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philly_bob

(2,419 posts)
Thu May 10, 2018, 02:36 PM May 2018

I'm going to help a buddy get through chemotherapy.

I'll go to his place and help him get to and from his treatments. He lives about 100 miles away from where I live. His hospital is about 10 miles away from his home. Neither of us has a car.

His treatments are supposed to be every three weeks.

Any hints as to what to expect?

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I'm going to help a buddy get through chemotherapy. (Original Post) philly_bob May 2018 OP
Wow, GOOD for you...That is all I can say! Eliot Rosewater May 2018 #1
You are a great egg. Vibes to your friend's health. applegrove May 2018 #2
Your Friend will be Wellstone ruled May 2018 #3
What a good friend you are PennyK May 2018 #4
You are a special friend. sinkingfeeling May 2018 #5
Thanks for being a good human being. alfredo May 2018 #6
Suggestion adrianastepheny May 2018 #7
1. He might be fine the day or two after chemo, but will get worse as the week goes on. FSogol May 2018 #8
REPORT: First chemotherapy treatment. philly_bob May 2018 #9
 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
3. Your Friend will be
Thu May 10, 2018, 03:15 PM
May 2018

exhausted and this will become even more acute as the treatments continue. Lots of humor helps. There are articles about the side effects and behavioral effects. Hit the Google,everyone has different tolerances.

Been their for two Sister in laws as well as a brother in law. Each was a different .

Just take a deep breath and prepare yourself for attitude and physical changes and thank you for being your friends rock.

PennyK

(2,302 posts)
4. What a good friend you are
Thu May 10, 2018, 03:33 PM
May 2018

Every cancer has its own special treatment. Your friend should get a stack of printed info describing just what his chemo regimen will be, and he should have an orientation session with a nurse describing how the treatments will affect him. Start there, and you'll be able to come up with ideas for how to help out the most.

Most likely, nausea will be a problem, as will everything tasting terrible (chemo kills your taste buds along with other fast-growing cells). Chemo also weakens your body's ability to fight off infection, so hand sanitizer is a must, as is avoiding anyone who's sick.

alfredo

(60,071 posts)
6. Thanks for being a good human being.
Fri May 11, 2018, 02:01 PM
May 2018

Things you can do is make him comfortable, make sure he has a barf bucket nearby, keep him hydrated.

A cane or walking stick might be what he needs to get around safely.

 

adrianastepheny

(12 posts)
7. Suggestion
Sun May 13, 2018, 12:41 AM
May 2018

Hey buddy, you are doing great things. why not you arrange any sublet near a hospital? Cancer is a very dangerous disease. This particular disease affects very badly to a body. So much journey trouble him, conditions become worse.

FSogol

(45,481 posts)
8. 1. He might be fine the day or two after chemo, but will get worse as the week goes on.
Tue May 15, 2018, 02:29 PM
May 2018

2. Having someone take him to/from chemo is a big help, but may need more help later in week.
3. A little community forms of all the people waiting for chemo. Be a hero and bring scones or donuts or brownies or cupcakes to the session for everyone.
4. Make some easy meals for later in the week. Rice soup, chicken soup, french onion, meatloaf, chicken and broccoli, etc. Chili or tacos are good at the beginning, but later in the treatments, they'll probably avoid spicy and favorable stuff.
5. The treatments will have more and more effect on him as time goes by. He might feel ok after treatments 1-3, but will feel terrible after treatment 8. He'll need more help then.
6. Chemo brain. His thought processes will become worse as time goes by. Be ready to help out with the day to day stuff.

HTHs and Good luck.

philly_bob

(2,419 posts)
9. REPORT: First chemotherapy treatment.
Wed May 16, 2018, 11:55 PM
May 2018

Sophisticated chemo-cocktail included enough steroid and anti-nausea medicine that my buddy felt just fine -- if "out of sorts" -- for first two days. Travel was no problem. Left after two days. Side effects ahead.

Thanks for comments.

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