Hi Mario,
Please understand, when I got this chemo, it was still experimental and officially only available to stage IV people (I was stage III). My Onc was able to get me on board with a trial group. I was her first and only patient to get it at that time. A lot of changes and recommendations have been made since then. My Onc had to fight my Insurance company to get a port put in, they were new and expensive then. I got my first infusion in my hand.
No I was not allow to take any B6 or B12 or any vitamin pills while on chemo. I was allow to drink Ensure, and that was about it. Any problems I would report to my Onc and she would decide from there.
For me, neuropathy was not such an issue in my hands or feet. (remember I was hooked up to a pump (5fu), did not take the pills), butt do have it in my ears today. It is consider one of the rarer side effects to occur in the ears. One ear is 50% hearing loss due to "nerve damage". By the time I took my last infusion, I had pretty much lost most of my hearing in both ears. I would get most of it back with in a few weeks finishing chemo, butt over the next 5 years, I had gradual hearing loss due to nerve damage. The range of my hearing loss is the exact opposite of someone who losses hearing due to old age. Thus I have to protect my hearing today. Anyway the good new, the gradual hearing lost stopped about the 5 year mark. I don't wear hearing aids, butt many time, I do have to turn my head in a direction that allows my good ear to hear what people are saying.
mtipte wrote: . . . Any other tips to deal with side effects?
Yes, keep oven mitts near freezer, cold things (including cold drinks) hurt a lot worse when going through chemo.
While on chemo, keep easy prepared meals in frig. Many days it was a struggle to get off sofa, put something from freezer to microwave to the kitchen table.
While they did not advice this then (if anything I was told the exact opposite), exercise can be helpful while on chemo. Once I told my Onc I was worried I did not get the full dose of chemo because the following day of disconnect I had energy. I was told not to overexert myself. I followed up with, if I did "overexert" myself, I had the best time of my life doing it. Looking back, I can see where exercise is a good thing. Again, many things have been learned since when I had this chemo.
Best advice, be aware of side effect and expect them to get worse with each infusion, thus important to keep Onc up to date.
Hope this helps. All the best to you and your mom.
Lee