Treatment starting soon

Dear Nan, just wanted to say this sounds like a great plan and amazing you have Yorkshire cancer research also investing in your treatment. Stay positive and will be sending you the best wishes for success. X

Hey Nan, great for you to start fighting back. A lot of people in here and who I speak to when I go for treatment are having great results. The chemotherapy drugs have never been this good. Keeping fit is a good idea it will help you keep healthy both physically and mentally, When you have treatment though listen to your body as at times you will need to rest. I generally found (This is different for everyone) that in the first week I was quite tired and had to rest, but come week 2 and 3 I was feeling almost normal. Have a look at my profile where I have shared what I learnt regarding dealing with side effects. Don't be scared of treatment though  you go to the hospital and sit in a room full of lovely nurses who look after you whilst you read a book/rest or keep yourself busy. As a lady you will likely wear a cooling cap to help protect your hair. For Chemotherapy pack yourself a bag of food to eat when there they do bring round sandwiches and make cups of tea, but I am a fatty and love my food. Take with you something to do and take warm clothes as some of the chemotherapy drugs give you cold sensitivity (Oxyplatin). Its time for you to get into olympic mode now believe in the drs/focus on the right nutrition and stay positive. From reading your posts you have shared your anxieties, which is natural its a scary time but i am proud of you for sharing your thoughts and sharing your journey. You are going to nail this :)

Thanks for that. It really helps to share things on this site! 

Thanks Vinny. It’s all so overwhelming at first isn’t it? I still feel up and down emotionally but the treatment starting at last feels like a positive thing. I have got some high calorie drinks from the GP to try to keep my weight more stable and I have definitely felt like I have more energy. Your positivity really helps! 

Hi Nan, I’m having my third round of FLOT chemo tomorrow and I find it ok at the hospital and last time I was there for 6 hours and it went quick as I made 2 phone calls to a friend and my sister and I had my kindle and also there was someone else in there opposite me of a similar age I was chatting to - I’m 53.

I go up gym when I can as I was going for a few years anyway and was playing badminton before treatment but can’t play now due to PICC line. 

Like Vinny said you may need to take it easy for first few days. Luckily I’ve not felt exhausted or sick but had other symptoms. I tend to do admin through my job for a few hours a day for first few days which keeps me occupied and I love my job. I walk my dog once, perhaps twice a day after the second day as I come home with a drug attached for 24 hours, and I tend to go up the gym the second week on a couple of occasions.

Best of luck with everything 

Thanks Browndog. It’s great to hear you are out and about and managing things well. I think it does pay off to stay fit and active. I’m 62 and retired and I used to be so active- this has been tough because it has zapped my energy! Getting my nutrition back on track now so hopefully that will help me feel more energetic. It’s good to hear from people who keep positive-really helps. 

Hi everyone. I had a meeting with the oncologist yesterday and they have decided to halve the chemo cycle to 6 weeks rather than 12. He said that things are always changing with these treatments and that if I can have an operation it would mean they can do it earlier. So I start the first treatment in hospital on a drip on Thursday and then after that I have to take tablets at home for 3 weeks then repeat. I have read lots of your posts and got myself ready with mouthwashes and soft toothbrushes and moisturiser etc. Not looking forward to it but funnily enough I feel less anxious now that treatment is actually going to start. The periods of waiting are the worst. 

Brilliant news Nan. Starting treatment and knowing you haven't got as much chemo is brilliant. Getting the right mouth care and moisturiser is spot on. I also recommend drinking lots of water when on treatment plus lots of fruit and veg for the nutrients. You have nothing to worry about the day you go to a hospital full of lovely nurses, whilst you sit in a comfy chair and get fed the medicine via drip. Make sure you take a book, phone or something to keep you entertained when there. I'd also take warm clothes as some chemos make you really susceptable to cold. I am Proud of you nan you have flipped your attitude and are looking at things positively that is the exact attitude you need. The operation is the path to cure and they only suggest it if they believe you will be cured so keep that head up and keep positive.

Thanks Vinny. This site really helps. There were dark days to be sure early on but I am feeling better now that the treatment is starting. Also everyone at the hospital has been so lovely. I am eating better at the moment and I now have an exercise plan to go through every few days! Great to get your advice on the chemo. Hard to know what to expect. Finding out that I won’t lose my hair seemed like a small victory (so vain!)

So I had my first treatment today. Spent the morning having loads of liquid pumped into me and so many different things that should help allay the side effects a little. The chemo took 4 and a half hours to go through but the nurses were lovely and there was so much going on in the room that the time went quickly. They sent me home with Capecitebine which I have to take for 2 weeks then I get a week off! Only have to go through the cycle one more time after that. Never peed so much in my life! It feels positive to be starting but also scary-the chemo is scary but I know I have to do it.