Metallic mercury is not that dangerous because it can’t get into the body… until it starts to evaporate or gets converted into organomercury compounds. Then all bets are off.
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What I know about mercury is that if you broke a thermometer in chemistry class, it cost $15.
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Good to know.
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It can be absorbed through the skin also.
Upon prolonged contact, yes. Usually, the route involves microbes (we are covered in them) that convert mercury into organomercury compounds. I definitely do not recommend playing with mercury (any spills need to be cleaned up thoroughly), but just saying that a few minutes some of us spent playing with mercury from a broken thermometer in our childhood do not mean we are doomed like the people of Minamata. And I’m not a fan of the “silver” fillings.
@deb922: How is your daughter doing?
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She’s tolerating chemo really well. Much better than she had feared.
She chopped off her hair and has 2 wigs. A conservative brown and bright red.
I think she’s going to try and go back to work part time. She’s really ready to work, loves her job and loves what she does.
We are going out there in a couple of weeks to help out.
As my husband says, everything will be good once the chemo and radiation show that the cancer is gone. But she’s in very good spirits
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Just a word of warning–Chemo wears you down over time. So does radiation. It’s likely your daughter will develop minor (and not so minor) side effects later on as her bodily reserves get used up.
D tolerated her chemo “well”, but still ended up losing her eyebrows and most of her body hair, losing her appetite and 20 lbs she could ill afford to lose, developing insomnia and depression, developing bleeding mouth ulcers and anal fissures. She was also diagnosed with cataracts 3.5 years later–a slow-to-develop, but relatively common side effect of chemo. (Or at least that’s what her ophthalmologist told her.)
D completed her second year of med school will undergoing cancer treatment. Going to class, shadowing physicians, working with patients and studying for exams helped keep her mind busy and forced her to be social and spend time with people instead of holing up and feeling sorry for herself. If your D can go back to work even part time, it will give her mind something other than her cancer and cancer treatment to focus on. And that’s a good thing.
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Wonderful that you can help out. I’m sure your daughter will appreciate it. Best wishes. Lots of positive thoughts and messages coming your way!
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So happy to hear that she’s started off well.
Working PT can help keep mind and spirit active. The SEs (at least with rads) are cumulative and there’s no shame in changing one’s mind later on.
Here’s to continued good results.
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My friend insisted on working during her cancer treatment. She said it helped keep her busy and kept her from worrying about cancer and the treatments. She’s now >5 year cancer survivor when she was giving slim odds of living one year.
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I spoke a little too soon. Daughter called yesterday and had a very rough weekend. TMI but diarrhea. She decided that she’s going to hold off on working until the harder chemo is over. Still wants to go back to work and be busy.
Decided to refinish some furniture. Is going to physical therapy and acupuncture.
I think she got too optimistic that she had this. She wants to be strong.
Thanks for the reality @WayOutWestMom, it was very appreciated to know what might (will) be coming. Like I said, we’ve never been through anything like this so this is all new.
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One day at a time. It sounds like she’s mentally ready for this, but of course it’s the physical reaction that may be tough.
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(((((hugs))))) to your daughter, and to you and your family too. As I believe I mentioned before, my 23-year-old niece is finishing up treatment for cervical cancer. When the nausea got bad a couple of weeks into chemo, they gave her meds, and then when it was still bad, they found another med which really helped. She was exhausted throughout but is almost ready to go home to St. Croix where she lives. xoxoxoxo
My mom had breast cancer when she was 60, and she had three rounds of chemo. She was able to work through the first two, but not the third. I don’t know much about chemo treatments, but I suspect that some are worse on the body than others. Some people I know were wiped out from the start. My mom’s BF had to take months off work for her treatments. I imagine like “surgery,” “chemo” is not really a generic term.
One mistake I see patients make during chemo is trying to take as little of the anti-nausea and other symptom-control medications as possible. A lot of these medicines are labeled “take as needed” and patients sometimes feel they only should take them if symptoms get severe. This can especially be true if benzos (like ativan etc) are prescribed, because patients don’t want to feel loopy. But I really think it’s important to take them! This is especially true to prevent nausea. Our brains have a remarkable ability to “remember” and “learn from” nausea. An example is when people say “Oh no, I don’t drink tequila, I can’t stand it after getting so sick on it 30 years ago at a college party.” If a food or beverage made us vomit, our brains remember and even the smell will make us nauseous. The problem with chemo is that it isn’t a food or beverage, and so the brain isn’t sure what caused the vomiting. Then it will latch onto any random memory. Maybe it will be the smell of the hospital, or the sound of the IV beeping, or the sight of the oncology nurse. Then for ever after, these things will make you feel nauseous, even to the point of spontaneously vomiting! The role of some of the “as needed” medicines is to block nausea and vomiting. The role of others (especially the benzos) is to block the “learning process” that makes your brain associate these things with nausea. So encourage her to use those comfort meds early and often if and when she is ever on chemo types that can provoke nausea. Best of luck to her!
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There will be good days, and there will be bad days. Being “strong” means knowing which kind of day you are having, and behaving accordingly. Going to work doesn’t mean she always can, just as going to bed doesn’t admit some sort of defeat. Just be sure to support and encourage reserving energy for whatever she needs it for. Not just the treatment, but the life she has and interests she pursues outside of illness (because she’s still a person with interests). Hang in there
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Some suggestions for when you do go to see your daughter:
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stock her freezer with simple, nutritious, easy to fix meals
because there will be days when just getting out of bed is a major effort and cooking anything seems like an insurmountable task. Check with her about her preferences because many cancer drugs will affect her sense of taste. Also mouth/ throat/esophageal ulcers may make eating spicy food painful. -
buy her Pedialyte/electrolyte replacement drinks and Ensure
see above for why
One of the kindest, most thoughtful gifts D received was a homemade cookbook of recipes for cancer patients. The giver had collected a couple dozen recipes she used and her patients used during their chemo and radiation. The focus was on nutritious, bland, easy-to-make foods.
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maybe take her shopping for new skincare products?
her skin type will change w/ chemo and her skin will become drier and more sensitive. The area around the radiation target areas may become painful and red. She may need to entirely revamp her whole body and facial skin care regime. Body lotion is a must. Opt for scent-free products because there will be days when any fragrance will trigger nausea/vomiting. And TMI, but she will need a vaginal lubricant while she’s taking hormone suppressors. -
did your daughter get a port for her chemo?
If so, she may want to get a few new tops that both cover the port and are comfortable to wear over it. -
gently probe about her mental health status
many young cancer patients develop feelings of anger/resentment and other symptoms of depression. Help her find a therapist that specializes in treating cancer patients. Many cancer centers have patient support groups that many people find useful. If possible see if there is support group exclusively for younger patients. The worries that a 27 year old has about cancer treatment are very different from those of a 67 year old.
Your daughter’s determination to “hold it together” sounds very familiar, D was the same. It’s a way of asserting some control over a life that has largely spun out of control. However, that attitude can prevent her from asking for help when she really needs it. Keep lines of communication open so she feels she can call on you when she needs help, while at the same time not hovering and respecting her need for autonomy and independence.
Good luck. This is a difficult time for you both.
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Thank you to everyone for those kind comments about chemo. I’m really flying blind here.
She does have a port. I sent over a whole basket of easy to wear clothes after the mastectomy.
And she has a therapist that I know has been a real help.
Her future mil will be the support for the infusion before us. She’s a terrific Italian cook and always cooks tons of food for the kids. And if daughter is feeling ok, she going to go to the shore with them for a few days.
Idk if things have changed but it’s a good idea to seek out a support group for younger people. I know the hospital has her set up with a chemo angel who sends support and small items. Daughter does feel lots of love.
And I’ll talk to her about taking the medication for nausea when needed. I know she was trying to tough out the bathroom issues and finally turned to medication.
Today a friend was driving in to support so I’m sure that’s going to be nice for her. Her fiancé’s business has let him go to 80% and he can do some work at home so he’s around a bit more. And she loves her dog, she’s a great support.
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The one piece of advice I give folks from my chemo experience is – take all the drugs they give you. So many of us who were healthy before the diagnosis aren’t used to taking medications but with chemo side effects early and often is the way to go with the medications to treat them.
I’m so sorry your daughter has to go through this. It does sound like she has good support. One day at a time is a cliche, but the only way through.
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