How can I arrange transportation for my mom?
Hi there, my mom was just released from hospital into a care home. she has lung cancer but presented with many seizures that left her with some brain damage so she is not herself. The doctors who administer blood transfusions and chemotherapy are about a half hour away from her care home, and they say that someone like a friend has to be with her and not just a ride. I live about 300 miles away and my brother lives an hour away but works full time to support his family. According to him, the doctors don't give too much notice for her appointments. What advice would you give as to how we can organize rides for my mom? At this point, her friends are around but busy with their lives so we can't really depend on them especially for last minute rides to appointments that may take about 3-4 hours in the middle of the day. thanks for any advice! very best, Natalie
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I don't recall if blood was drawn, but that could be done by the cancer nurses if necessary.
There are medical transport companies, complete with lifts. I've used them, over a decade ago, for wheelchair transport. At that time the charge was about $40 but I don't remember if that was one way or round trip.
One thing you might do is:
(a) Ask the nurses in the Infusion Center about companies providing transport. They would probably be aware b/c the patient would either be brought in by ambulance or accompanied by the driver. Once duration is established, they could return at an approximate time, with hopefully little wait time.
(b) Contact the closest Gilda's Club and ask if they have a social worker either as a member or staffer, and if that person has any suggestions on transport specifically for a chemo patient.
One thing I would be concerned about with paid transportation is what my sister said was bacterial shower. A noncancer doctor told me a few years ago that what occurred wasn't a bacterial shower (I had thought my father had one), but my sister was a nurse and if she said that's what it was, I believe her.
What had happened was that some level of bacteria must have been introduced into the blood with the post chemo flush. Spreading through the body quickly, it caused violent shaking and chills, as if an epileptic seizure was occurring.
When this happened, we were fortunately still at the infusion center, so she was rushed back in and treated. But from then on I always carried lots of blankets in the car and waited a bit longer before I took her home in case this happened again. It was very frightening. And I had no idea what to do.
If she's transported home by one of the paid services, you might want to find out if they've experienced this as it would require quick action to get her back to the Infusion Center.
I also echo JoAnn's comment. How old is your mother? What stage is her lung cancer? I'm not recommending no treatment, but with lung cancer, strokes, and seizures, this must be a real challenge for her. Do you feel confident that the chemo will help her lung cancer - what have the recommending oncologists said?
And, if it's not an oncologist who's recommended chemo, I wouldn't go any father until she sees one. Other doctors who aren't oncologists may have different recommendations than one who specializes in cancer treatment.