Chemotherapy prescription/pharmacy issues rant

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Today I totally lost the plot, shaking, crying the works as yet again there were issues with my chemo and it is adding to the stress of my diagnosis.

So I am sharing it here in the hope that it will help me calm down. I have had various problems with the hospital failing to have my treatment ready in a timely manner.

I was booked to have chemo today which was rearranged from Thursday last week when I had my third allergic reaction to Paclitaxel and it was decided to stop and change me to the Nab-pacitaxel. I went and saw my oncologist on Thursday and signed a new consent form. I went to the ward today, presented my appointment card and took a seat in the waiting room. An hour later a nurse asked me why I was there, I said for my chemo. Apparently although I had an appointment and a wrist band prepared for me, they had no chemotherapy due to there being no prescription. I now have to go back tomorrow and try again.

Previous issues have been

1) The pharmacy put the wrong expiry date on the chemo, 2024 instead of 2025 so they couldn't use it and I had to wait for a new batch to be prepared.

2) The chemotherapy wasn't ready and I waited nearly an hour before it was ready.

3) The pharmacy insisted they had made up the chemotherapy but they couldn't find it, as it was lost again I had to wait for another lot to be prepared.

Am I just incredibly unlucky or is this normal,

Missy219 8 days ago

Having chemo is stressful.
I found that I was there all day even if my appointment was in the morning.

They are just so busy and sometimes overwhelmed with the amount of people coming through the doors.

Every time I went, the chemo was never ready as it is ‘made to order’. So say if my bloods weren’t right, then I wouldn’t be able to have it. Or I may of had some side effects so they decide whether to give it or not. Plus they have to check weight every time.

I am guessing if weight has significantly changed, the chemo amount would change as it goes off height and weight.

I don’t think you’ll be the only one to of had these issues however I can understand your frustration.
Hopefully future treatments will be better for you.

And no matter what, some departments don’t speak to each other which seems pretty insane!

I have had exceptional ‘service’ throughout my treatment even with delays to treatment (usually cos of bloods) and chemo sessions being omitted!

All drugs have to be checked. I remember having to give my DOB loads of times while I was there as it was for every drug - imagine if they have the wrong drug, to the wrong person!

Good luck xx

Irishgirl16 5 days ago

Hi, that's just awful. No wonder you need to rant, please rant away! I had one missed treatment and I remember being so very upset, so it must be just really terrible to have so many issues. Not sure what to recommend but I just wanted to sympathise with you. Best of luck for next time

Harvestmoon 5 days ago in reply to Irishgirl16

Thank you for that. I saw the same nurse the day after and as soon as she saw me she reassured me that everything was fine and the treatment could go ahead.

Everyone seemed extra kind and kept checking on me.

It was the first time since my diagnosis that I have had a melt down so it had probably been building for a while!

Also it just doesn't seem right that you have to have 3 allergic reactions before they can change the chemo due to the increased cost, that's the NHS for you.

Still frustrated that my last chemo will now be 29th April rather than the 16th!

Anyway calmer than I was and just going with the flow.

Thank you for your comments and all the best to you x

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Chemotherapy prescription/pharmacy issues rant