Gloves?

Hi Gary

I found that the insulated gloves helped me, (especially when it was coming to cannulation time, as my veins tended to hide from the needle), I also got an insulated hat- both from milletts, which have been invaluable.

sue

I started my treatment in winter, and certainly when leaving the clinic the first time wished I'd bought a MUCH warmer jumper along to get home in. Should of jumped in a nice warm taxi but I waited for a bus in the cold wind !

For future sessions, I made sure I had a proper thick jumper to go home in. I could also use a warm jumper to wrap my arm whilst the chemo went in (as the "localised" effect of the drug made the whole arm cold). They also provided heat packs at the clinic, which helped (but did make things tingle and prickle a lot).

Not sure I ever had any gloves... certainly once I was back from a session, inside the temperature was generally OK. I used our oven gloves to take stuff out the freezer and fridge, but otherwise did OK with using my hands. I imagine any pair of standard "thinsulate" type gloves would be helpful. thin wool stuff wasn't so good - the wind blew through the wool strands of my thinner jumpers and I still felt very cold.

In truth, the nasty chill down my arms (normally in the last hour of the session) is now only a memory - after the third and fourth session causing me quite a bit of pain in my arms, I got a porta-cath fitted which has made chemo sessions a breeze. So from personal experience, if the treatment in the arm is causing much discomfort during sessions, I would talk to the oncologist about a porta-cath sooner rather than later.

I hope things go well and the sessions aren't too bad, and the few days afterwards (taking steroids - not my favorite) aren't too hard. Herbal tea (I couldn't handle caffeine along with steroids !) is certainly your friend here - hot, comforting drinks - esp. peppermint tea as it reduces nausea as well.

Best wishes to all,

Ben