Re: Still available to help-Len

[Guest guest]

Hope you day goes well Len, counting down, what 3 more to go?

Cheers Jolene

[Guest guest]

Hi Len:

I am eating lots of candy and drinking cold drinks tonight since tomorrow I

will be unable to eat or drink anything cold or sweet (taste is bad). I

don't know the difference between 5FU and Xeloda or why they choose one over the

other. I would be interested in knowing. No one has yet mentioned Xeloda to

me. I HATE my chemo sessions because I know how sick and exhausted I

will be for the next 8 days. But, we have to get through it. I too have 4 to

go, including tomorrow, but what happens after that will depend on my next

scan (after 2 more treatments). Best of luck tomorrow.

Hi ,

Nice to talk to you again. My drugs are the same as

yours except I take xeloda pills instead of the 5fu

pump. I wonder what the difference is. The are

reducing my xeloda slightly to help the hands and feet

from exploding from swelling.

Take care.

Len

--- brencolinmom@... wrote:

---------------------------------

In a message dated 11/28/2005 8:40:54 A.M. Pacific

Standard Time,

hlen@... writes:

Len:

I am with you on the infusion tomorrow. I will be at

the oncologist's all

day for infusions of premeds, Avastin, and

Oxaliplatin/Leucovorin. I then get

to leave with my 48 hour infusion of 5FU. Looking

forward to another 8 days

of sickness but it is treatment number 9.

Take care, Len.

Narice

Thank you for sharing that Phil's avastin shrank his

13 cm tumor. I had lost hope on that one. I don't

have liver problems so far but was wondering why the

liver could not be saved. Do you have some insight

to

share on that one.

I know this is hard and I won't blame you if you

ignore it. I leave in a minute to see the onc and I

have infusion tomorrow. Gangs and gangs of fun.

Len

--- flipper759@... wrote:

---------------------------------

[Guest guest]

, Your attitude is such an inspiration to all of us. I am

Praying and Hoping that your tumor is destroyed by the chemo.

Love, Ingrid

- -- In colon_cancer_support , Dawson

<mystc1celt@y...> wrote:

>

> ,

>

> Xeloda is the pill form of 5FU. It supposedly has fewer side

effects. I'm getting such megadoses of it right now, that's what

caused my hair loss, almost total. I still don't have the nerve to

just shave it off, even though I won't look at it the way it is right

now either. My first round of chemo two years ago was

5FU/CPT11/leucovorin. Now I'm getting Xeloda pills for a week with

an infusion of CPT11, off a week, then an infusion of oxaliplatin and

pills for another week. I have a problem with nausea and fatigue

occasionally while taking the pills, but it's not really

debilitating. Thank goodness I work at home on my own time, I can

work whenever I feel good enough to sit here for a while and take

breaks when I don't.

>

> My last onc visit they had CT results in and the recurrent tumor

is measurably smaller than it was two months before. I was poking

around on it last night and actually had a little difficulty finding

it at all, even knowing where it was. I'm optimistic this will

either get rid of it completely or at least reduce it to the point

they feel they can do surgery on it.

>

> So far there's nothing in my liver or lungs, but I know they're

watching for those very carefully. My cancer blessing, if there is

such a thing, is that the last scan also detected a blood clot in my

right lung and they got me on treatment right away, self-injections

of Lovenox twice a day.

>

> Such a roller coaster ride with this disease, I wish I'd never

found this amusement park. However, the other cancer blessing is

this board and the people here.

>

>

>

> brencolinmom@a... wrote:

>

> Hi Len:

> I am eating lots of candy and drinking cold drinks tonight since

tomorrow I

> will be unable to eat or drink anything cold or sweet (taste is

bad). I

> don't know the difference between 5FU and Xeloda or why they choose

one over the

> other. I would be interested in knowing. No one has yet

mentioned Xeloda to

> me. I HATE my chemo sessions because I know how sick and

exhausted I

> will be for the next 8 days. But, we have to get through it. I

too have 4 to

> go, including tomorrow, but what happens after that will depend on

my next

> scan (after 2 more treatments). Best of luck tomorrow.

>

>

> Hi ,

>

> Nice to talk to you again. My drugs are the same as

> yours except I take xeloda pills instead of the 5fu

> pump. I wonder what the difference is. The are

> reducing my xeloda slightly to help the hands and feet

> from exploding from swelling.

>

> Take care.

>

> Len

>

> --- brencolinmom@a... wrote:

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> In a message dated 11/28/2005 8:40:54 A.M. Pacific

> Standard Time,

> hlen@s... writes:

>

> Len:

> I am with you on the infusion tomorrow. I will be at

> the oncologist's all

> day for infusions of premeds, Avastin, and

> Oxaliplatin/Leucovorin. I then get

> to leave with my 48 hour infusion of 5FU. Looking

> forward to another 8 days

> of sickness but it is treatment number 9.

> Take care, Len.

>

>

> Narice

>

> Thank you for sharing that Phil's avastin shrank his

> 13 cm tumor. I had lost hope on that one. I don't

> have liver problems so far but was wondering why the

> liver could not be saved. Do you have some insight

> to

> share on that one.

>

> I know this is hard and I won't blame you if you

> ignore it. I leave in a minute to see the onc and I

> have infusion tomorrow. Gangs and gangs of fun.

>

> Len

>

> --- flipper759@a... wrote:

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Ingrid. If I didn't laugh and try to find the blessings in all this,

I'd be crying 24/7, and that's just not going to work, is it. Everybody here is

a hero, survivors and caregivers alike, and my life is much enriched by having

gotten to know all of you here.

Ingrid Lowe wrote:

, Your attitude is such an inspiration to all of us. I am

Praying and Hoping that your tumor is destroyed by the chemo.

Love, Ingrid

- -- In colon_cancer_support , Dawson

<mystc1celt@y...> wrote:

>

> ,

>

> Xeloda is the pill form of 5FU. It supposedly has fewer side

effects. I'm getting such megadoses of it right now, that's what

caused my hair loss, almost total. I still don't have the nerve to

just shave it off, even though I won't look at it the way it is right

now either. My first round of chemo two years ago was

5FU/CPT11/leucovorin. Now I'm getting Xeloda pills for a week with

an infusion of CPT11, off a week, then an infusion of oxaliplatin and

pills for another week. I have a problem with nausea and fatigue

occasionally while taking the pills, but it's not really

debilitating. Thank goodness I work at home on my own time, I can

work whenever I feel good enough to sit here for a while and take

breaks when I don't.

>

> My last onc visit they had CT results in and the recurrent tumor

is measurably smaller than it was two months before. I was poking

around on it last night and actually had a little difficulty finding

it at all, even knowing where it was. I'm optimistic this will

either get rid of it completely or at least reduce it to the point

they feel they can do surgery on it.

>

> So far there's nothing in my liver or lungs, but I know they're

watching for those very carefully. My cancer blessing, if there is

such a thing, is that the last scan also detected a blood clot in my

right lung and they got me on treatment right away, self-injections

of Lovenox twice a day.

>

> Such a roller coaster ride with this disease, I wish I'd never

found this amusement park. However, the other cancer blessing is

this board and the people here.

>

>

>

> brencolinmom@a... wrote:

>

> Hi Len:

> I am eating lots of candy and drinking cold drinks tonight since

tomorrow I

> will be unable to eat or drink anything cold or sweet (taste is

bad). I

> don't know the difference between 5FU and Xeloda or why they choose

one over the

> other. I would be interested in knowing. No one has yet

mentioned Xeloda to

> me. I HATE my chemo sessions because I know how sick and

exhausted I

> will be for the next 8 days. But, we have to get through it. I

too have 4 to

> go, including tomorrow, but what happens after that will depend on

my next

> scan (after 2 more treatments). Best of luck tomorrow.

>

>

> Hi ,

>

> Nice to talk to you again. My drugs are the same as

> yours except I take xeloda pills instead of the 5fu

> pump. I wonder what the difference is. The are

> reducing my xeloda slightly to help the hands and feet

> from exploding from swelling.

>

> Take care.

>

> Len

>

> --- brencolinmom@a... wrote:

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> In a message dated 11/28/2005 8:40:54 A.M. Pacific

> Standard Time,

> hlen@s... writes:

>

> Len:

> I am with you on the infusion tomorrow. I will be at

> the oncologist's all

> day for infusions of premeds, Avastin, and

> Oxaliplatin/Leucovorin. I then get

> to leave with my 48 hour infusion of 5FU. Looking

> forward to another 8 days

> of sickness but it is treatment number 9.

> Take care, Len.

>

>

> Narice

>

> Thank you for sharing that Phil's avastin shrank his

> 13 cm tumor. I had lost hope on that one. I don't

> have liver problems so far but was wondering why the

> liver could not be saved. Do you have some insight

> to

> share on that one.

>

> I know this is hard and I won't blame you if you

> ignore it. I leave in a minute to see the onc and I

> have infusion tomorrow. Gangs and gangs of fun.

>

> Len

>

> --- flipper759@a... wrote:

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Lydia,

Thank you very much for your kind thoughts. I had an

infusion today and now my left arm is nearly

paralyzed. My hand works fine but it is hard to move

the arm and if you touch it the pain is like an

electrical shock. It will be ok in a few days though.

The left arm is the one they put the IV needle in.

Take care.

Len

--- mily wrote:

---------------------------------

To Len and ,

Have been thinking of you today. Hope all went well.

Hope you are not too sick.

Praying for you.

love,

Lydia

Len Henell wrote:

Hi ,

Nice to talk to you again. My drugs are the same as

yours except I take xeloda pills instead of the 5fu

pump. I wonder what the difference is. The are

reducing my xeloda slightly to help the hands and feet

from exploding from swelling.

Take care.

Len

--- brencolinmom@... wrote:

---------------------------------

In a message dated 11/28/2005 8:40:54 A.M. Pacific

Standard Time,

hlen@... writes:

Len:

I am with you on the infusion tomorrow. I will be at

the oncologist's all

day for infusions of premeds, Avastin, and

Oxaliplatin/Leucovorin. I then get

to leave with my 48 hour infusion of 5FU. Looking

forward to another 8 days

of sickness but it is treatment number 9.

Take care, Len.

Narice

Thank you for sharing that Phil's avastin shrank his

13 cm tumor. I had lost hope on that one. I don't

have liver problems so far but was wondering why the

liver could not be saved. Do you have some insight

to

share on that one.

I know this is hard and I won't blame you if you

ignore it. I leave in a minute to see the onc and I

have infusion tomorrow. Gangs and gangs of fun.

Len

--- flipper759@... wrote:

---------------------------------

The board was very quiet this weekend. I just want to

say that while Phil IS

my first priority please don't be afraid to ask

questions. There are lots of

people here that still need help fighting this

monster. It DOES help me cope

when I can help all of you. We have a lot of new

people and I just want to

tell them that there is a lot of hope.

Please don't let Phil's situation scare you away. On

initial diagnosis he

was given only a few months and he got 2 and1/2 years

and they were GOOD years.

Erbitux and Avastin are wonderful powerful weapons

in

this battle Avastin

actually dissolved Phil's 13 cm primary colon tumor!

Who knows what it can do

for someone new to the battle.

We are in this together. Let's continue to help each

other no matter where

we are in this journey.

Narice

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

For an an extensive collection of colon cancer

related

links go to

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/colon_cancer_support/links

or

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/suthercon/

yahoo.com/group/colon_cancer_support/links or

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/suthercon/

---------------------------------

YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS

Visit your group " colon_cancer_support " on the

web.

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:

colon_cancer_support-unsubscribe

[Guest guest]

Len, I am sending a Prayer up for you right now!!! Love, Ingrid

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

>

> The board was very quiet this weekend. I just want to

> say that while Phil IS

> my first priority please don't be afraid to ask

> questions. There are lots of

> people here that still need help fighting this

> monster. It DOES help me cope

> when I can help all of you. We have a lot of new

> people and I just want to

> tell them that there is a lot of hope.

>

> Please don't let Phil's situation scare you away. On

> initial diagnosis he

> was given only a few months and he got 2 and1/2 years

> and they were GOOD years.

> Erbitux and Avastin are wonderful powerful weapons

> in

> this battle Avastin

> actually dissolved Phil's 13 cm primary colon tumor!

> Who knows what it can do

> for someone new to the battle.

>

> We are in this together. Let's continue to help each

> other no matter where

> we are in this journey.

> Narice

>

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>

>

>

> For an an extensive collection of colon cancer

> related

> links go to

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/colon_cancer_support/links

> or

> http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/suthercon/

>

> yahoo.com/group/colon_cancer_support/links or

> http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/suthercon/

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS

>

>

> Visit your group " colon_cancer_support " on the

> web.

>

> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:

> colon_cancer_support-unsubscribe

>

>

[Guest guest]

I ditto that !!!! Looking forward to meeting you at NTIF in March

06. Hugs and Prayers Jolene

[Guest guest]

Len

Sorry that your arm is so sore. As you said it will be okay in a few

days..You take care.

Hugs and Prayers Jolene

[Guest guest]

Len,

Are you getting oxaliplatin through a regular IV? I've heard that's extremely

painful and when they told me I would be getting it this time, the first thing

they did was implant a port. I didn't know what kind of " painful " they were

talking about, but if that's what's happening to you, I guess now I know. Hang

in there, I'm praying for you.

Len Henell wrote:

Lydia,

Thank you very much for your kind thoughts. I had an

infusion today and now my left arm is nearly

paralyzed. My hand works fine but it is hard to move

the arm and if you touch it the pain is like an

electrical shock. It will be ok in a few days though.

The left arm is the one they put the IV needle in.

Take care.

Len

--- mily wrote:

---------------------------------

To Len and ,

Have been thinking of you today. Hope all went well.

Hope you are not too sick.

Praying for you.

love,

Lydia

Len Henell wrote:

Hi ,

Nice to talk to you again. My drugs are the same as

yours except I take xeloda pills instead of the 5fu

pump. I wonder what the difference is. The are

reducing my xeloda slightly to help the hands and feet

from exploding from swelling.

Take care.

Len

--- brencolinmom@... wrote:

---------------------------------

In a message dated 11/28/2005 8:40:54 A.M. Pacific

Standard Time,

hlen@... writes:

Len:

I am with you on the infusion tomorrow. I will be at

the oncologist's all

day for infusions of premeds, Avastin, and

Oxaliplatin/Leucovorin. I then get

to leave with my 48 hour infusion of 5FU. Looking

forward to another 8 days

of sickness but it is treatment number 9.

Take care, Len.

Narice

Thank you for sharing that Phil's avastin shrank his

13 cm tumor. I had lost hope on that one. I don't

have liver problems so far but was wondering why the

liver could not be saved. Do you have some insight

to

share on that one.

I know this is hard and I won't blame you if you

ignore it. I leave in a minute to see the onc and I

have infusion tomorrow. Gangs and gangs of fun.

Len

--- flipper759@... wrote:

---------------------------------

The board was very quiet this weekend. I just want to

say that while Phil IS

my first priority please don't be afraid to ask

questions. There are lots of

people here that still need help fighting this

monster. It DOES help me cope

when I can help all of you. We have a lot of new

people and I just want to

tell them that there is a lot of hope.

Please don't let Phil's situation scare you away. On

initial diagnosis he

was given only a few months and he got 2 and1/2 years

and they were GOOD years.

Erbitux and Avastin are wonderful powerful weapons

in

this battle Avastin

actually dissolved Phil's 13 cm primary colon tumor!

Who knows what it can do

for someone new to the battle.

We are in this together. Let's continue to help each

other no matter where

we are in this journey.

Narice

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

For an an extensive collection of colon cancer

related

links go to

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/colon_cancer_support/links

or

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/suthercon/

yahoo.com/group/colon_cancer_support/links or

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/suthercon/

---------------------------------

YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS

Visit your group " colon_cancer_support " on the

web.

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:

colon_cancer_support-unsubscribe

[Guest guest]

Len:

The port is sore for only a couple of days after surgery. After that, it is

nothing.

I had chemo immediately after the surgery to insert my port. The surgeon

left the catheter in during surgery and I walked across the street to my

oncologist and they just hooked me right up.

But every time I go in now for chemo, I apply Lidocaine cream at least one

hour before chemo. That way, I don't feel anything when they insert the

needle into the port. The cream is by prescription and is labeled " Lidocaine

2.5%

and Prilocaine 2.5% Cream. " I assume your oncologist will prescribe it for

you even if you don't ask (mine did) but wanted you to know just in case to

ask for it. Just apply it liberally and put a piece of saran wrap or plastic

wrap to cover it and tape to hold it on.

In a message dated 12/3/2005 8:54:14 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,

hlen@... writes:

Thanks Donna, You have convinced me. I wil call the

Doctor Monday.

Len

--- Donna Wilkinson wrote:

---------------------------------

Len,

ditto, ditto, ditto......get a port....my dr said my

veins wouldn't last for the 6 months of chemo and

didn't really give me a choice...that was a good

thing. I ran into someone in the chemo room who was

having this done in his arm and he said he had had

enough after 3 rounds, he had already scheduled his

port put in. Think about it, less stress is a good

thing!! hugs and prayers - donna

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

In a message dated 12/2/2005 9:54:42 PM Eastern

Standard Time,

mystc1celt@... writes:

Len,

I just wouldn't do it without the port. They can

draw flood from the port

and do IVs, all kinds of wondrous things if you have

nurses who know what

they're doing, which chemo nurses do. When they

access my port it's a slightly

bigger stick than in the arm, but I think part of it

is the non-coring needle

they use and the way it goes straight in rather than

angled like a regular

IV. I have absolutely no problem with the infusion

itself, just the side

effects, but the arm pain is not one of them.

Give it serious consideration, it's worth the effort

to have it implanted.

Hi Len... I think Glenn would agree with

without any hesitation. As

many chemo treatments, IV's, blood draws, blood

transfusions, etc. as he's

had in the last 2 yrs. he would have no veins left at

all if it weren't for the

port. Never any problems with the infusions and

never any arm pain. Worth

considering, Len!!

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn

[Guest guest]

Len,

ditto, ditto, ditto......get a port....my dr said my veins wouldn't last for

the 6 months of chemo and didn't really give me a choice...that was a good

thing. I ran into someone in the chemo room who was having this done in his arm

and he said he had had enough after 3 rounds, he had already scheduled his port

put in. Think about it, less stress is a good thing!! hugs and prayers -

donna

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

In a message dated 12/2/2005 9:54:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,

mystc1celt@... writes:

Len,

I just wouldn't do it without the port. They can draw flood from the port

and do IVs, all kinds of wondrous things if you have nurses who know what

they're doing, which chemo nurses do. When they access my port it's a slightly

bigger stick than in the arm, but I think part of it is the non-coring needle

they use and the way it goes straight in rather than angled like a regular

IV. I have absolutely no problem with the infusion itself, just the side

effects, but the arm pain is not one of them.

Give it serious consideration, it's worth the effort to have it implanted.

Hi Len... I think Glenn would agree with without any hesitation. As

many chemo treatments, IV's, blood draws, blood transfusions, etc. as he's

had in the last 2 yrs. he would have no veins left at all if it weren't for the

port. Never any problems with the infusions and never any arm pain. Worth

considering, Len!!

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn

[Guest guest]

Thanks Donna, You have convinced me. I wil call the

Doctor Monday.

Len

--- Donna Wilkinson wrote:

---------------------------------

Len,

ditto, ditto, ditto......get a port....my dr said my

veins wouldn't last for the 6 months of chemo and

didn't really give me a choice...that was a good

thing. I ran into someone in the chemo room who was

having this done in his arm and he said he had had

enough after 3 rounds, he had already scheduled his

port put in. Think about it, less stress is a good

thing!! hugs and prayers - donna

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

In a message dated 12/2/2005 9:54:42 PM Eastern

Standard Time,

mystc1celt@... writes:

Len,

I just wouldn't do it without the port. They can

draw flood from the port

and do IVs, all kinds of wondrous things if you have

nurses who know what

they're doing, which chemo nurses do. When they

access my port it's a slightly

bigger stick than in the arm, but I think part of it

is the non-coring needle

they use and the way it goes straight in rather than

angled like a regular

IV. I have absolutely no problem with the infusion

itself, just the side

effects, but the arm pain is not one of them.

Give it serious consideration, it's worth the effort

to have it implanted.

Hi Len... I think Glenn would agree with

without any hesitation. As

many chemo treatments, IV's, blood draws, blood

transfusions, etc. as he's

had in the last 2 yrs. he would have no veins left at

all if it weren't for the

port. Never any problems with the infusions and

never any arm pain. Worth

considering, Len!!

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn

[Guest guest]

And, it was a short procedure - I think someone drove me home but do not recall

any pain afterwards, maybe some tenderness for a couple of days but it is really

nothing....

make your life easier....

Len Henell wrote:

Thanks Donna, You have convinced me. I wil call the

Doctor Monday.

Len

--- Donna Wilkinson wrote:

---------------------------------

Len,

ditto, ditto, ditto......get a port....my dr said my

veins wouldn't last for the 6 months of chemo and

didn't really give me a choice...that was a good

thing. I ran into someone in the chemo room who was

having this done in his arm and he said he had had

enough after 3 rounds, he had already scheduled his

port put in. Think about it, less stress is a good

thing!! hugs and prayers - donna

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

In a message dated 12/2/2005 9:54:42 PM Eastern

Standard Time,

mystc1celt@... writes:

Len,

I just wouldn't do it without the port. They can

draw flood from the port

and do IVs, all kinds of wondrous things if you have

nurses who know what

they're doing, which chemo nurses do. When they

access my port it's a slightly

bigger stick than in the arm, but I think part of it

is the non-coring needle

they use and the way it goes straight in rather than

angled like a regular

IV. I have absolutely no problem with the infusion

itself, just the side

effects, but the arm pain is not one of them.

Give it serious consideration, it's worth the effort

to have it implanted.

Hi Len... I think Glenn would agree with

without any hesitation. As

many chemo treatments, IV's, blood draws, blood

transfusions, etc. as he's

had in the last 2 yrs. he would have no veins left at

all if it weren't for the

port. Never any problems with the infusions and

never any arm pain. Worth

considering, Len!!

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn

[Guest guest]

Just an FYI.. I had the cream as well, but kept forgetting to use it. But

the twinge from inserting that is momentary and doesn't hurt all that much.

They always covered mine with that clear plastic sticky bandage stuff. Works

pretty good. Jolene

Re: Still available to help-Len

Len:

The port is sore for only a couple of days after surgery. After that, it

is

nothing.

I had chemo immediately after the surgery to insert my port. The surgeon

left the catheter in during surgery and I walked across the street to my

oncologist and they just hooked me right up.

But every time I go in now for chemo, I apply Lidocaine cream at least one

hour before chemo. That way, I don't feel anything when they insert the

needle into the port. The cream is by prescription and is labeled

" Lidocaine 2.5%

and Prilocaine 2.5% Cream. " I assume your oncologist will prescribe it for

you even if you don't ask (mine did) but wanted you to know just in case to

ask for it. Just apply it liberally and put a piece of saran wrap or

plastic

wrap to cover it and tape to hold it on.

In a message dated 12/3/2005 8:54:14 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,

hlen@... writes:

Thanks Donna, You have convinced me. I wil call the

Doctor Monday.

Len

--- Donna Wilkinson wrote:

---------------------------------

Len,

ditto, ditto, ditto......get a port....my dr said my

veins wouldn't last for the 6 months of chemo and

didn't really give me a choice...that was a good

thing. I ran into someone in the chemo room who was

having this done in his arm and he said he had had

enough after 3 rounds, he had already scheduled his

port put in. Think about it, less stress is a good

thing!! hugs and prayers - donna

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

In a message dated 12/2/2005 9:54:42 PM Eastern

Standard Time,

mystc1celt@... writes:

Len,

I just wouldn't do it without the port. They can

draw flood from the port

and do IVs, all kinds of wondrous things if you have

nurses who know what

they're doing, which chemo nurses do. When they

access my port it's a slightly

bigger stick than in the arm, but I think part of it

is the non-coring needle

they use and the way it goes straight in rather than

angled like a regular

IV. I have absolutely no problem with the infusion

itself, just the side

effects, but the arm pain is not one of them.

Give it serious consideration, it's worth the effort

to have it implanted.

Hi Len... I think Glenn would agree with

without any hesitation. As

many chemo treatments, IV's, blood draws, blood

transfusions, etc. as he's

had in the last 2 yrs. he would have no veins left at

all if it weren't for the

port. Never any problems with the infusions and

never any arm pain. Worth

considering, Len!!

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn

[Guest guest]

LEN

I agree with on the Lidocaine creme - my doc didn't suggest it to me

- but a doctor friend who has breast cancer did. Put it on port site few hours

before chemo - cover it. The stick isn't' bad anyway - but why not minimize

every bit of discomfort if you can!!!! Some great products and drugs out there -

that's what they are for.

Which BTW - for the classic " butt burn " for anybody who is going through this

problem due to frequent trips to bathroom during chemo and/or radiation, I

HIGHLY recommend CALMOSEPTINE. It totally takes away the pain and soreness,

also moisture barrier and protectant so you can heal.

Hope you are having a good day today. Feel well.

Pat

brencolinmom@... wrote:

Len:

The port is sore for only a couple of days after surgery. After that, it is

nothing.

I had chemo immediately after the surgery to insert my port. The surgeon

left the catheter in during surgery and I walked across the street to my

oncologist and they just hooked me right up.

But every time I go in now for chemo, I apply Lidocaine cream at least one

hour before chemo. That way, I don't feel anything when they insert the

needle into the port. The cream is by prescription and is labeled " Lidocaine

2.5%

and Prilocaine 2.5% Cream. " I assume your oncologist will prescribe it for

you even if you don't ask (mine did) but wanted you to know just in case to

ask for it. Just apply it liberally and put a piece of saran wrap or plastic

wrap to cover it and tape to hold it on.

In a message dated 12/3/2005 8:54:14 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,

hlen@... writes:

Thanks Donna, You have convinced me. I wil call the

Doctor Monday.

Len

--- Donna Wilkinson wrote:

---------------------------------

Len,

ditto, ditto, ditto......get a port....my dr said my

veins wouldn't last for the 6 months of chemo and

didn't really give me a choice...that was a good

thing. I ran into someone in the chemo room who was

having this done in his arm and he said he had had

enough after 3 rounds, he had already scheduled his

port put in. Think about it, less stress is a good

thing!! hugs and prayers - donna

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

In a message dated 12/2/2005 9:54:42 PM Eastern

Standard Time,

mystc1celt@... writes:

Len,

I just wouldn't do it without the port. They can

draw flood from the port

and do IVs, all kinds of wondrous things if you have

nurses who know what

they're doing, which chemo nurses do. When they

access my port it's a slightly

bigger stick than in the arm, but I think part of it

is the non-coring needle

they use and the way it goes straight in rather than

angled like a regular

IV. I have absolutely no problem with the infusion

itself, just the side

effects, but the arm pain is not one of them.

Give it serious consideration, it's worth the effort

to have it implanted.

Hi Len... I think Glenn would agree with

without any hesitation. As

many chemo treatments, IV's, blood draws, blood

transfusions, etc. as he's

had in the last 2 yrs. he would have no veins left at

all if it weren't for the

port. Never any problems with the infusions and

never any arm pain. Worth

considering, Len!!

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn