Unemployed and Diagnosed

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CLD
Posts: 206
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2015 7:16 pm

Re: Unemployed and Diagnosed

Postby CLD » Wed Sep 09, 2015 2:42 pm

Getting unhooked might take 10 -15 minutes max. They take the tubing out of the port and clean in with Heparin to prevent clots. You could probably ask for the last time slot of the day. One thing to keep in mind is if there is a holiday and the infusion center is closed it might change your chemo day and affect your work schedule.
Wife to DH/ Father of 6 (age 42 at dx) diagnosed Jan 2015 stage IIIC
Tumor deposit in mesentery 13/24 lymph nodes +
CEA at dx: 5
MSS
Low Grade/Mod. Diff.
FOLFOX 6 months
N.E.D until June 2018
PET Scan 6/18
Biopsy confirms cancer in 3 Paraaortic lymph nodes
Folfiri + Avastin (6tx) and Xeloda during radiation
Cancer all over both lungs dx Jan 2019
FOLFIRI +AVASTIN presently

cathy123
Posts: 665
Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:36 pm

Re: Unemployed and Diagnosed

Postby cathy123 » Thu Sep 10, 2015 3:58 am

Congrats on the new job! I hope they work with you on chemo - my understanding is that the effectiveness goes down if you wait too long, so I would try to get started (maybe you can fit in at least one session before you start work?)
Cathy

Diagnosed 10/14 low rectal cancer age 43
Clinical T2NXMX
Radiation/xeloda 12/14-1/15
LAR with temp Ileo 3/15
pT2N0M0, lymphatic invasion 0/37 nodes
4 xelox, 1 xeloda only
Reversal 9/15
Mom to 9&11 year olds

midlifemom
Posts: 1358
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:58 am
Location: NJ

Re: Unemployed and Diagnosed

Postby midlifemom » Thu Sep 10, 2015 5:41 am

Regarding getting uncooked, some centers allow you to unhook yourself at home. I did infusions on Friday and disconnected myself on Sundays. You do have to go in one or two times for them to teach then to show you know how.
Good luck.
Stage 3 cc - dx Jan '14 age 53, cea 2.9
t2n2m0, KRAS mutant, MSS
Folfox Feb - Aug '14
Nov '14 cea 27.7 -2 liver masses
Dec '14 left lobectomy and HAI
Jan '15 FUDR and FOLFIRI
Aug '15 fudr done, liver clear, add avastin for lungs. Cea 4.3
Feb '16 CEA rising
May '16 2 wk break then drop Iri for 6 weeks.
Jul '16 cancer grew, constricted main bile duct. Stent inserted. On break till jaundice clears. CEA climbing. Doing reduced Folfox. Allergic to Oxali.
Sep'16 chemo failed. Trial or hospice?

User avatar
Rob in PA
Posts: 2022
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:16 pm
Location: Pennsylvania

Re: Unemployed and Diagnosed

Postby Rob in PA » Thu Sep 10, 2015 9:41 am

Getting unhooked is a matter of two to five minutes. Waiting your turn takes longer than getting unhooked. Just go to your local cancer center. I have heard of a few people that had home nurses come to your house and unhook you. But that didn't happen for me.
dx 11/07 crc IIIb @ 39
Xelox/Rad/ temp colostomy
LAR/J-pouch/ temp ileo
Folfox-8
Failed reversal
2/09 liver mets; liver resect/ileo reversal
Folfiri/Avastin - 12
2/11 5 lung mets
Folfiri/Avastin 2011
SBRT 3/12
Lung met 5/13/ said NO to more chemo
SBRT 8/13
2 lung mets 5/14, VATS 8/14, NED

kathybrj
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 1:33 pm
Location: Graham NC

Re: Unemployed and Diagnosed

Postby kathybrj » Thu Sep 10, 2015 12:37 pm

I unhooked Blaise at home. Infusions were Thursdays and Saturday morning I would unhook him. It took 10 minutes max. If you have someone that would be willing to unhook you at home I would go that route. I did a little training class at the infusion center and each week they sent us home with supplies to do the disconnect.

Congrats on the job!
Blaise (DH) dx 3/31/14 (age 49)
Stage IIIb Rectal - 4 lymphs involved
Xeloda and Rad 5/5/2014
Surgery 7/29/14 Illeostomy Placed
FolFox 9/11/2014 x 9 treatments
Reversal 1/27/15
NED 9/29/2015
Kathy-Caregiver

CoachDan
Posts: 47
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2015 5:59 am
Location: Limerick, PA

Re: Unemployed and Diagnosed

Postby CoachDan » Thu Sep 10, 2015 3:45 pm

Port was inserted today. It was no big deal, but my neck is sore. I talked with a neighbor who is a nurse and she is willing to unhook me. That will be a big help because I don't want to miss any more time from work.
47 yo Husband and Father of 13 yo son and 11 yo daughter
DX 4/9/2015 - Rectal Cancer stage 3c
Radiation/Xeloda started 5/6/2015, ended 6/15/2015
APR Surgery 8/14/2015
Folfox started 8/23/2015

PainInTheAss
Posts: 673
Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 3:08 am

Re: Unemployed and Diagnosed

Postby PainInTheAss » Fri Sep 11, 2015 2:44 am

That's great you got a job! My friend had cervical cancer and did chemo with no surgery so she could still have kids (she was early 20s) and she never told anyone. We never even knew. She used extensions to conceal her hair loss. She told me a long time later when she was done with treatment but told me not to tell anyone. I would keep a lid on it because it's a new job. They can find a legal reason to fire you, especially when you are in training. My Onc said that most younger (under 70!) colon cancer patients are able to work on chemo, so you should be able to handle it.

One trick... Take some Ativan on infusion day. It can minimize some side effects like muscle cramps and vision problems. It worked miracles for me!
47yo single mom of 4 (24, 21, 18, 16) at Dx
6/13 - RC T4b IIIc 5LNs on PET CEA 5.4
8/13 - Finish chemorad
10/13 - APR/hyst+ovaries/perm colostomy 2/12 nodes+
6/14 - Finish Xelox 6 rds
1/15 - CT clear CEA 0.2
10/15 - CT/MRI clear CEA 0.7
4/16 - CT clear
10/16 - CT/MRI clear CEA 0.6
5/17 - PET clear? Follow up MRI to verify inflammation

Nik Colon

Re: Unemployed and Diagnosed

Postby Nik Colon » Fri Sep 11, 2015 4:49 am

CoachDan wrote:
CLD wrote:Maybe you can have your chemo day be Wed, and get unhooked Fri after work and have the weekend to crash?


I did pick Wednesday as my chemo day. What is involved in getting unhooked? How long does it take? Where can I have that done?

I get disco'd at home, my insurance covers it. It's pretty quick. I know for me they check your vitals, etc and ask a few questions also. The disco itself is quick tho.

CLD
Posts: 206
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2015 7:16 pm

Re: Unemployed and Diagnosed

Postby CLD » Fri Sep 11, 2015 7:33 am

I just want to tell you I really admire your determination and I wish you luck on your chemo journey!
Wife to DH/ Father of 6 (age 42 at dx) diagnosed Jan 2015 stage IIIC
Tumor deposit in mesentery 13/24 lymph nodes +
CEA at dx: 5
MSS
Low Grade/Mod. Diff.
FOLFOX 6 months
N.E.D until June 2018
PET Scan 6/18
Biopsy confirms cancer in 3 Paraaortic lymph nodes
Folfiri + Avastin (6tx) and Xeloda during radiation
Cancer all over both lungs dx Jan 2019
FOLFIRI +AVASTIN presently

CoachDan
Posts: 47
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2015 5:59 am
Location: Limerick, PA

Re: Unemployed and Diagnosed

Postby CoachDan » Fri Sep 11, 2015 1:53 pm

My mother told me that I will not be able to get chemo, work full time and coach softball. Well, that's exactly what I intend to do. Am I crazy? Foolish? Both?
47 yo Husband and Father of 13 yo son and 11 yo daughter
DX 4/9/2015 - Rectal Cancer stage 3c
Radiation/Xeloda started 5/6/2015, ended 6/15/2015
APR Surgery 8/14/2015
Folfox started 8/23/2015

ab123
Posts: 124
Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 12:25 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Unemployed and Diagnosed

Postby ab123 » Fri Sep 11, 2015 2:23 pm

Hey Dan,

Sounds like you're doing great. Congrats on the job and getting surgery behind you. I wanted to let you know I worked all the way through treatment. I was also able to disconnect the chemo IV stuff while at work. A nurse at your cancer center can probably show you how - it isn't that hard.

You're going to make it through. I had 3C rectal cancer and I'm 3 years out, cancer free - almost like it never happened. You can make it through all this nonsense so just keep your head up.

Stay strong brother!
Aug 2012: RC DX Stage IIIC, T3N2M0 by MRI - 38M
Fall 2012: Chemorad
Nov 2012: LAR - Path report: 0/13 LNs, tumor reduced to "microscopic foci"
Jan-Apr 2013: 8 rounds FOLFOX
May 2013: Ileostomy takedown, port removal
July 2013 (and since): NED!

cathy123
Posts: 665
Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:36 pm

Re: Unemployed and Diagnosed

Postby cathy123 » Fri Sep 11, 2015 2:25 pm

Everyone seems to deal with chemo differently. In some ways I felt worse when I just lounged around the house than when I had to get up and do something. That said, it will be tough and I would make sure you set priorities. With starting a new job you will be completely worn out some days so I would make sure you have backups for days you just arent up to coaching. Hopefully your wife or friends can pick up some chores around the house so you can get some rest in the evenings and weekends when you are home. (And if the grass isn't cut for a few weeks so be it - you have to take care of yourself!)

I hope it goes smoothly for you.
Cathy

Diagnosed 10/14 low rectal cancer age 43
Clinical T2NXMX
Radiation/xeloda 12/14-1/15
LAR with temp Ileo 3/15
pT2N0M0, lymphatic invasion 0/37 nodes
4 xelox, 1 xeloda only
Reversal 9/15
Mom to 9&11 year olds

PainInTheAss
Posts: 673
Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 3:08 am

Re: Unemployed and Diagnosed

Postby PainInTheAss » Fri Sep 11, 2015 2:55 pm

Some people breeze through chemo. I had a pretty easy time with it. Two days after infusion I was completely wiped out and just slept for 24 hours, but other than that, I could function other days. The last few infusions, my fatigue was really bad. I didn't get out of bed unless I had to, so I'm sure you can fight fatigue and work and coach softball, and then just crash when you get home. Stuff is harder, but not impossible. I went to a concert with my daughter a few days after my first infusion and we had a great time.

The problems come if you have bad side effects or reactions. I did have a lot if side effects on infusion day. I couldn't drive because my vision was so bad. But I never threw up or got super nauseous. I just lost my appetite.

I'm sure you'll do fine.
47yo single mom of 4 (24, 21, 18, 16) at Dx
6/13 - RC T4b IIIc 5LNs on PET CEA 5.4
8/13 - Finish chemorad
10/13 - APR/hyst+ovaries/perm colostomy 2/12 nodes+
6/14 - Finish Xelox 6 rds
1/15 - CT clear CEA 0.2
10/15 - CT/MRI clear CEA 0.7
4/16 - CT clear
10/16 - CT/MRI clear CEA 0.6
5/17 - PET clear? Follow up MRI to verify inflammation

CoachDan
Posts: 47
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2015 5:59 am
Location: Limerick, PA

Re: Unemployed and Diagnosed

Postby CoachDan » Fri Jan 29, 2016 5:32 pm

Been a while since I have visited the forum. Today was a milestone, so I decided to stop by. Had my last chemo treatment this week and was unhooked today. I wish I felt good enough to celebrate, but it doesn't work that way. I'll be resting for most of the weekend. The job is going well and I am thrilled to be moving on the next phase of normal. Hope everyone here is doing as well as possible.
47 yo Husband and Father of 13 yo son and 11 yo daughter
DX 4/9/2015 - Rectal Cancer stage 3c
Radiation/Xeloda started 5/6/2015, ended 6/15/2015
APR Surgery 8/14/2015
Folfox started 8/23/2015

teachpdx
Posts: 634
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:29 am
Location: Portland, OR

Re: Unemployed and Diagnosed

Postby teachpdx » Fri Jan 29, 2016 6:19 pm

CoachDan wrote:Been a while since I have visited the forum. Today was a milestone, so I decided to stop by. Had my last chemo treatment this week and was unhooked today. I wish I felt good enough to celebrate, but it doesn't work that way. I'll be resting for most of the weekend. The job is going well and I am thrilled to be moving on the next phase of normal. Hope everyone here is doing as well as possible.


Good for you CoachDan. End of chemo is always a time for celebration in whatever way it is. Enjoy your rest. :)
4/24/12 RC T3N1M0 age 53
5/23-7/2 - 26 chemorad - Xeloda
7/16 Lynch- MSH2
8/28 LAR w/ temp ileo, CR, 0/11,M0, hysterectomy
10/13 6 cycles Xeloda - completed only 1 1/2 due to HFS
3/12/13 - reversal
8/13 NED
6/15 - HFS gone!


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