[KatherineM]

Maureen -

Your sister is so lucky to have you going through all this with her! I just received my fifth TCHP treatment yesterday, and have one more to go. My symptoms have not been nearly as severe as your sister's, but they have been multiple and distressing, and I've had to call in to the Cancer Center quite a few times. What I've learned is that you need to be assertive/aggressive -- always civil, but very insistent -- in regards to your care. Never feel timid or ashamed of asking questions, demanding to be seen, or requesting more meds. Most health care professionals I've encountered have been wonderful, but there are others out there -- especially when you get outside your regular cancer providers -- who can be arrogant, clueless, and rude. Claritin the day before, the day of, and a few days after helps me with bone pain. Lomotil and Immodium in tandem for the diarrhea. The discouraging thing for me is that there was no common pattern throughout my treatments; I kept getting different symptoms for varying periods of time. I used to be able to count on the first week being bad, but the next two being fine; then the bad week started creeping into two bad weeks, and one good, and I resented it! The thing is that there is an end point, and you and your sister will get to it. This is a great site for support and understanding! Wishing you strength, hope, and healing!