Update

Thank you so much for this. I am also 37. Thank you for letting me Know your daughters experience, it really helps. I was expecting to feel quite poorly for the entire time so it’s really good to hear that for part of it she felt okay before the next session. 

Thanks so much xxx

Hi Bella,

Yes you will get lots of your questions answered by the oncologist as we are all different and need specific mixes of drugs to suit our individual needs, I have carboplatin and placlitaxel which are the standard drugs for mop up chemo.

The anti sickness drugs are really effective , first chemo I had the anti sickness through the drip, but on second session yesterday I took a tablet. They give me 3 further tablets to take on evening of session, then next morning, following evening. I try to eat as well and snack  as often as I can and I haven’t felt sick. I took the approach of always having something in my tummy and it works for me.

No I didn’t feel unwell when you are on the drip, it’s via a cannula in your hand and that can be a bit uncomfortable going in..but the nurse said drink lots of water for 3 days prior to chemo session as it plumps your veins up and easier to get needle in.

My first session was long, they take it slow to make sure you don’t have a reaction to any of the drugs, first chemo via drip I had antihistamine,steroid, and anti sickness, then 2 chemo  drugs with a line flush in between all of these and a final flush for 30 mins, went in at 11:30 cane out at 7pm...

Second chemo yesterday slightly quicker by an hour.

My chemo centre is modern, chairs are in groups of four, both times there have been wonderful ladies willing to share their experiences, and the first session  I crumbled a bit, few tears and they soon got me back on track. I spent most of the time listening to them and got some fantastic tips from them.

Volunteers bring around tea, sandwiches, crisps and fruit so they feed you as well.

I keep a chemo diary now ..so I’m expecting to feel groggy and achy tomorrow and over weekend, from Monday I should pick up and feel ok...

My oncologist saw me a week before my second session to make sure I was ok, what I had experienced in case he needed to tweak the doses.. answer any questions I had ....so you are monitored all the time and I have a number to call if I need to speak to an expert out of hours, so that’s comforting.

Write the questions down as they come into your head over the next few  days, so when you visit oncologist you are all prepared 

take care 

xxSue

This makes me feel so much better for having an idea of what to expect. Really hope it all continues to go well for you. 

I can’t Thank you enough for your help xxx

Hi Sue. I just wanted to say a big thank you for writing this detailed post concerning chemo treatment. I myself am a great believer in trying to take the fear of the unknown out of cancer treatments. Hence my posts on Brachytherapy treatments culminating in the joy of discovering buzzy sex toys at the tender age of 67 - never too late to try anything.

I think it would be a good idea, with your permission, to find out if this could be reposted somewhere on the Macmillan site to help others going through the same treatment - should I make enquiries?

Sending biggest hugs, Barb xx 

Hi Barb,

If you think it will help, then by all means use the post, fear of the unknown was the worst for me as I said ...but you know we have to dig deep and get those “Bridget Jones knickers” !!

Thank you 

Sue

Hi Sue,

I just wanted to say thank you for your advice about the covid vaccine. I did ring my GP yesterday and they asked me to come straight down to have the vaccine. I would never have thought to ring them if you hadn’t mentioned it. 

xxx