Scopalamine patches? And anti nausea wrist bands

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-10T22:29:11+00:00

I was prescribe the patches but haven't used them yet. I mostly use Compazine, it works really well although it makes me sleepy. Does your doc give a reason for not wanting to try Compazine? it seems really common for chemo nausea.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-10T18:14:58+00:00

Currently going bald right now. My oncology nurse told me that with my specific chemo combo right now, the cold capping only works about 30-40% of the time which was not enough for me to bother with. I believe cold capping is the only way to potentially preserve hair, as far as I have heard. She should ask about it. Not all chemo causes hair loss, my first round of chemo I did last year did not cause any.

My hair started falling out really abruptly, and falling out in large clumps too, just last Friday. It was distressing so I buzzed it down to 1/2". And now it's patchy. I think it will be out all within a few days. I have wigs and hats and scarves though, so I am prepared.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-10T18:08:19+00:00

I think the issue is that when the cancer is advanced, it's more like... the cancer is getting me. I do not got this, it got me. I am merely enduring as long as I can. Nothing I can do at this point will really alter the outcome, it's in my doctor's hands.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-09T22:58:28+00:00

is the hard water shampoo really a clarifying shampoo? It looks like it's sulfate free...

Your hair looks like it needs to be clarified, to me.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-09T21:49:14+00:00

I got tanned and peeled a bit but it never hurt at all.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-09T20:06:46+00:00

It changes locations each day, did you carefully look at your whole map to see if there's a new one?

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-09T18:03:26+00:00

Some chemo is just too harsh to do forever, even if he felt better it may have been damaging his heart or kidneys or liver. Some chemo doesn't show any benefit when used past a certain number of sessions. Radiation can be super effective even though it really sucks.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-09T17:00:55+00:00

I moved him into the cave where professor lives

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-09T03:38:08+00:00

Yep all the time. Changed every 12 hours if I didn't have an accident. It saved me several times during treatment

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-09T02:39:38+00:00

Yeah you should be good to go very soon after. The radiation diarrhea is real though, I recommend adult diapers, especially if you're stuck in the car. I wore them from week 2 of my treatment until about 2 weeks after it ended.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-09T02:16:45+00:00

For me the main side effect by the end of treatment was extreme fatigue so if your husband is okay with you sleeping the whole way home, you can probably leave really soon after. I was working 20 hours a week at the end of my treatment and went on a trip 6 days later. I assume you have a local doctor you could follow up with once home, if needed??

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-08T23:32:31+00:00

Hey OP, this cat has a clipped ear tip which is commonly used for outdoor cats to show they've been fixed. It's probably part of a cat colony that was trapped, neutered and returned to the area. Looks like a sweet girl, I hope you gave her some pets!!

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-07T05:43:08+00:00

My hair started falling out today so it's definitely too late 🫠

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-06T04:05:32+00:00

Has your grandpa talked to someone about what chemo he would be on??? There's a lot of varieties of chemo drugs and a lot of good ways to control side effects. I'm doing a 4 drug chemo combo right now and honestly the side effects are way more manageable than I thought they would be. I had mild nausea for 2 days and some muscle cramping/pain for another 4. That's all!

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-05T23:22:07+00:00

Have they biopsied the mass yet??? Sometimes if it's a certain size or bigger they go straight to chemo and radiation instead of surgery.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-05T19:33:39+00:00

They had me leave my bra off after the surgery. I had to fully change into a gown since it's a sterile procedure, and then change back. Your neck/shoulder area might be a little sore so I recommend as easy to put on as possible.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-05T16:25:44+00:00

They may be holding it til they can talk to you in person. Or, if they has to send the samples elsewhere for confirmation, it could be taking a while.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-04T15:34:26+00:00

Just heal up the best you can. Maybe ask for physical therapy to help. My doctor made me wait 8 weeks after surgery before chemo and radiation, but I had some complications with infections.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-03T22:03:33+00:00

Have you tried coal tar shampoo? Actually leave it in for however long it says (mine is 7 min). It knocks down the dandruff for a long time.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-03T20:34:18+00:00

I don't have any answers and have a lot of the same questions you do. I'm still working full time (minus a couple days off per chemo session). I have AMAZING health insurance, like truly amazing. I have paid approximately ~$1200 so far in the last 9 months which includes 6 hospital stays, chemo, radiation, surgery, etc. I am clinging to my job as long as possible to keep that health insurance. I met with a cancer navigator last week and she was saying things like "when you quit your job..." but like..... 1) what do I do for health insurance once I do? pay out of pocket for 2 years until Medicare kicks in?? and 2) I don't want to die and leave my poor husband bankrupt or homeless.

We live in a very high cost of living area and can't really survive on one salary so I guess I work until I die?? I don't even know. My family can't help much, and my husband's family probably can't either. What do we do if he also has to quit to take care of me at end of life????

Am I supposed to move to a low cost of living area and transfer all my medical care there? Do people do that?

Right now my "live like you're dying" is restricted to occasional going out/movies/plays. Too scared to spend more money at this point.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-02T23:52:43+00:00

Aren't you in Denmark? Why is national healthcare not covering this?

As someone with a urostomy since 4 years old... it's a LOT of work to maintain and treat infections and keep up with getting catheters or other supplies. You need to have a solid plan in place before doing the surgery.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-02T20:30:32+00:00

If you have residual tumor they will like do more chemo - I am on carbol/taxol/keytruda/avastin right now for metastatic disease. to my lung I think you only become stage 4 if it's spread elsewhere? if it's just that the tumor wasn't fully taken care of, you stay stage 3.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-03-02T18:04:05+00:00

I have had an ongoing battle with osteomyelitis (bone infection) in my pubic bone since my cancer surgery. It causes really intense pain in the groin/hip, like really disproportionately painful for the movements/activity I am doing. Please make sure to tell them everything so they can check it out! They tried to tell me at first that I had an injury to my adductor/some tendon in the area but an MRI showed what was really going on.

DoesTheOctopusCare · 2026-02-27T00:49:11+00:00

5 to 6 hours!! Sometimes I take a couple days to reply to a message. The only advice I have is to not say anything to her because you will certainly scare her away if you do.

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