Terrified tonight

I had FLOT over 4 sessions, generally I was not to bad other than mood changes especially after the second session.  I would snap at minor irritations which we all have and normally ignore on day to day routine.   You and your husband need to remember that it is only the chemo going about its  work and will improve over time.  I had my op 3 weeks ago, I'm finding recovery harder than I imagined but I know I will come good in the end.  Good luck and stay positive all the way.   Maurice.

Dai’s is going to be over 4 sessions too, it’s good to hear from someone going through this….thanks so much for your comments. I hope your recovery improves and yes we are both very positive, good luck to you Sue

Evening sue  tomorrow your husband will be well looked after. When he arrives at the hospital he will be greeted by lovely nurses who will do some checks and then he will be led to a room with other patients where he sill sit in a comfortable chair and he will be administered the drugs via a drip. The first time they usually do slower than usual to ensure he doesn't have a reaction. Ensure he has warm clothes as some chemos make you susceptible to cold and stuff to do in the hospital so he doesn't get bored.  I usually play on my laptop or sit and speak with other patients. 

In terms of side effects everyone reacts differently Im lucky and actually started feeling a lot better after my first treatment and my eating which i was struggling with improved quickly. Other side effects were dry skin and mouth ulcers. In my profile I have captured some tips for dealing with the side effects from chemo. I hope all goes well tomorrow and I hope i have put your mind at ease as to what chemo will be like for him tomorrow. 

In regards to coping there are many amazing partners in this forum who can support and give advice. For now I wouldn't stress and take it day by day to see what side effects come about and tackle them one by one.

Hi

When I had my chemo pending I cancelled my gym membership, I bought bar stools for the kitchen and bathroom so I could sit down to shave and when I got tired in the kitchen. I was thankful I didn’t have to worry about taking time off work as I’d just retired.

As it turned out I should have kept going to the gym. I would have been able to work if it had been necessary. Sure I felt a bit nauseous most of the time but nothing drastic.

My wife was pragmatic and very supportive, trying not to fuss! We both stayed positive, and that helped enormously. She has been a tower of strength. We were both concerned about the future, naturally, but that was eight years ago. We are just intent of making the most of life now.

That was over 2,800 days ago. It seems even longer ago now. 

Take something to read and a packed lunch. Are you able to go in with him? The volunteers came round with sandwiches in my day, but I don’t expect they do that now.  Things are so different with the covid restrictions. Good luck, the staff are wonderfully competent and kind.

They still bring sandwiches round  Brent thank you for being so active and continuing to provide support in the forum. Hearing your successful story brings hope to a lot of people in this forum including myself.

Good morning, I haven't been here in a while but always read the posts. I was diagnosed in April 2020, 4 months after losing my dad to cancer. Covid hit at the same time but the hospital was great. 4 FLOT treatments first, that wasn't too bad, mouth ulcers, changes in taste etc but made an improvement to my eating. Didn't get much and short term stomach upsets but you got meds for everything. I used to take a packed lunch as treatment is a long time and it wasn't easy to eat a sandwich some days. Then surgery which had its complications, I was 8 days in Icu and 5 more weeks before I left hospital, leaving nil by mouth, a feeding tube in my belly and a drain in my back. But to be honest, It was manageable, my wife was brilliant. Another 2 weeks and everything healed, all tubes out and my first cuppa in nearly 9 weeks. Diet was a bit vague but sweet stuff was a real problem, I switched to some diabetic foods and sweetener for a while but your body gets used to it and it improves. The dumping got less and less. Then round 2 of chemo, much harder this time, I felt like I had been microwaved! But time goes by and it all ends. Never had any mood changes or anything like that. I finished the week before Christmas 2020. Back to work April 2021 and doing well. 8 stone lighter but still a bit overweight, which turned out to be a help after all! Sorry to go on so long but what I took from it is take 1 day at a time, don't over think. Trust the professionals, they are amazing. Do as your told, take meds when you need to, don't push yourself too hard, you will get there. Be good to your family, I was in lockdown for a year with no visitors in hospital and nobody but my wife at home. If we hadn't got on it would have been hell! Don't be affraid to cry and keep as positive an attitude as you can, it really does help. I am now 'cancer free'. Good luck to everyone