chemoqueen

I've been offline for a while. I'm so sorry about your mom, but as I read, you sounded like you were comfortable with the decision. Hope you are doing well. I'm thinking about you.

Could be toxicity from the chemo. What agents did she receive? Has she been eating and drinking? could she be dehydrated? What is she being given for nausea control? Phenergan/ ativan can cause confusion. And it could be dz progression. Hard to know w/out a chart. You poor girl, you have your hands full. I'm thinking about you.

In our clinic, we wear glowns to mix chemo , but it is up to the individual nurse about wearing a gown. I do not, but always wear chemo gloves when adding to fluid bag or giving IVP.

Leslie, the schedule sounds perfectly on target. Hope she does well.

There are several chemo options. Your best info can come fro the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society.

I graduated at 37--it's never too late! Go for it!

Most large hospitals have a rad onc tx center assoc w/ them.

Our practice has always given employees the shot, but we buy ours from the company that got sidelined this year so we do have any for us or our patients. We tell our patients to get one wherever they can and the employees have been told to do the same. I have elected not to get one as I feel I might take one that an elderly, very young, or immune compromised patient might need.

Would your older children be upset if you "moved" xmas day up a day early? I did this two years age for my son.

Sherri, you have made a wonderful decision in Hospice. I agreee w/ Leslie--give the ativan. If you are afraid it will sedate him too much, start out c 1/2 tab and work your way up from there. Leslie, you are a kind soul to help others. It is wonderful of you to share your expertise in the field of Hospice nursing. How is your sister? Phyllis

You must also remember that cancer is probably not the patients only medical problem. I started as a new grad on a medical/oncology floor (approx 50-50) and found the experience of learning how to deal with cardiac, renal, diabetes, etc.. aided in my ablility to care for oncology patients. I would vote for some general experience.

bless you for being a peds onc nurse!

Thank you Lealie for being advocate for your patient. Families deserve to know what' going on in order to make whatever ammends they need too (as you know, there are alot of guilty feelings when a loved one becomes terminal) and to have closure. As I told you yeaterday--Hospice nurses are MY heros! Phyllis

You go girl!

Thanks for all the laughs! I needed it after a tough day

some lymphomas and hodgkins can cause night sweats.

I spent 10 years doing billing and collections for an oncology group (who I now work for as a nurse).. I was inspired by the nurses I worked with and also was tired of collecting copays from sick and dying patients, I just didn't have the heart.--Phyllis

I am an oncology nurse of 10 years. Nursing to me is sharing the tears of dx, the anxiety ot tx, the joy pf tx completion, the futher joy of sustained remission. It is also crying with a reoccurance and saying goodbye at the end. It is all of those things that make me glad I chose oncology. It is a special thing to me to share in the loves of so many people.--Phyllis

A port is the way to go. Those agents can be given PIV, but it is risky--for the patient and the nurse. New standard of care for younger pt c breast ca is a q2wk schedule. It's called dose densing. We do it alot in our office. Just be sure that she receives a growth factor for wbc such as neulasta 24 hrs after tx to prevent neutropenia.--Phyllis

I work in a 10 doc oncology office. We have a phone triage nurse to take calls. We field an average of150 calls per day. Most of the time, the nurse can advise the patient without going to the doc. If not, we leave a messaage for the doc with our recommendation for the question. We have a specific form used for this. If you would like, I would be happy to fax you one. Just email me at [email protected]

Maybe you go futher up the command chain?

As oncology nurses who spend more time c the patient and families that the MD, it is our responsibility to be an advocate for our patients. We need to talk c the patients and find out their wishes in regard to tx and give them the benefit of our knowledge as to how that will affect their QOL. It is then our responsibility to relay that info the the docs.--Phyllis

Sherri--first off let me say I am sorry for you and your family. Second, given Roy's state of health before chemo began and the events that followed, I'm not sure he could tolerate more. From what I read, I'm not sure the oncologist has been very upfront c you in regard to prognosis. It is time to get a straight answer from him. And does what does Roy want? Does he want to continue c chemo? does he know that it is not increasing his quality of life? Hospice is a wonderful group. By admitting Hospice into your life does not mean that you (or your family) has "given up". It allows you, Roy and your children to have some quality time together c Roy being comfortable. I will pray for you and your family--Phyllis

As an oncology nurse who helped patients and their families at the end of life, it is a very common occurence for the patient to appear alert just before expiring. We call it the "last Hurrah". I believe it is God's way of giving the dying person one last time to say goodbye. I always tell this to the families so that they don't get excitied. It is hard to understand. Sorry about your friends mom.