1. Suzzi pads
These are mittens and socks with pockets to insert frozen pads – mitten shaped for hands and 2 different ones for feet – sole and heel. Mittens are not super comfortable in that they doe not allow computer work. I a bought replacement pack on Amazon as well and that way when ice melted half way through the infusion I was able to simply switch the pads. I also used additional pads to the top portion of my feet thus having my foot covered from top, bottom and heel. I brought all of them in the cooler covered in ice packs. One can hold regular ice packs in the hands but they are more freezing and painful. Also a special devices used in Germany describe cooling to 5 degrees Celsius (41 Farenheight)
2. Port
Port is a small chamber with tubing that is sewn in under the skin and used to deliver chemotherapy. It allows for a medication that can be irritating (“burning”) to the veins to be delivered straight to a very large vein that won’t get damaged and also the vein is not stuck every time one needs it to be accessed. It is a small procedure and use of port is worth the discomfort associated with putting it in. It is typically in the forearm, arm or font chest. Tip: if placed on the right side there is no discomfort from the car seatbelt (I got this advice from my good friend, vascular surgeon who put one in me). It is removed when no more IV chemotherapy is planned/needed.
3. Diarrhea
Chemotherapy can cause diarrhea. It in turn lead to dehydration, kidney damage, malnutrition, weight loss, inability to absorb nutrients and being miserable overall. What can be done? You can purchase bentonite clay (cosmetic grade) and take 1/4 tsp of it in 8 oz of fluids after every loose BM. To improve the effect of clay carob powder and psyllium powder can be added as well as a drop of belladonna tincture (this is quite restricted) and a dropper of dragon’s blood (plant, not real blood). Generally that should help dry it out.
Oral ulcers
Ulcers in the nose and mouth are a frequent complication of chemotherapy. They happen because chemotherapy tends to affect cells that divide quickly and change frequently. This includes any cells that make the lining of the mouth and the lining of the gut. There are a few things we can do to help heal oral ulcers. One would be colloidal silver. It can be used as a spray or swish and swallow several times a day. Alternatively, one can simply rinse with sodium bicarbonate, which is the same as baking soda. If you want to be more sophisticated, you can mix colloidal silver with a few drops of propolis. And lastly, you can steep the tea from the mixture of herbs: sage, Yarrow, gotu Kola and licorice. All of those herbs have healing properties and can be used as swish and swallow or rinse. Compounded swish and spit solution containing lidocaine to decrease the pain, nystatin find possible fungal, infection, and aloe vera can be ordered in the pharmacy, but is rarely covered by insurance.
Here is the recipe for home made swish and swallow (each part in this recipe is 1 oz)
- One part colloidal silver (designs for health, argentum)
- 1/4 part propolis
- 1/4 part sodium bicarbonate
- one part aloe Vera juice (if constipated use juice from whole leaf, if diarrhea use juice from the pulp (inner meat) only)
- two parts licorice tea (1 tbs licorice root in 1 pint of water heat to boiling and then slow simmer for 10-15 minutes and steep for 30 minutes)
5. Gastrointestinal Upset
Enterade is a medical food that was developed by NASA and is used to support patients undergoing chemo and radiation therapy. It helps with diarrhea, nausea, and bloating. Below is the link. I have ordered mine on Amazon. I do not like the taste but it is nothing horrible comparing with lots of other unpleasant things I have to take. https://enterade.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopPsUWIijx31jQ10OFU4H-YFiHSSed6TwnksHkAFFLHZYFYX0ET