Does anyone have any advice about chemo symptoms?!


Question: Does anyone have any advice about chemo symptoms!?
My mother is having chemotherapy at the moment following a mastectomy and also to try to shrink a secondary cancer in her liver!.
The medication she is taking is called "Epi-CMF" and she is just beginning the "CMF" stage of the treatment!.
She had a few symptoms with the "Epi" stage of it but that was given every three weeks so she spent a fair amount of time symptom free!.
The "CMF" however is being administered on days 1 and 8 of a 28 day cycle (hope that makes sense!)
As a result of that she has recieved 2 doses of chemo a week apart from each other so she is now experiencing an accumilative effect of both doses!.
This has resulted in her having an extremely sore throat and mouth with ulcers and she has diaorreah constantly!.
She is finding it very difficult to eat anything!.
She is extremely tired and is feeling very down about "having to go through this every time"
I don't blame her for feeling so low about this,it must be awful for her and I feel so helpless!.
What remedies have people found effective for these symptoms!.
Any help will be gratefully accepted!.
Thanks in advance!.
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Answers:
My oncologist keeps bowls of hard candy such as butterscotch and peppermints in her office!. They help a lot to help keep the saliva flowing!. Also, there is an ointment called Oral Balance that helps keep the mouth moist!.

In addition to milk shakes and smoothies, my dr!. recommended gatorade or other sports drinks to help combat dehydration!.

I wish the best for your mom and the rest of your family as you move through this phase in your lives!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Try cancer!.org for a lot of great information about all types of cancer, support for you and you mom!. You can also talk to the nurses in the clinic!.

Good luck with your search and hope your mom feels better soon!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Do not take the advice of random strangers off the internet! Some of the so-called remedies can work against the cancer-killing drugs and make them less effective!. See the two sites Iinked to!.

Call her doctor's office, tell them that she is having these symptoms, and ask what to do that is not going to counteract the chemo!.

Chemo sucks! However, the alternative to it is dying of cancer and that's not only extra-sucky but permanent!. Ask the doctor's office about a local support group- they help because you can see that other people made it out the other side!.

Sore mouth: you can safely give her ice or slushies to suck on and sip!. It helps with the soreness and also helps prevent dehydration!.

Eating - milkshakes!. When my dad had chemo he drank milkshakes made with Carnation's Instant Breakfast, milk and ice cream!. Think soft stuff but with flavor, fruit juices!.

The diarrhea is the direct result of the chemo- it's attacking the cancer cells that are dividing quickly, and the cells that line your intestines are also extremely fast dividers!. Www@Answer-Health@Com





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