Wife's Diagnosis SCLC- Chemo Next Week-What Should I Do?

My husband was diagnosed in september last year. They did not get the treatments started until December. Long story. He took one treatment in December and the second one in January and he decided he could not do any more. When my husband was first diagnosed, he was already stage 4 and he also had advanced copd. He weighed 90 pounds. So we got Hospice involved in January this year. They take care of all his meds. Twice a week a nurse comes to the house to see how he is doing and takes his vitals. He is getting worse as far as his anxiety. He cries, shakes and screams. My heart is breaking for him. And he is not a christian. He believes in God but not Jesus. Yesterday, I brought up Jesus and he screamed at me to get out of the room and to take my God crap with me. He is catholic but has not been inside a church in over 50 years. So after I calmed down enough, I called a priest from a local catholic church and asked if he would come and give him his last rites. Guess they can do that early now. He told me he would never talk to my minister because we are protestant-methodist. I pray that he will find Jesus before it is too late. But thank God, you and your wife are both believers. I believe , also, in the power of prayer. Guess that is why God said we should not be unequally yoked. He didn't care that I went to church, etc., but he wanted nothing to do with it. One thing your wife needs to do after treatments is rest and make sure she takes the anti nausea meds that they give her. And she needs to stay hydrated. Everyone has different reactions to treatment. So I will pray for her and you that all goes well for her and prayerfully, that she may recover. God bless you both.

I had Cisplatin and etopicide with concurrent radiation. It can be very debilitating, but, your doctor would not have recommended this if her general health would not tolerate it.

She should use plastic or bamboo utensils for eating. Carboplatin will make everything taste metallic. Lemon drops helps between meals. Meals should be 5-7 small ones.

Calories are more important than a balanced diet at this time. At first she will want to eat normally. Then as radiation started to bother me I ate creamed soups, oatmeal, cream of wheat, fruit smoothies with protein powder, made milkshakes with Boost, puddings, buttered noodles or rice, finely chopped meats, applesauce, that kind of thing.

One friend reported that eating a tablespoon of honey after radiation helped minimize the esophagitis that can happen when the esophagus is in the field of treatment.

When they do chemo teach they should give you a list of moisturizers for use after radiation treatments. I liked Alra and CeraVe.

Have stool softeners, laxatives and anti diarrhea meds all on hand because it can go either way.

If I think of more, I'll be back

Thank you for your post @denise96. I am so sorry for your husband's disease, his pain and his anger at God. No doubt he is horrible pain. I( am praying for his pain and his salvation.
And @denise96 the caretaker hurts as much as the patient. You also are included in my prayers.
I pray God will bring you comfort and your husband ease of pain and a change of heart.

Thank you for the advice concerning my wife's chemo treatments. And thank for your prayers, They are greatly appreciated.
Take care of yourself and stay strong in faith.

My most severe side effect from chemo was nausea and a terrible taste in my mouth. Be sure docs give her anti- nausea meds. Get some ginger chews, mints, lemon drops, too. Applesauce helped. Days 4-8 after treatment were the worst. Best of luck to you both. 🙏

Hi @francekid, thank you for your suggestions. We loaded up on some mints and soft foods. Chemo starts next Tuesday. Hopefully we'll be ready.
Best of luck to you

@bovic21, how is your wife doing with the chemo treatment? How are her spirits? How are YOU doing?