Children Receiving Chemo DO get horribly sick
Posted By: Joel's Mom on 2009-05-24
In Reply to: Not everyone reacts badly to chemo - sm - Laura E.
Joel was on both Zofran and Phenergan round-the-clock while on his first regimen of chemo (it included Cytoxan and Vincristine, can't remember the third drug on that one), and the nausea was horrible and barely even touched by the Zofran. Before he relapsed the first time, when he was on the Cytoxan, I would cry through my shower every single morning, praying for his suffering to ease. The next regimen of chemo was ICE (I remember the acronym, but not the ingredients on that one). The ICE regimen was easier in terms of nausea, but it wreaked havoc on his immune system and on his blood counts. One of his chemo buddies was diagnosed with the same stage rhabdomyosarcoma the same week Joel was, and that poor child was even sicker than Joel with all kinds of life-threatening complications. Weirdly enough, I think that child survived, and I'm sure his parents believe it was worth the suffering now.
By my point here, Laura E., is that just because YOUR child didn't have nausea does not mean that everybody's children escape the horrible side effects.
Furthermore, I also have typed pediatric oncology reports (I eventually had to refuse to type peds onc. because it would leave me in tears every time), and the reports don't really explain the side effects the parents and children are seeing on a daily basis. The reports themselves just cover overall progress issues. The doctors don't live with the parents and get to visualize the experience at 2:00 a.m., 4:00 a.m., 6:00 a.m., when the Phenergan wears off and the kid has nothing left inside to puke, but keeps puking anyway.
I'm sorry I've gone off on such a rant - but IT IS THE DECISION OF THE FAMILY TO CHOOSE WHICH TREATMENT REGIMEN TO FOLLOW.
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It's awful when children are sick
I hope he feels better soon.
What a horribly sad week...sm
What a week it's been. I have a feeling I'm going to be remembering this one for a long time to come. I just can't believe how many people have died this week. Not only celebs, but in Smalltown, USA all over the country tragic things are happening this week. I'll be glad when tomorrow comes. It'll feel better to have a new start. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who are having to deal with all this tragedy. 
Nice idea but my DH is horribly allergic. sm
I had a cat before we met, and her favorite thing was bringing me mice she'd caught. Won't work here, though.
I am truly sorry about the child having to have chemo
but everyone in this life has issues and problems to put up with, you are not the only one. We all have to deal with things that are not what we would choose for ourself. We all fight battles each and every day- but you let a 14 year old female be paddled (I personally think 14 entirely too old for that) but it seemed and still does seem strange for you to go through each and every thing about her bottom, telling her to wear padded panties, my gosh I feel like I am the one watching a peep show. I think it sounds like some soap opera and that is truly how I feel.
if the kid doesn't want chemo, let him be?
My sons both hate the dentist, and one of them can't stand going to the doctor... I guess I'll just let them live with strep throat and ADHD, cuz they really don't want the treatment...
Side effects of chemo
You are 100% correct in your post but there are a lot of other ailments that are also treated with drugs that can cause cancer and this is something people are advised against up front. I remember 1 kid in high school treated some an ailment and the side effect of his treatment was that he contracted cancer and died from that. I have known for years the connection between breast cancer and hormone replacement; thus when I came of age to perhaps take it I turned it down. My mother, on the other hand, given hormone replacement and contracted cancer from I believe irradiation 30 years earlier for tuberculosis in her lymph glands and she mentioned to me the fact her doctor still had her on replacement hormones. She, herself, knew the connection. I have 2 older aunts and myself who have never taken this treatment because we all know connection. Believe me, if you check on other maladies, you will find the treatment often can cause the side effects such as cancer of which you speak.
Not everyone reacts badly to chemo - sm
My daughter was not throwing up every half hour. In the 18 treatments/doses she received in her five month regimen she puked 3 times I think. She was nauseous, yes, but Zofran took care of that. She lost about five pounds in all but most/all of that was tumor. She did not lose her hair until the 4th month, but as I said then if that is the worst thing to happen we will live with it. Hair does grow back. Her hair grew back red again, not as firey red, but still a beautiful color, thicker now too, and grows so much faster now too, already below her waist now in the 3.5 years it has been growing back. Her hair was very, very slow growing prior to her chemo (about mid-back maybe short when she got sick at 5, with absolutely no haircuts except for bangs). Physically now she is in fantastic shape. She never developed footdrop or any side effects other than nausea and exhaustion, she had little stamina for 6 months to a year after chemo ended. Now however she is great, looks great, is in great shape and is a very active 9-y/o. She has been thru a lot and is very mature for her age, more so than my soon to be 11-y/o. She has a lot on her mind and still worries sometimes she will get cancer again. I feel bad that she thinks that way but it is something she will have to live with for the rest of her life, but at least she will have a life. Without the chemo she would not have had one and she knows that, she is a smart cookie. She also knows I am her mom and I love her to pieces and will always make sure she is kept safe and hopefully healthy. If she never needs it I will give her one of my kidneys presuming I can. ---but chemo is proven to work more than it fails, nothing is 100%, but at 13 the boy is too young to understand the ramifications. He will die, period, no doubt in my mind, if he does not do chemo. Yes, he may still die with it but his chances are much less and if they go with a "natural" treatment his chances are definitely a lot less. Very short-sighted of both of them I think. Before anyone attacks me, I like you am entitled to my opinion but before you attack make sure you have walked in my shoes. A child sick with cancer is a very scary thing.
Sick of snow...sick of cold...sm
that lil ground rat just HAD to see his shadow, didn't he! aaarrrggghhh.
lol, if not about the receiving, then why the *list* and the *training*?
x
If receiving anonymous help, prayers,
painting him out to be a monster, talking to parishioner or WHATEVER contributes in any way to get her one more step toward out, then she should try it all. Things are simply not as cut and dried in the world of abuse as you would like to think. You never know what turn of a phrase or sense of inspirational support (even if it is coming from strangers) is going to do the trick, so anybody looking from the outside in should try everything they know. Also, especially with kids involved, this is no time to throw caution to the wind in such a volatile and potentially violent or, God forbid, fatal situation.
Now, receiving money is ALWAYS exciting!
Are you getting full retirement or taking partial benefits? Sounds like you get to slow down a bit on the MTing, and I'm sure you deserve it.
Are you planning on doing anything special with that first check that you worked so hard to earn?
CONGRATS :-)
Does anybody know the details of when this will be received for us receiving SS?
Know it will be paid in the same manner, i.e., direct deposit, as you receive normal SS check. But the timing is what I am asking about.
When deposited. Know it is to be done before end of May, but just wondering what order or whatever they are paying this $250.00.
Churches? No. Pastors and anyone receiving monies
NM
DH claims he heard/read that she is receiving money SM
from someone; that she was paid to have all those children. I can't imagine welfare or anything else coming up with the kind of money she needed for IVF, at a Beverly Hills clinic, no less; on top of the plastic surgery, to supposedly look like Angelina Jolie.
DH claims she stated she would be moving into large home, once all the babies are out of the hospital.
He's the one who watches Inside Edition while I'm working. LOL!
Children having children not a new thing, where do you live?
My son, who is now in his early 40s, told me years ago when in high school about all the teenage mothers that were at his school and said they brought the babies to school, and he seemed to think it was like the girls having playdolls like when you were little. This is not new and apparently folks think alright to have their children sans marriage, be it preteens, teens or adults. I guess my years alone do not make me shocked at anything anymore. Others talk about this job being isolated and your post says some of this if you were shocked at what the son said.
I should mention that I am 42, have 2 children and done with having children. nm
nm
You must a) not have children or b) your children are young
I don’t see them as being spoiled- I see lots of kids in the age group of one (30+) who are totally in the me scene, not just the 1 I have- she married and her husband same - a me type person. The other not spoiled but just got nasty when he did not get the money left to me and he thought he should. Just to think, this was my chosen 1 if I had to choose. Oh well, live and let live is the way I see things now.
You are sick
You need a therapist. You told another poster that you have a relative coming to visit - so, this relative can't go to dinner with you and your friend?
It's extremely obvious to any thinking person that you don't have many friends. Your arrogance and self-absorption come through in your every word. It would be interesting to get your friend's point of view on this. I'd bet my first born that this is NOT the first time you've done this, despite what you said to the poster above.
Right back at you - glad I don't know you either. I run in higher class circles.
I am sick about it
Did you see on the news the senator (I believe), an elderly gentlaman who was so furious about this. He said that the hottest places in h____ are for those who abuse God's innocent creatures. Good for him. I am waiting for the day when all of these offenses against animals are considered a felony.
sick with the flu right now
ahhhhhhhrrrrrrrgggggggg
when i am sick,
i keep on working and just try to take care of myself. my husband was sick during his vacation and never stopped complaining about how tired he was, how terrible he felt, blah, blah, blah. it drove me nuts! he never offered any sympathy when i was ill AND working! (pardon my whining)
Am I sick or what?
I am typing a lady with appendicitis. Am I sick to think, "She's so lucky. She got out of cooking Thanksgiving dinner." 
How sick is that!!!
..
What a sick SOB....sm
Animal abuse REALLY fires me up. I am a true animal lover, especially dogs. I think they should break both of his front legs and he should not be given anything for pain either. They should let him sit there a couple days too before taking him to the hospital to have surgery to repair them. And while he is sitting there with two broke legs he should have to fend for himself. No tolerance at all when it comes to animal abuse. They wouldn't want me to be the judge in this case.
We were really sick here in TN...
for 2 weeks straight with a bad cold - horible cough, congestion, high fever, sore throat, body aches. We were tested for flu and strep, both of which were negative. Maybe could have been mono? Anyway, I don't think I've ever been that sick in my life.
So you would rather be sick than preggers ...
Ya, me too.
:op
Emergency sick day!
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS just arrived by UPS!
How am I going to work now???
(kidding of course)
That makes me sick.
nm
People are sick!!
What is wrong with people? How could anyone do harm to their kids? Just last night a lady here in SC stomped on her 6 m/o baby and then choked her to death. She is an 18 y/o mother and also has a 4 y/o son, who is now in protective custody. These people need to find Jesus!!
you wouldn't think it was so sick if you had GID
x
People are going to get sick of me but... sm
The real tragedy is that some gays and lesbians will NEVER be able to have a fufilling life or relationship because they are too afraid to be themselves.
As I said earlier, I have many friends who are either gay or lesbian. I have also lost friends to suicide because they were too ashamed to come out or their families just simply could not accept who they really were.
A girl I worked with many years ago, whom I also considered a good friend, ended her life because her family would just never accept her for who she was.
Her family was Hispanic and very very traditional. This business was just not going to fly with them.
Gloria didn't see any other way and she took her own life. It was horrible.
I never ever want to even think I might be responsible for something like that because one of my children or friends was too afraid to be open and honest with me about their preferences.
Thank you - I appreciate it - yes, he's rarely sick (sm)
and if he gets even a cold he goes to the doctor and takes a day off from work and lays in bed all day. I wish I could have health that good!
I am so sick of hearing about
I have heard enough!
 Apparently she still has all of her female parts, except breasts...she gave birth vaginally...so it's NOT A MAN...IT'S A WOMAN. I certainly hope that losing one's breasts does not disqualify us from being a woman. This poor child is going to be so confused when she learns the circumstances of her birth. Not to mention that the other woman is breast feeding her...I feel for the innocent baby who is going to be the one to pay for her parents stupidity!
sick to my stomach
Hopefully when he dies, he will have to live among cats who kick him for an eternity.
I am so sick about the the economy
All those people on TV are talking about a 400.00 or more increse in their mortgages. They spent over 600.00 a month on extras. This was on Operah. I can't believe that these people don't have a clue.
Between the 400.00 and the 600.00 on extras...that is what I get in one month.
I have cut back as much as I thin is possible and it is still difficult to make ends meet. I even have went so far as to unplup everything that I am not using.
How do you cope?
I have always been a little sick of having get everyone a present
It's ridiculous. It's Jesus' birthday, not everyone elses. I would be very happy if I could get away with only buying for my own children for Christmas morning from "santa," and I wouldn't care if nobody got me anything or anybody else got anything for my kids.
It is just so stinking ridiculous to have to buy for my mom, my sister and her spouse, my sister-in-law and her spouse, my brother-inlaw and his spouse, my mother-in-law, my father-in-law, two aunts and uncles, three nephews, three neices, and two cousins.
I am just so sick of the money that is spent for all this cr@p. And it is cr@p. Last year one of my daughters got a piano book from her aunt, and she doesn't even freakin take piano lessons. Might as well just flush your money down the toilet.
You could have been sick or dead
in your room for all they knew. wonder what they would have told investigators? The next time they make plans, don't go, tell em you got a ham operator to send out a morse code message, didn't they get it?
sick pets
I get my critters from the shelter also and have brought home sick animals before. I would just take him to vet tomorrow. PLEASE AVOID Banfield at PetSmart. Usually vets offices have a few morning hours on Saturday. Take him tomorrow.
It really makes me sick
that psychiatrists these days are so quick to say "just cut ties and get on!"
Have you tried couples counseling like suggested above? Or talking? Maybe speaking with a pastor? Is your husband expecting this or is it going to be a big surprise?
Don't just give up on your marriage. Just because it's not the fairy tale every little girl dreams of doesn't mean that it can't work out and become amazing. But it takes work. Lots of it. There is no such thing as an easy marriage.
Take care, and please, don't just go off of what your psych says!
My new puppy is sick!!!
Okay, everybody, my new puppy that I love so much already has parvo and is in the hospital. She went in yesterday morning. So far, so good. No vomiting and no diarrhea for 41 hours, but they are not wanting me to bring her home.
Can someone tell me if she is not vomiting and has no diarrhea and she is eating, what are they doing for her that I cannot do here at home? I would rather her be here so that I can watch her. If she got sick again, the vet's office is only 1/2 mile from my house - couldn't I run her back real quick (it is a 24-hour manned hospital)?
Anyway, everybody do what you do - say a prayer, send good vibes our way, whatever your choice is! Just wish us back to good health!
sick of that crap!!!
Kids aren't safe anywhere.....Just this weekend in sunny Atlanta we have an grandfather kill his 6yo grandson and wife over a watermelon and a guy with a shotgun go in his backyard and threaten to blow his brains out!!! There are tons more other stories about people getting shot and everything here, it is common.... My husband uses guns to hunt and that is what they should be used for.... THE SHOOTING NEEDS TO STOP!!!! I AM SO SICK OF PEOPLE GETTING SHOT or THREATENING TO SHOOT PEOPLE!!!
that's kind of sick. For some men it is
much more fun when it is forbidden or has to be done in a hidden way. That's also the reason for having affairs behind the wife's back.
Heard that also. I didn't even know he was sick.
NM
Too weird, too sick. Nuff said (nm)
nm
To the person with the sick puppy
Immediately check out this list. The brands you have been giving the puppy are on this list. Thousands of dogs and cats have died from renal failure.
If you go outside in the cold with a wet head you'd get sick...sm
the principal at my daughter's school thought that was still true until I showed him studies that showed it doesn't make you sick, it only gives you a cold head. I wouldn't let a child go outside if it's below 20 with a wet head but I do have a child that hates blow drying her hair and doesn't mind a cold head, so I leave it up to her when it's above 20 outside and she gets a shower before school.
Wonderful news about my sick cat
I posted on here about thinking my older girl had a stroke. She had lost her hearing and her vision and stumbling around, rambling through the house. Not once did I give up on her. I stroked her and told her I loved her- took her to the veterinarian and told him I thought stroke. He gave her injection of penicillin and steroid and said sometimes animals pull through with that. Now I wonder if perhaps she could have had a blue tailed lizard for lunch as found out highly poisonous for kittycats. Also read inner ear problem could cause same symptoms. Let me say this, Monday when I took her to the veterinarian really not sure which way she would go, thought could wake up the next day and her not be with me anymore. I did NOT give up and now she is hearing me- ran from the vacuum this morning and coming straight to me- her eyes are not blank anymore and she is seeming to track better. There is always hope where there is life.
I know - sick sense of humor but...
Movie I laughed out loud to most recently was Hostel. Way creepy movie/plot but still just couldn't stop myself when that girl's eyeball was bouncing off her cheek.
Definitely - Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Road to Wellsville, O Brother, Shrek
Are you a Christian? If so, you should be ashamed of yourself. I am so sick of sm
women, especially women, who degrade other women, especially when they are a Christian. I swear, if it weren't for my strong relationship with Christ who draws me to Him every single day, I would hate everything Christian because of those who judge and throw stones and think they are so much better than everyone else. Let me tell you - I am a Christian. The only different between me and the atheist (I used to be one) is that by the Grace of God I am saved now. That is it. I am no better, not one bit, than anyone else. You will never win anyone over with statements like the one you just made.
This post just makes me so sick nm
x
I'm sick & husband is being mean...just so tired of it
 I am sick with a bad cold or maybe the flu, not sure, so I know I am more emotional because of that...but my husband made breakfast this morning, waffles, and called the kids, then after they started eating said, "oh, do you want to come eat?" So I went in the kitchen, and he had melted butter for the waffles, but he had left the paper wrapper in the bowl of melted butter. Without thinking I just took it out and put it on a napkin to throw away, the tablecloth is plastic and it was on a napkin so it is not like it was going to hurt anything. He started fussing, "why did you have to take that out?" I said I didn't know, didn't really think about it. "Well I was going to take it out after we were finished eating, I didn't want a greasy spot all over the table." I said, " I put it on a napkin, there is no grease on the table so don't worry yourself over it." So then he said, "well why couldn't you just leave it in there? I was going to take it out later." I said, "it just looked kind of gross sitting in there, I'm sorry I took it out." Then I went to get a fork and noticed the bowl he had used to mix the pancakes was sitting on the counter - he had used all the mix in the bowl, just still had some left on the edges, so again, without thinking (I'm a mom and a wife, it's just second nature to me), I took the bowl and put it in the sink and filled it with water. He yelled at me, "why did you do that?" I said, "I am just soaking it so it will be easier to clean." "Well, I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO TOUCH IT!!" So I said, "Nevermind, I don't want to eat." I put my plate on the counter and left the room and started crying...I guess because I am sick I just can't take things as easily. So I was in the next room crying and he says, "why do you have to make such a big deal about everything?" and I said, "why do you have to be mean all the time - you don't have to talk to me like that, it is unacceptable for you to talk to me like that." So now he is mad because in front of the kids, I told him the way he talked to me was unacceptable. But I don't want them to see him act like that and think it is alright, so I am going to continue to say it is wrong. I dont want my daughter to think it is ok for her to be talked to that way or for my son to think he should talk to women like that. My husband's father has always talked to his mother that way and still does. They just had their 50th Anniversary, so he thinks it is ok...it is NOT ok. I am not going to just sit back and smile about it like she does. And that makes him soooo angry!
He had rented a room for us for New Year's Eve - but he has been so mean lately I don't want to go. It was expensive and is nonrefundable. I don't see the point of going there trying to act like we are so in love when we are not, so now I told him I am not going to go. Why torture myself being locked in a room with him for all that time??
He is the same one I wrote about a while back who scraped up my good cake pan and who thinks he may be an alcoholic. This past Friday, he took the day off from work, went hunting all day, was supposed to be back about 7...called me at 9:15 and said he drank too much and was not driving home. I was glad he wasn't going to drive drunk of course, but why does he have to keep going out getting drunk? He goes on several day-long hunting trips and can't call, sometimes he says because of no cell phone service and sometimes he says because he was so drunk he couldn't see to dial the number.
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