in some establishments you have to become a squeaky wheel to get done what is needed. make her needs and concerns known to those in charge where she is being treated. if they do not offer a solution - repeat your concerns to them. then do it again and again until they respond with something to help. there are so many meds available to help with anxiety, nausea, depression, mouth sores, etc. that there is no excuse for her to have to suffer and wantr to quit without there being something for her to try. remind her that good nutrition and fluid intake will lessen the side effects of treatment so these are vital. she should be drinking as much as possible thru treatment and be sure if she is eating thru the tube that she continues exercising her swallow reflexes because her throat will forget how to swallow if she doesn't and she doesn't want to go thru all of that on top of treatment.

keep encouraging her and be firm that she remain committed to continue in treatment. it is hard to see those we love suffer, but with this disease it is either suffer through treatment or suffer through the disease so encourage her and tell her to keep on keeping on. and then be her advocate and research help for her issues and speak to those in charge to get them to offer help.


Rita - Age 44
wife, mother of 4 - ages 3,16,21,24 & grandma to 1
(R upper) Maxillectomy 8/8/08 - UW / Seattle, WA.

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"Those who think by the inch and speak by the yard, should be kicked by the foot."