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Driving to Treatment Centre and back home - after getting Pemetrexed and Carboplatin Chemo??

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Hello All,

Just a basic question about getting to and from the Treatment Centre and my Home, a return journey of some some 50 plus miles.

I have been having Immunotherapy (keytruda) 14 cycles. All was well until it recently it went  "Rogue" and my body decided to get a large unwelcome dose of "Inflammation". Long story cut short, I will be going onto the Chemotherapy Combo path of Pemetrexed and Carboplatin, in the very near future.

I have read the information on here and elsewhere about the side effects of this Chemotherapy Combo but can find nothing (anywhere!). About the real world experiences, of others and how they are doing the same treatment course as me and their personal experiences,of how they manage transporting themselves to and from their treatment.

1) Is it advisable?

2) Is it safe?

3) Is it do-able?

Any thoughts, experiences being shared with me would be very much appreciated....

Thanks in advance,

Alan

  • Hello Alan,

    Thanks for getting in touch with us and welcome to the online community.  I’m Linda, one of the nurses from our support line.

    Some people do drive themselves to and from treatment appointments but it’s a very individual decision. It’s not always easy to know how you are going to feel after each session.

    I appreciate that you are driving some distance, but it may be helpful to have someone drive you or be able to drive back if you are not feeling so good.

    It’s important to think about your safety when driving and the safety of others.

    Sometimes in certain situations your driving insurance may not cover you.

    I would encourage you to discuss this with your consultant and/or nurse. They can advise you. If you do not have anyone to drive you, you may be able to access patient transport. Your nurse will be able to tell you more about it.

    You may also find this link for Cancer, driving and car insurance helpful. Please reach out to the one of the cancer experience or cancer type forums on the community to find out how others have navigated driving and treatment.

    I hope this helps.

    Take care and best wishes,

    Linda J.  (Cancer Information Nurse Specialist)

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email or use webchat.

    Ref: LJ/Khe

     

     

  • in reply to Linda J - Macmillan

    Hello Linda J,

    Thank you for your response, much appreciated.

    It was exactly the safety aspect that concerned me, hence

    me reaching out to yourselves.

    Of course, we all respond differently and I have employed

    the 'friend, without benefits' to do the honours and give me

    a lift to/from when starting new treatments, until I am sure

    nothing affected me adversely.

    I meet up with the Onc. Doc. again next week (1/4, very apt!)

    and will go through all the next steps, as I will no longer be

    doing the Keytruda Immunotherapy (its gone "rogue" on me)

    and will be switching over to the Combo-Chemo route of

    Pemextred and Carboplatin. Which, I am aware requires some

    extra work in advance and multiple visits to the Cancer Care

    Hospital, prior to starting the Chemo.

    Its all part of the process and my question was all a part of my

    preparation and getting ready for the next steps.

    Anyway, thanks for the heads up and information. Hope

    you have a great weekend and I will continue my post-

    Radiotherapy recovery.

    Kind regards,


    Alan

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