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Congratulations, one done!
Soon you'll be half way, then going for the last!
It goes by amazingly fast.
I wondering if you can share what type of chemo you are having. I’m done With surgery but am waiting for my first chemo AND radiation appointments.
good luck to you and feel good
@Daf The nurses at Tom Baker are absolutely masterful with their IV skills. I bruise with almost every blood test but only once in 8 rounds of chemo. I finished my chemo Dec 31, 2021 so you are probably dealing with the same lovely ladies.
I did feel the hydration the day before was very important to keep those veins plumped up. If I wasn’t peeing every 2 hours I was guzzling more water (including through the night).
I can’t watch them give me a needle of any sort so I should caution you about the lab at TBCC if you are squeamish about needles. There is no separation between you and 4 or 5 other patients so you are all seeing each other’s needles and reactions. I went elsewhere after being there once.
I can sympathize with your comment about bad patient. I told my medical oncologist that I was “flunking radiation“ at one point. Please let us know how how you are doing when you can. You will be a perfect patient by just showing up.
@Daf Forgot to mention my treatments were 90 minutes for the first 4 rounds (doxo rubicon and cyclophosphamidE) and 180 minutes for dense dose paclitaxel for 4 rounds. I did not drive but probably could have for the first 4 sessions. I found myself foggy for a few days after the infusion and didn’t drive those days either.
@Daf so many questions - yep it’s scary facing chemo…
i was treated at our local rural cancer unit - small and friendly. I had a blood test and doctor visit the day before chemo - to check my liver and kidneys, review side effects etc. There were 6 chairs for chemo patients and I was usually the youngest at50…
I would have premeds and saline, have my port flushed and chemo would begin after about an hour. AC was about 90 mins then they‘d give me more saline to make sure I was hydrated to go home. Paclitaxel took longer cos I had benedryl first then 4 hours of chemo. They ran it slower for me to try and reduce side effects. Then more saline to hydrate me.
if you have the bloods and chemo on the same day it will be a longer day with some waiting around.
You kind of have to go with the flow- it is what it is…