Jamie,

Although a lot of what you are describing happens often, it seems like your mother is getting more than the regular dose of problems. I would have suspected the medical team staying closer to the rbc and giving her Procrit before she got so anemic she needed a blood transfusion. Also, from past experience with my mother, I believe I would have requested a mediport before a pic line because of the flushing and maintenance.

There's no doubt the treatment is horrible, we can all attest to that. Do everything you can to keep your mom as pain free as possible. It will really help the outlook for her. Also, she has to keep hydrated or the side effects will be tougher.

Ed

SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023