Would like to get some opinions on IV fluids during treatment. My wife has completed 24 of 33 radiation and 5 of 7 chemo treatments. The past week has been getting pretty rough. She has been able to pretty much maintain her weight but has had issues with throwing up. She has been taking anti-nausea drugs (Ativan, Compazine and Zofran) but they think her issue may be more of the thick saliva causing a gag reflex(also taking Pilocarpine, Guaifinisen for saliva help and Nystatin for thrush). This past Monday they gave her a liter of fluid during chemo and the doctor prescribed additional liter four times a week. They left the power port access in and had a nurse come out to show me how to attach an IV. The doctor and nurses at the clinic stated that the port access needed to be removed or changed at 7 days. The nurse that came out to the house said it wasn't necessary for them to come out to remove on Sunday(which would be day 7) that it was ok to go longer. Longer story short, the nurse set up to come out to remove on Friday which will leave us without port access over the weekend. I have given her an additional liter each night this week, so including the liter at chemo last Monday she has recieved the additional 4 liters. Should I insist that the nurse put a new port access in when the old one is removed and/or is it ok to leave the port access lines longer than 7 days? Is getting a liter a day for 4 straight days as good as getting a liter every other day for staying hydrated? Thanks for any insights.


Tom-CG to wife, Pam 46@dx
Stage IV Tongue Cancer T2N2C
Dx 6/08, Surgery 7/08, 3 nodes positive
9/08 33IMRT/7Carbo/Taxol
4/09 node biopsy positive, mets to lungs/stomach
5/09 Cisplatin or Cis/Alimta study
6/09 Cis/Taxotere
9/09 Taxotere
1/10 Xeloda
3/10 Cetuximab weekly
6/29/10 lost battle