Condensed CHOP-R tips-- Version 2

[anjou]

TIPS FOR COPING WITH CHOP-R FROM PATIENT EXPERIENCES

Getting through CHOP-R is not a picnic, but generally no where near as bad as we are led believe from the movies. For

most patients, the anti-nausea drugs control symptoms well and many patients are able to work, with minimal time off.

For some, but not all, symptoms worsen as treatment progresses. The following are tips that different patients have

suggested:


1) FOR THE INFUSION:

a) Having a friend along for support and to drive you home if you are too tired from the benydryl can be

helpful

b) Bring things to keep you occupied: ipod, puzzles, laptop, books etc.

c) Wear comfortable, loose clothing. Bring a blanket, pillow and/or slippers if you like.

d)Bring snacks.

e) Sucking on a popsicle or ice chip during the cytoxan infusion can be helpful.

f) If you have one, bring along your mediport information card.

g) Lidocaine and sticky pads can help to numb skin over a port.


2) THINGS TO PREVENT OR HELP NAUSEA:

a) Good anti nausea meds; Take what is prescribed consistently and proactively for at least 3 days. (eg.

Kytril, zofran, ansamet compazine etc). If what is initially prescribed isn't working for you, discuss
alternatives with your doc.

b) Ginger can be helpful: 1) slice or crush about a half inch of fresh ginger in a mug and steep this in hot

water like tea. 2) Might try ginger root capsules.

c) Eating small snacks throughout the day can be helpful. Some found a handful of cheerios helped.

d) One person found that the smell of a freshly cut tart apple helped quell her nausea.

e) Avoiding fried foods may be helfpul.


3) DEALING WITH CONSTIPATION AND GAS;

a) Senakot-S (a gentle laxative with a stool softener) and/or colace (stool softener). Take these regularly

for roughly ten days if your oncology team is OK with this.

b) Eat foods high in fiber. Stewed prunes or prune juice can be helpful.

c) Drink lots of fluids.

d) Some have found charcoal capsules for helping with flatulence.


4) STAY HYDRATED AND MAINTAIN PROPER ELECTROCYTE BALANCE:

a)Drink adequate fluids.

b) A mixture of half gatorade and half water can be helpful.

5) FOR HEARTBURN:

a) Over the counter or prescribed medicines can help with this. (eg. Prevacid, pepsid-ac, zantac)


6) DEALING WITH PREDNISONE:

a) Take it in the morning.

b) To avoid its bad taste: 1) ask the druggist for gel caps to put them in. 2) Take it with milk or Chocolate

milk or take it with food; can wrap it in bread or take it with pudding.

c) If you have an emotional crash when you stop, your oncologist might be willing to taper the dose more

slowly if you ask.


7) PREVENTING AND DEALING WITH MOUTH SORES:

a) Rinse mouth a few times a day with:

1) 8 oz warm water and a half teaspoon of salt; or

2) Rinse with a mixture of a teaspoon of baking soda and 8 oz water; or

3) Get a prescription for magic mouthwash.

4) diphenhydramine & kaopectate (dentist RX for mouth sores)

b) Ice pops or frozen jello can be soothing.

c) Watch the temperature of your food. Your mouth may burn more easily.


8) MUSCLE CRAMPING:

a)The following foods/drinks might help: tonic water with quinine, gatorade, and/or banannas. Red potatoes

also are high in potassium.

b)If your doctor puts you on a potassium supplement and you have a hard time swalling the pills, it also comes

in a tasteless powder form you can mix with food or drink.


9) SLEEP DISTURBANCE

a) Prescribed medicines can help. Talk with your Doctor and see if he/she thinks there is one that might help

you. Examples of prescribed meds that people here have found helpful: ambien; ativan, xanax and others.

b) Low dose trazedone helps some with sleep and since its in a different class then the medications listed

above it is less addicting.

c) Sleep disturbance, especially early morning awakening, can be a symptom of depression. If you are

depressed, go over your symptoms with a doctor to see if he/she feels an antidepressant might help you.

d) Google "sleep hygiene" for tips on behavioral strategies for coping with insomnia

10) DEALING WITH FATIGUE:

a)Maintaining a gentle exercise program such as walking can help reduce fatigue and make it easier for you to

sleep at night.

b) Take a nap if you need it.

c) Ask others for help when you need it.

11) HAIR LOSS

a) It will generally fall out around the time of the second cycle. Shave it ahead of time as its
messy and disconcerting watching huge clumps of hair fall out.

b) Get a wig ahead of time so they can match your natural color if thats want you want.

c) Be a blonde one day, red head the next. Go wild with scarves and find your inner gypsy!!

12) REDUCE RISK OF INFECTION

a) Wash your hands often, especially after being in public places, around others with colds etc.

b) Avoid crowds when your counts are low.

c) Follow guidelines given by your treatment center.

13) Diarriah

a) Diet can help: One person found that oatmeal, cantelope, tomatoes and some raw foods helped her. Others

have found that binding foods, like rice and bread help

b) If its extreme and there is pain, prescription Tylenol might help, or the OTC liquid Tylenol.

c) One person recommend prescription Questeran



14) OTHERS

a) Discuss your risk of DVT with your doctor. An aspirin a day may reduce this risk. One or two of us
have had problems with this that might have been avoided.

b) Any unusual symptoms or fever, call your doctor or oncology nurse. Do not feel you have to wait until

office hours if you are really uncomfortable or anxious about something.

[anjou]

If you bump up this thread, please delete the bump!!!

Please do not add "thank yous" to the thread

Additions should be limited to tips that you may have found helpful while undergoing treatment that might be missing from the list!!!

[wayone1213]

I have an add on tip for Predisone aftertaste. I found that wrapping it in a fruit roll up stops the aftertaste. It kinda acts like a gel cap.

[kklarocca]

A tip for those who experience the metalic taste in mouth. The use of plasticware when eating meals.

[Ferniek]

Try to see a dentist before starting treatment. Chemo will find cavities or weak points and that will cause problems. My teeth cracked due to chemo and because of low counts I was only able to have a temp filling. The dentist has a fluoride treatment for home called FLUORIDEX that will help prevent cracking and for the pain.

Chemo may cause yellowing of your teeth. Not to worry there are whitners once you are done with chemo.


I find a cup of coffee just once a day helps with the constipation.

If your feet become cold or numb try socks, a hot water bottle or one of those corn microwave pillows to comfort your feet and they will not raise your fever. DO not use a heating pad unless you are very careful. Your skin will be very sensitive to heat and could burn quickly. It will give you great comfort at a tough time.

When you are feeling good try to cook extra meals for the freezer. You may miss your own cooking and it is a treat and easy to handle. Your taste buds may change, but your memory will say this is good. We can exchange recipes that will help.

Crystallized Ginger is wonderful to calm the stomach and to help a sweet tooth. It can also be dropped in tea for an extra calming affect. Easy to carry with you.

[Ferniek]

Keep a journal of all drugs given and how they effected you. Also keep track of what drugs you can take together at home with any other OTC meds. If you need to call the Onc have notes at hand to inform Onc of what you have taken and when.

[workaltid]

Bump!

There was a post about this today.

Liz

[pine soul]

Drug List Related to keeping a drug journal....also keep a current list printed up of all your current meds (include over the counter). When fevers/infection strike and you have to go to the emergency room it's a lot quicker to get through intake with a handy list of drugs/dosages. Also handy for doctor visits.

Constipation And for constipation Miralax. This stuff really helped me and it's now available over the counter. If things are really out of control...like you haven't gone for days..Magnesium Citrate . Start with half a bottle cause it's strong stuff. And here's a good thread on constipation . It was probably my worst side effect of chemo drugs.

Chemo Brain Write down everything. I used my yahoo calendar to keep track of appointments. Have it send you a reminder email the day before an appt.

[kklarocca]

bump for new DLBCLers

[pine soul]

I'm adding a link to the Chemo 101 tips from the Hodgkin's side. Although their chemo is different many of their side effects are the same so there is a lot of relevant material.