tips for 1st chemo session.

Never had chemo so all I can wish you is good luck. But I can say from others experience tell them if you get ringing in your ears afterwards. Take all the antisickness pills they give you even if you don’t feel sick. A word of warning. After chemo and all the fluids they give you your mask will feel tight. 

Hi my trust did chemo in 3 sessions my days were long I got my pack of chemo day all the meds snd a phone number to ring manned 24 hours a day if needed. Best advise take all meds as directed even if you Don t feel sick take the anti sickness I did snd I was lucky wasn’t sick st all. Take long charging lead for phone s book crossword puzzle etc   You get lots of saline before  and after the main event so mask will feel a bit tight it sorts it’s self out usually next day. Plus it’s first day towards getting rid of cancer so don’t be scared. 
Hazel 

Do you know what they are treating you with? Cisplatin has potential complications for the kidneys, hence the focus on getting you primed with a lot of fluids beforehand and flushed out afterwards. 

If you are having radiotherapy afterwards, they may want you to do it whilst you are still being ‘flushed’ (if cisplatin) i.e. you’ll still have the drip in your arm. Wear clothing you can easily slip over your head as in my experience you will need to half undress whilst still attached to the drip! Think about the logistics of that for a moment.

If you can, try and drink a fair amount of fluid before you go in, it will make your blood tests and initial canulation a lot easier. 

Take some things to eat and drink, you may be offered things throughout the day but you may also feel hungry. 

Don’t try and drive yourself, just in case. 

And do not assume that it will start on time or finish early. Assume it will be a whole day!

You will be fine. Let us know how it goes. 

Hi. I had 6 chemo sessions. Wear gloves up to the point at which they look for a suitable vein for the needle.Warm hands help to keep your veins visible. The chemo suite I was on was boiling hot, very bright lights & super noisy. It was very busy & short staffed so take a book, ipad, headphones etc to keep yourself busy. Take water & snacks - there were sandwiches, Quavers, jelly, yoghurts available from a trolley aswell as tea, coffee & hot chocolate. To go to the toilet you unplug your pump & take it with you. Then plug back in & wait for a nurse to reset the pump. Wear comfy clothes. As the weeks went by I put an eye mask on & napped. Are you having Cisplatin? Drink lots of water. 
Take a notebook to jot down info about meds. 
My sessions usually were 9am - 3pm then I had radio afterwards. The saline (pre & post Cisplatin) makes you ‘puffy’ & so the mask for radio feels v tight. 

Wear something comfortable and take things to do. I was very sick after mine so the advice on taking sickness tablets is very good. I wasn’t sick until 3am the morning after the treatment - so dosing up is a good idea. If you are sick try and drink lots of fluid. 

Good luck - hope it all goes well. The actual chemo is ok - I felt fine on the day - it was just after I felt rough. 

Rachel 

Hi Beau lots of great advice and top tips from the other members.  Just want to wish all the best for your 1st treatment day. 

All I could add to the good advice you have already had, is apply Aloe Vera gel to your neck after (not before) each RT session. Good luck with your treatment, the time will quickly pass, and you will be on your recovery. Any worries or questions just ask, someone will always help if they can.

Ray.

Beau Chapeau said:

Hi, I start chemo/ radiation tomorrow

Good luck for today.

Ray is spot on with the Aloe Vera Gel. I used it every day in the car on the way home. My neck just got a little red and flakey on the last week. It held up pretty well.

Comfortable clothes as the session could be up to 3 hours.  Wear something that allows easy access to the veins in your lower arm.  Take something to entertain you.  The fed and watered me during my chemo.  You can get up and move around with help from the nurses - toilet etc.

If you have not had the chemo briefing then I am sure they will deliver it to you in the first session.  Pay heed to the traffic light system - you should not need to enact it, but it is there just in case.

Don't worry about your RT session.  They will coordinate the timings even if there is a clash in the schedules.

I was fortunate and did not need the anti sickness tablets aside from the steroids.  The ones I was given are "as required" so there was no need luckily.  That said I did feel a little sick once or twice but nothing to make me think I was about to bring it all up!

All the best for today!