I have been reading so many of your post. So thank you everyone. I am totally scared to start my treatment. But I need to feel better.
I am meeting with my doctors this week to set up my treatment plan.
what are some questions you wished you would of asked before you started.
thanks for your help.
Nancy.
Hi Nancy,
Im sorry about your diagnosis but a warm welcome to the forum where I hope you will find support and answers.
I wish you well for your meeting with the doctor this week and can absolutely appreciate how scared you feel.
I suppose the questions I wished I had asked on reflection were quite simple.
• How will I expect to feel and how will I know what is normal for the circumstances and when to as for help
•Who do I ask for help if I need it?
•I wasn’t told that I had to drink lots of water prior to the initial scan and for all of the radiotherapy appointments and this led to delays and distress so make sure you are clear about requirements.
•You may have questions about practical things like transport to appointments
• Make sure you have all the info about the chemo.
Your team hopefully will give you all of this information as a matter of course but I know that mine didn’t and it all seemed a bit chaotic.
Also try if possible to take someone with you as they may help to retain information given which you may not absorb due to stress and anxiety.
Absolutely wishing you all the best on your first steps to treatment and recovery.
xx
Hi Nancy
Welcome to the club. Like PEB24 has said take someone with you if you can as there's a lot of information to remember or ask if you can record the meeting on your phone. I got myself a note book (old school) and kept it with me all the time and wrote any random thought or question however stupid it seemed that came into my head and reeled them off at each appointment. Most of the things I wanted to know were covered by my oncologist without me needing to ask, I think the only thing he didn't cover was if supplements would interfere with treatment. The different hospitals do seem to vary as all the things PEB24 has mentioned were covered by my oncologist etc in the meeting. Once into treatment my anti sickness meds didn't work for my first round of chemo and I didn't realise I could have had different ones and I didn't ask so I suppose I wish I'd asked about that. Feeling scared is totally normal but try to look at it as one step closer to getting better. Sending hugs. Xx
Hello Nancy
I can understand you feeling scared especially when most people get side effects. But truly, once treatment starts you will feel a lot more in control of what is happening; there is an end in sight and hopefully you will end up cancer-free.
You have had some really good answers to your question and I can't think of any more, I am sorry! Please let us know your treatment plan and if you have any worries at all that you want to share, we have all been through it and perhaps can help. Or even if you want to let off steam.
Hoping all goes well when you have your meeting.
Irene xxx
Whatever cancer throws your way, we’re right there with you.
We’re here to provide physical, financial and emotional support.
© Macmillan Cancer Support 2024 © Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 3rd Floor, Bronze Building, The Forge, 105 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9HZ. VAT no: 668265007