Paclitaxel

I going for paxitaxol cycle no 4 of 12 today.,   my experience has been I have the usual obs first,  tempature etc, then go into waiting room to be called....usually 10 m8ns or so....off to my designated chair for the session.., I take an anti sickness tablet  first and have an half hour wait, then get hooked up to the good poision and anti histamine  which takes about an hour , then a final saline flush. when I was changed from EC  they said to allow 3 hours but its more like 2.  at my unit they come round with hot drinks and sandwiches , fruit, biscuits, which breaks up the day.  there are two chemo bays, one has about 10 chairs, other has about 6 I think. there is a nurse station in the centre so they can watch out for reactions....I have witnessed two so far and they jump in for action really quickly.  yes the constant beeping of machines is a bit annoying but personally I quite like watching what goes on. for me PX has been very tolerable with a few minor side effects. The staff are all lovely, they know my name now, makes a huge difference.   my hosp is in North Hampshire I don't think we are are supposed to name them. my appt is at 1500. I'll think of you x  ps yes there is a fair bit of space between the chairs. but sometimes can manage a chat , have to gauge whether someone wants one or not . x

Hi. Thank you very much for replying. Really appreciate your information. I think it's the not knowing it's almost like starting all again. Hoping I'm going to be able to be able to just get on withhe infusion without hiccups. Bit scared of reactions but I know they must deal with it all time. I think it's also trying to pass time. Hopefully I can have a sleep while there. Good luck with your cyclr today. Hoping it passes quickly for you .Im up in the north.(Lancashire) but know parts of Hampshire very well. Take care x

For me, the phone was a good distraction. I installed some games on it, and that kept me going through chemo sessions. Other times, a book, and at times when I was feeling really unwell, I listened to music through headphones, again through my phone. 

I have seen people on the chemo ward knitting and working on small laptops, so I'd say anything that will not require you to carry too much with you, even a small pad and a set of coloured pencils to do some drawings if you like.