Dad chose the former. A combination of the drug oxitan, leucovorin injections were run over 8 session (46 hours per session), every three weeks, based on the blood count reports.
Side Effects
While we were looking for the most obvious side effects of chemotherapy (hair loss), dad won on that count. What we did not anticipate or prepare ourselves for was :
1. Thickening of his veins as the sessions progressed, he was given the IV over 46 hours for each session. Finding a vein to insert the IV needle, became an onerous task, and dad often complained of immense pain in the thickened veins (which turned black progressively).
2. Constipation.
Pointers for patients :
1. Talk the entire process of Chemotherapy, its possible side effects, beforehand with your oncologist.
2. Don't hesitate to ask your oncologist any questions that may cross your mind and consult him for any changes you feel post chemotherapy.
3. Face the fact that you are human after all. Take rest to recover, its the best thing you can do for yourself. Take it easy. Nothing is as important as your health and its restoration. Keep yourself away from stress, tension and fast paced work.
4. At the risk of repeating myself, please ensure that you have healthy, low spice food at regular intervals. Increase your liquid intake and nourish yourself with well cooked vegetables and avoid outside food, that can increase your risk of contracting infections.
5. Blood counts undergo a change when chemotherapy is administered. For example, dad's WBC count went as low as 500 (dangerous!) after a particular session of chemotherapy, and he was at high risk of contracting infection/ falling ill.
6 Accordingly avoid moving out into heavily crowded places and coming into contact with people with colds, fevers, coughs.. the works.
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