Hi all, my name is Tania, my mum (Willy who is just about to turn 72) was diagnosed with HER2 positive cancer in Feb 2012, she had her lumpectomy on 22nd March. She has to have 6 rounds of Chemo (FEC started on Friday 20th April) followed by radiotherapy. She suffered massive headaches for the first 3 days after her first round of Chemo, now on day 4 post Chemo she's suffering from painful bloating, fuzzy head and nausea. She is really down in the dumps.. I've given her De-Gas hoping that will help along with her Pramin. It's very hard seeing her so down as this is the first time in her life she has ever been sick.. she's more worried about me as I am her only carer and I suffer from Crohns disease.. I'm a bit worried when she sees the Oncologist on 8th May she'll tell them she wants to quit the chemo... I'm tring to talk her round, but she is very strong willed... we'll see. Hope to meet lots of lovely people here.

Hi Jaci, I'm filling out her diary on a daily basis, so we can inform the Oncologist on 8th May.. I'm thinking that the worst drug for her was the Cyclophosphomide as her headache started half way thru that bag... anyways I've got to get her into the habit of having a sleep.. she's always worried if she sleeps during the day, she won't be able to sleep at night. I've told her the Chemo is a different sort of tiredness and that her body needs to rest, so she is starting to listen now hahaha. It's unfortunate that the rest of the family live so far away..some of them tend to think that becasue I am here with Mum, then everything is fine... I have to work too!! Anyways it is lovely to have contact with others in similar situations Take care Luv Tania

Hi Tania You are so strong, helping your mum and also yourself suffering Crohns.My sisters mother-in-law suffers Crohns, so I know its not nice. Yes, as Jaci advised, you need to keep a diary of your mums side effects. As the nurses/doctors can try to help with these. I haven't started chemo as yet, (will be on Friday 27/4/12), but I will be keeping a diary and speaking to the nurses/doctors about anything I don't feel comfortable with. I hope your mum doesn't stop chemo, she needs to know that sometimes you need to feel sick to get better. It's all a game of snakes and ladders. We need to climb the ladders but at times the snake just takes you down a little. But eventually you will be at the finish line. Please post your comments and feelings, as this website isn't just for us, but for you as well to ask for advice and just to talk. Hope all goes well, and we all send our positive thoughts and love to your mum and you.. Take care Julie XX

Hi Tonya, thanks for the welcome, It is hard seeing someone who was SO strong become so weak and unable to think straight... so I'm hoping she improves a bit tomorrow that will be day 6. this morning she woke up nauseated and had another headache. I'm getting her to check her temperature and also reminding her to rinse her mouth out with salt water 4 times a day, she's been that foggy in the head that she's forgetting to take her normal daily medications, so I'm on to that!! Being a Dispensary Technician in Pharmacy I know my drugs, hahahaha. We've been given the phone numbers of the Breast Care nurses at the hospital, they told us they would ring Mum a few days after her first round... we've heard nothing yet. Can I just ask a stupid question?? I have infusions every 8 weeks for my Crohns and the nurses always do our obs (even after 4 years of having them) , yet when I went with Mum for her first Chemo, the nurse checked her obs before they started, but didn't check her whilst her Chemo was being infused... to me that doesn't make any sense!! Anyways it's great to get some answers and support Luv Tania

Hi Julie, I think Mum was just going thru a phase of "I've never been sick, now I feel terrible" She seems to be ok if she has little naps (another thing she's had to get used to) Mum has always been the so called "nurse" in the family, and now really doesn't like being on the other side of it. I'm hoping round 2 doesn't knock her round too much, but I keep encouraging her saying "only 5 to go now Mum" I'm so glad I found this site and see so many others fighting this terrible disease Luv Tania

Hi Joy, thanks for the tips. I'm not upset with the Breast care nurses, I have found them all to be very helpful and lovely people. I made sure mum took all her antiemetics for the prescribed days after chemo, they helped her a lot... except for her massive headache that she had for 3 days. Oh so the nurses don't worry so much about obs on the FEC chemo??? that's interesting to know.. Mum has another 2 rounds of FEC then she starts the Taxotere...so I guess she'll be "obbed out" then, don't know if I like the sound of Taxotere!!! Thanks again Joy Tania

Mum's diagnosis | BCNA Online Network

13 Replies

tannyr35
Member
14 years ago
Hi Tonya, thanks for the welcome, It is hard seeing someone who was SO strong become so weak and unable to think straight... so I'm hoping she improves a bit tomorrow that will be day 6. this morning she woke up nauseated and had another headache. I'm getting her to check her temperature and also reminding her to rinse her mouth out with salt water 4 times a day, she's been that foggy in the head that she's forgetting to take her normal daily medications, so I'm on to that!! Being a Dispensary Technician in Pharmacy I know my drugs, hahahaha. We've been given the phone numbers of the Breast Care nurses at the hospital, they told us they would ring Mum a few days after her first round... we've heard nothing yet. Can I just ask a stupid question?? I have infusions every 8 weeks for my Crohns and the nurses always do our obs (even after 4 years of having them) , yet when I went with Mum for her first Chemo, the nurse checked her obs before they started, but didn't check her whilst her Chemo was being infused... to me that doesn't make any sense!! Anyways it's great to get some answers and support

Luv

Tania
chipmunk
Member
14 years ago
Hi Tania

You are so strong, helping your mum and also yourself suffering Crohns.My sisters mother-in-law suffers Crohns, so I know its not nice.

Yes, as Jaci advised, you need to keep a diary of your mums side effects. As the nurses/doctors can try to help with these.

I haven't started chemo as yet, (will be on Friday 27/4/12), but I will be keeping a diary and speaking to the nurses/doctors about anything I don't feel comfortable with.

I hope your mum doesn't stop chemo, she needs to know that sometimes you need to feel sick to get better. It's all a game of snakes and ladders. We need to climb the ladders but at times the snake just takes you down a little. But eventually you will be at the finish line.

Please post your comments and feelings, as this website isn't just for us, but for you as well to ask for advice and just to talk.

Hope all goes well, and we all send our positive thoughts and love to your mum and you..

Take care Julie XX
tannyr35
Member
14 years ago
Hi Jaci, I'm filling out her diary on a daily basis, so we can inform the Oncologist on 8th May.. I'm thinking that the worst drug for her was the Cyclophosphomide as her headache started half way thru that bag... anyways I've got to get her into the habit of having a sleep.. she's always worried if she sleeps during the day, she won't be able to sleep at night. I've told her the Chemo is a different sort of tiredness and that her body needs to rest, so she is starting to listen now hahaha. It's unfortunate that the rest of the family live so far away..some of them tend to think that becasue I am here with Mum, then everything is fine... I have to work too!! Anyways it is lovely to have contact with others in similar situations

Take care

Luv

Tania

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Mum's diagnosis

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