Large cell lymphoma need advice

pattyinarnold · New User Joined: 08 Sep 2008 Posts: 3

My 81yr old mom is going through chemo for large cell lymphoma. She didn't get the does and don'ts for her type of chemo. I am a 2 time survivor of breast cancer and had a pre chemo meeting with the chemo nurse who told my what I needed to do for the type of chemo I was going to have. She didn't get that, and her first chemo was twice as long, dr wanted to hit her hard to reduce lympnodes. She got constipated and had pain in her belly, and a sore thoat. So other than mouthwash with no alcohol and senkot what can I tell her to do to help her through the next chemo which is tomrrow. I did tell her to drink alot of liquides to keep from dehydrating. Any advice you can give me would be greatly apprciated.

ChemoMan

Hi pattyinarnold

I take it your mother is having R CHOP on a 21 day cycle. The first chemo session takes a while as they feed the Rituxam in real slow, mainly so they can monitor you for signs of shock, which Rituxam can cause. Since your mother had that first session without real issues the following sessions will be shorter. my first was 6 hours and all the others 4 hours. Constipation will be an issue at some point, it is important to eat fruit and veggies, stick to her favourites. I ate a lot of corn and apples Smile

and bananas and oranges Smile

Take the anti nausea medication early and often. For me after day 5 the nausea died down to the point that the medication was not needed. If the medication they give you doesn't work tell them and they can try something else.
During the whole treatment your mother must be kept safe from infection. Avoid crowded public places and buildings and tell people not too visit if they are sick. Anyone who cares for your mother must be careful about their hygiene and wash their hands often. The doctor will monitor the blood and if required he may prescribe something to boost the blood cells. That may hurt, the particular medication they gave me gave me a shocking sore back. It was skin shots that my wife gave Smile

I took supplements ( vitamin caps) but I checked with my doctor before I took them. Any supplements should be passed by the doctor first.
All this is for R CHOP 21 only. If your Mother's treatment is different you can disregard what I have typed. Get back here if you have any further questions.
Good luck during this time and have hope, the treatment is very good, the gold standard in cancer therapy.
_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620

pattyinarnold · New User Joined: 08 Sep 2008 Posts: 3

thank you chemoman.
You discribed my mom treatment to a t. Is the chance of infection worse with this type of chemo than with the one I took with breast cancer? I was able to lead a normal life between treatments and fleeing ok.

ChemoMan

Hi again
A persons response to chemotherapy is very individual. Her energy levels will be very low. Your Mum should stay away from crowded places as I said, but she does not have to isolate herself. You can go to the shops when it is not busy for example. Also in the 3rd week of the cycle the cell counts start to come up again and infection risk gets less.
I took all the time off work when I had my chemo. Some people goto work in the third week of the cycle all through theirs, yet others have to be put into hospital to finish the treatment. I found that the side effects got worse with each cycle.
Because part of the treatment actively attacks the immune system (rituximab), and also because your mother is a lot older than you were when you had cancer, I would say that the risk of infection is higher, best to be safe anyway and just assume that. The older you are the tougher it gets so this is going to be tough for your Mum. She will need looking after

All the best, I hope it goes well
_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620

pattyinarnold · New User Joined: 08 Sep 2008 Posts: 3

Thanks again
My sister and I are taking turns staying with mom. I called her today and told her the info I got from you. I did remember that I didn't go anywhere and people washed their hads before coming near me. I just had for gotten. My chemo was in 2005 and I only had to have 4 treatments. Mom will have 6. She is a very young 81 and that we are gratful for.
Thanks for your help
pattyinarnold

ChemoMan

Hello again
R CHOP for 6 cycles sounds promising Smile

I hope all goes well for you and your family.

Good luck
_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620

Beaconshope · New User Joined: 03 Nov 2008 Posts: 1

Hi,

I thought this site might come in handy, they have PDF's on all types of lymphoma and also given info on treatment options. www.lymphomas.org.uk

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