chemotherapy

[rugeleyboy]

morning guys.... my mother in law has just started a dose of chemo last night and she has got it in her head that it would be unsafe to kiss my kids?

is this right or wrong........... they love the nan to bits and especially my daughter loves to cuddle her?

[legend758duo]

ive never heard that it causes any problems.
and have to take knobbys advice on board too.

[Miss Random]

Hi rugeleyboy,

When my neice was undergoing chemo we were warned that her wee was toxic. When we took her to the loo we had to wear rubber gloves and collect her wee in a bowl to be measured and tested, this is all done in hospital during the chemotherapy treatment.
It could be that you nan has been advised about this and is worried about passing germs on to your children.
Normal hygiene (washing hands after visits to the loo) will prevent any contamination, so you can re-assure her that it is safe to cuddle and kiss.

I'm really sorry for your mother-in-law, and hope she makes a full recovery, as my neice did.

Missy
xx

[Robinia]

Well no one gave me any warnings & I didn't know about the wee Miss Random! maybe it depends which combination of drugs you're on. The only reason to avoid close contact when you're on chemo is to avoid infection from other people such as colds etc...they're much harder to shake off.
All the very best to your mother in law...& the best medicine is lots of love & cuddles!

[jno]

it's just possible that in her current state she doesn't actually feel like cuddling anyone and is using the 'danger' as an excuse... probably not, but maybe.

[tigwig]

I think it is to do with germs. Before someone I knew had chemo she was told to stay away from all children because it was vital that she didn't get ill and most children are carrying lots of viruses. I can vagely remember her being told that she couldn't touch children when she had immediately just had the dose of chemo or it might have been radiation I am thinking of in that case. Why don't you phone the hospital and ask them? Your mum in law should have her own cancer nurse you can ask them any questions

[daffy654]

I know in some cases you have to avoid close contact with people after radiotherapy but have never heard that the same applies after chemo.

[stewey]

I think that Robinia and Tigwig gave the correct responses. The person on chemotherapy is not so much concerned about 'giving' the children anything but "getting' something from the children. Let's face it kids are notorius germ carriers, and people on chemo have their immune systems compromised to a certain extent.

[Whoever]

Chemotherapy can temporarily lower or knock out your immune system, making you far more vulnerable to picking up bugs and infections which you might overwise have been able to fend off. So it's probably sensible in the short term to avoid getting too close to anybody who might pass on a heavy cold or some similar ailment. However, as your mother-in-law could just as easily pick up a cold from being in the same room as somebody else who is infected I'm not sure how effective these precautions would be.

[shopper]

When your on chemo drugs, they wipe out your white blood cells, which fight off any infections.
It was explained to me that if a count of 10 is normal for white blood cells, then after a dose of chemo the count goes down to about 2 or even less. Leaving your body very vunerable to any germs or virus's, and because you have very little immune system you could become really ill with something that you would normaly just shake off.
It takes about 3 weeks to get the white blood cells up to normal count, but then you have to have the next dose of chemo.
As a precaution your mother-in-law should keep her distance from anyone who may have anything that she can catch from them.
A cold may not be so bad, but childhood illnesses like chickenpox or mumps for instance could be really serious for someone on chemo.
Your children are at no risk from their nan, but she could easily catch something from them. So I agree with your mum-in-law, avoid kissing children for a while.
Ive never heard about wee being toxic from chemo.
Its a rotten thing to go through, and I send her all my best wishes. Its 12years since I had mine. So good luck. It does work.

[rugeleyboy]

brilliant advice everybody.... even yours knobby, but i wont be asking her for one of those!! lol

the McMillan nurses are absolutely brilliant but the one who is assigned to my MIL has not really made her presence known....... but we understand how busy they are and still hold them with very high regard!!

when she started having her chemo they did tell us about the toxic wee and what precautions to take.

once again thanks for all your answers and best wishes and i hope you all have a lovely Christmas!!!