Starting treatment

Hi Song of songs

What  treatment are you having!. I finished radical radiotherapy with chemo every week a couple of months ago. I was somewhat anxious before on the first day of chemo. However the staff on the chemo unit are excellent and so supportive  and concerned for your comfort. You are given plenty of drugs to combat sickness and other side effects. I think it is the fear of the unknown but after your first treatment it is much easier

Thanks for the reassurance.   I will know more after tomorrow. 

Hi Granny8, I’ve just read your bio and everything you’ve said is so similar to my mum. She’s just started her chemo/ radical radiotherapy. She has a 6cm tumor in her right lung which has gone into the nearest lymph node. How did you manage with the treatment? How are things now? 
thanks, Louise x 

Hi Loomil

My treatment went very well. I feel I was fortunate that I had very few side effects from the chemo.  I did find that I was a bit off colour on about the 5th day after chemo but I managed to carry on with my normal activities . I also had the cool cap so didn’t lose my hair. The radiotherapy is completely painless and doesn’t take long at all. The main thing is having to go to the hospital 5 days a week for  4 weeks I did find as the radiotherapy progressed I began to feel a little tired and a bit more breathless. This continued for a few weeks after treatment had finished. But I am fine now and feel very well. I had my CT scan a couple of weeks ago and I am waiting to see my consultant for the results. I hope your Mums treatment goes well.Good Luck

Thanks Granny8, that’s really helpful to know! And so great you didn’t feel too bad. If you don’t mind me asking… which chemo drugs were you given? 
good luck with the scan results!!! 

Hi SongofSongs

Everyone reacts differently to the various treatments; however I think the most common side effect is tiredness. 

Make sure you wear comfortable/ easily accessible clothes, take some treats with you but avoid chocolate which can be a sickly, a book or magazine and something to drink.

From a personal,perspective, I couldn't wait to start my treatment regardless of what, if any, side effects I was facing. Due to my chemo combo, I knew in advance that  my hair loss would be 100% (and it was!); which in the big scheme of things this was never an issue for me as hair grows back, lungs do not.  I am an 'every day is a school day' kinda gal, so I focused on the practicalities/science involved in the treatments e,g by the end of my first day of chemo I had worked out how to reset the chemo pump, much to the dismay of my goody two shoes brother who accompanied me.

Try to remember that most people facing cancer treatment for the first time will have .some level of trepidation mainly due to historical tales of horrendous side effects.  Even since my treatments back in 2011, treatments have been made much  kinder so side effects have been lessened.

I wish you the very best outcomes.

Kegsy x

I think the cocktail of drugs I was sent home with have made me feel quite unwell though I understand the reason for them.   Feeling very unsteady and lightheaded.   My body is quite reactive to medication I think.