance of any kind from financial, to insurance to just about anything, here are a few places I either visited on the web or spoke to on the phone.
Any Cancer Treatment Center of America. The counselors on the phone have tons of website resources at their fingertips that they will give you. They will e-mail the entire phone conversation to you so that you have all that information.
United way is only good for telling you about the local services available in the state. That is all that they do and they do not have a complete list. It can still be a help as they may have something listed that no one else dose.
Contact the Health and Human Services dept. and the Aid for the Elderly and Disabled Depts. of your state. They may have additional programs
I also believe that Lungevity has a links page as well as the folks over at the Lung Cancer Alliance page.
Don't bother to go to the ACS (American Cancer Society) except for very basic information on the types of cancer and possible care supplies.
AS far as the information part of it...excellent idea of taking a notebook or a recorder. I would take the recorder as it is hard to takes notes in that setting and with the recorder you rewind and play back anything that you don't hear or understand for further research. Be very pro-active. If you don't understand something make them explain it and don't take no for an answer. If you still don't, get another opinion, and another and another until you understand it the way that you need to. These people are being paid (one way or another, insurance, medicaid/care, out of your pocket, whatever) and they work for YOU. They sometimes forget that.
If you do research on the internet,DO NOT read and believe the statistics. The majority of cancer statistics are 20 years old and as cancer treatments have really changed with in the last 5 to 10 years there is not enough data to support new statistics. Statistics also do not take in to account every person who does not fit into the average. They are an average of all treatments and all people. Also be reminded that statistics can be and are manipulated to show certain things (I learned that from a college course in theory and statistics) that the researcher wants and are therefore suspect. Take all statistics with a large grain of salt.
When you do research on various treatments, modalities and types of cancers try to stay with independent, verifiable sites. By that I mean stay away from the sites subsidized by the government or large pharmacuetical companies such as (unfortunately) the American Cancer Society and the National Institutes of Health. Independent researchers do not have to toe the "Party line" so to speak which means that they can, will and do publish findings contrary to the majority that may be of value and that they are publishing based on the interest to helping and not motivated by how much money they can make. A word of warning, there are a lot of sites out there that seem to be legit, but are not. If it seems like a miracle cure or to good to be true, they are probably just that. A way to part you from the little money you have. You can verify the information by looking for material the has been published in well know medical journals and air on TV such as Discovery health (just remember to back up what you hear with written accounts in the journals).
I was diagnosed with SCLC (small cell lung cancer) which is virulent and spreads like wild fire. If I had laid down believing what the statistics say, I would probably not be here today. I decided right then and there, that statistics were not going to define my life and I was going to do whatever it took to get whatever time I could and damned the statistics. And that is what I am still doing.
Your best friend is not a statistic and don't let anyone, doctor, friend, stranger, treat him as such. He is a human being and therefore that makes him worthy of being more than a number.
This website is one of the best at giving thorough and correct information without espousing gold standards of treatment and care (there are no gold standards as nothing works for everyone and you have to try as much as possible to find something that works) and for the loving, caring, non-judgemental support. These people are absolutely fabulous and will help you in any way that they can.
If there is anything I can help you with just feel free to ask. Also please know that, although I may seem a little abrupt (in your face may be a better way to put it, lol) and a downer; that I don't mean to be. I have an aversion to giving false hope and am committed to giving as much correct, up-to-date information as possible as realistically as possible.
I am living proof, as are a lot of people on this site. that what the statistics say are bunk. Be pro-active, try to stay positive and if you need some support in that, visit here.
Dawn
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Oh and NEd,
One other thing, I was born at Tripler Army medical center in Honolulu. I am an Air Force brat as well as being a Navy vet. My dad worked in the Kaliea (sp?) Tunnels, up around the big Cross on the pass. WE left when I was in second grade ( after my dad's second tour there, first tour he worked at Hickam field) and I still remember that.
Dawn
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Ned,
Carboplatin and etoposide infusions and etoposide pills for two days after the infusions. I had very little side effects other than some nausea after the first round. And off course all of my auburn hair falling out. It is coming back in now, but much darker brown and more than just a little grey. And here I was hoping it would come in curly, lol.
My knowledge comes from much research and asking tons of questions after feeling like a science experiment gone wrong. I thought a little knowledge would help get rid of that feeling. Alas, I still feel much like a science experiment, but have determined to make it a positive experience. If it worked so well for me, maybe it can for someone else and the only way to figure that out is for them to keep doing what they are doing.
I have been to West! My deceased husband was a truck driver and he said the best place in Texas to get the best kolaches was in West and one day he had a hankering for kolaches, so off we went. I currently live in Mesquite just south east of the Dallas city limits.
When I was diagnosed I lived in Richardson, just north, north east of the city limits by about two blocks. However we are not only part of the cancer statistics now, we are also part of the statistics of the economic turn down and the mortgage crisis and had to move, so here we are.
I wish I could help you with the time warp...wait ...let me do some research on it. I'll get back to you .
I look forward to talking to all of the members in the forums.
Thanks for the "Howdy"
Dawn
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Hello,
I have been lurking for a month or so and thought may be I better introduce myself, so you all would not be wondering who that stranger is.
My name is Dawn and i am a 49 y/o (50 in 11 days) widowed navy vet with 4 kids (M25, f24, m18, f16) three dogs and a cat. I live in North Texas and have been dx with SCLC (May 08). I have under gone chemo (once every 4 weeks for 6 months ) and have had at this point 3 NED scans since Oct 08. I have just started PCI as of today for the next two weeks and will be doing another PET, CT and doctors appointments in early June.
My SCLC was discovered after I had a CT done to figure out why I was having such pain in my back and difficulty walking. They diagnosed (believe it or not) diverticulitis as the reason for the back pain but stated that they saw a lung mass. So I was then fighting with the VA to get an appointment in the next week or two instead of two months down the road to get the lung mass seen to. My PC Doctor gave more antibiotics for the "diverticulitis" , an x-ray and set up a pulmonary function test. The x-ray showed the mass, so a bronchoscopy was also order. The PF test show that my function was fine, but the bronchoscopy showed SCLC (they took a biopsy while they were in there). While waiting for the results of the biopsy, I saw my PC for the "diverticulitis" as the antibiotics did not seem to have cleared it up. He never once said that he felt the problem was caused by metastasis of the cancer. It was almost like he could not bring himself to say the words. By the time I actually saw the oncologist, I was being wheeled around in a wheel chair due to being in so much pain that I could not walk, sit, stand, or lie down except on my left side. I couldn't even climb up on to my bed.
The oncologist told me I needed to start chemo right away and actually had to talk to me in the waiting room as that was the only place that had a flat couch that I could lie on. We didn't discuss too much at that point other than getting my pain under control and starting chemo. I started chemo the next week. Within an hour of the infusion I could walk, (not well mind you but I could motivate under my own power.). I also found out the my cancer had metastasized to my left femur, hip (on the back wall of the socket joint) and lymph nodes, left seventh rib, spine near the tail bone, left cervical lymph node, right axillary (armpit) lymph node, right lymph node under the jaw. After the second month I no longer needed the walker I had to buy, so it now resides in the closet for if ever.
I look forward to meeting all the members on the forums. And if anyone lives in the Dallas area would like to get together around the first of the month (when my disability money comes in and I have a couple of dollars) getting together somewhere for a cup of coffee, or glass of Iced Tea sounds like a heck of an idea.
Dawn
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Annie01,
PET scans show metabolic activity at the cell level. They use a radioactive glucose solution that is put into your veins via an iv tap (iv- intervenous , tap-just to administer the solution and nothing else and removed immediatly after giving the solution) The radioactive part shows up on the scan as bright white spots. The cancers cells use a tremendous amount of glucose to multiply and divide. The spots that show up in areas of the body other that the brain, skull and the bones, indicate areas of possible cell multiplication and growth.
A PET scan scans from the eyes to the thighs because bones and brain also use a tremendous amount glucose. Actually glucose is the "fuel" that your brain uses to function normally. Since the brain is surrounded by bones of the skull, the brightness of those areas can not be used as a guide in cancer diagnosis. That is why they use an MRI.
REmember, that all the diagnostic imaging test have separate and distinct functions.
X_rays- scan bones and very dense soft tissue such as masses or tumors but only show details for the bones.
CTs- show more detail of the bones and dense soft tissue masses or tumors and pick up less dense soft tissue masses or irregularities
MRI's show much more details of all areas especially when give with contrast.
PETs show cancer growth by show activity of masses or tumors.
Sonograms show soft tissue masses and tumors and pinpoint more precise locations and size and shape
All of the test show location, size, and shape, just some show them in better detail than others.
Now the forgetfulness. It can be just a normal sign of stress. She has so much information that is being given to her, she maybe overwhelmed by all the information at a time that she is having to also consider life altering events. Having been diagnosied with small cell lung cancer, I know how overwhelming all the information is while trying to digest that I have a terminal illness. It was especially hard before they came up with a treatment plan and I was worried if I was going to drop dead tomorrow. Once you come up with a plan and start acting on it, mom may be better. It may help to slow the information to only what is immediately needed to determine treatment and get that going in the right direction, then add information as you see she can handle it.
For the downside of the forgetfulness, it could also be signs of metastasis to the brain, which can be treated. That is why the Dr. wants and MRI. Lung cancer, especially likes to migrate to the brain. I feel (and this is my opinion not based on scientific fact or certainty), that lung cancer uses a lot of glucose and migrates to glucose rich environments such as the brain, and the adrenal glands. But the major thing to remember is that metastasis to the brain can be treated and treated well, depending on the stage of progression.
The smoking. I hear you, in my family we are all kitchen sitters, gathering around the kitchen table to talk and share our lives. No one smokes in my mother's house because my father smoked and when he quit we just all started going outside to smoke. My mother made the request so we did; no muss no fuss. I would not bring attention to the fact that you are not smoking as it will bring attention to the fact that she is (if she still is), which will make her fell guilty, which is something she doesn't need right now. If she asks just tell her it is your way of fighting her cancer for and with her and leave it at that. It may just give her the added strength to quit, especially as she sees that you will not judge her either way. I really commend you on stopping. I know how hard it is.
General information: this will be on the treatment side of things. One thing I have seen talked about a lot is the side effects of chemo and radiation. Problems with sores and thrush in the mouth. The one thing everyone talks about is that nasty concoction they call Magic Mouthwash. It has several ingrediants, one being liquid lidocaine. There is no way to disguise the awful taste of lidocaine. Many people swear by this stuff, but I found yogurt (the kind without fruit pieces) to be much more palatable and just as effective. It will also clear up the thrush which is a yeast infection in the mouth commonly seen in infants due to new unsteralized bottle nipples. The main thing is to keep her pain (if she has it)under control and work with the doctors on that. Do not worry about addiction, it is really a non-issue in this instances. Be supportive as possible. This is not the time to fuss about things that she has no control over (such as smoking or forgetfulness and I am not saying that you would, but others may), or any of that. This is the time to band together and fight the beast (cancer). as well as you can. Also remember, as long as she is capable, all things are her decision but she might need help and reassurance that what she is doing is the right thing. Cancer may have involved you all, but it is physically happening to her, a lot of confusion, questions and decisions go with this ride, and sometimes we need help to think them out first. I go to my oldest daughter with those type of thoughts all the time.
The last thing, you and all other family members need to remember this cancer has involved you as well and you are having to deal with it from the sidelines, which is not easy. Remember to take time for yourselves,. be gentle with each other and your selves, as this is a hard road but one road that you can get through with love and understanding.
I'm sorry this is such a long reply but I wanted to cover all of your questions from someone who is like your mother, physically having the disease.
I hope some of it helped.
Dawn
Irritability?
in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER
Posted
Trawna, is right, in that they both may help. Especially since, the lack of sleep (sleep deprivation) makes both anxiety and depression worse. It is a vicious circle of more anxiety, more depression, fed by lack of sleep, poor diet and exercise, etc. All of which are seen to a degree in all cancer patients.
Here is some information on the drugs that trawna mentioned as well as on the steroid.
Lorazepam (trade name Ativan) is a mood stabilizer much like xanax or valium. It acts on the brain and cental nervouse system and has a calming effect. It is used to treat anxiety and also to reduce the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, to prevent nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, and for sleeping trouble (insomnia). It is not usually prescribed for depression as it is not an anti depressant, but is many times used in conjunction with an anti-depressant.
(http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-6685-At ... tivan+Oral)
Venlaflaxine (trade name Effexor) is an SNRI ( selective norepiniphrine re-uptake inhibitor.) anti-depressant. It works by restoring the balance of natural substances (neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine) in the brain.
(http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-1836-Ef ... genumber=4)
Dexamethesone (trade name decadron) is a corticosteroid hormone (glucocorticoid). It decreases your body's natural defensive response and reduces symptoms such as swelling and allergic-type reactions and is used to treat conditions such as arthritis, blood/hormone/immune system disorders, allergic reactions, certain skin and eye conditions, breathing problems, certain bowel disorders, and certain cancers. It is also used as a test for an adrenal gland disorder (Cushing's syndrome).
(http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-6748-De ... adron+Oral)
I listed the web site link to the page I used to look up the information in case you want to look it up for yourself. (and also cause I learned a long time ago, to always list your sources when possible.) I use several different on line medical and pharmacy sites but find WebMD to be the most comprehensive and up-to-date.
Dawn
(I hope it is okay to post all of this, if not, Katie or someone feel free to move or remove as you see fit)