Finally had my follow up appointment today . Have stage 3C high grade EC. Not quite healed inside from my surgery so it will be 2-3 weeks and then I will start chemo. Will also have radiation
Nothing I didn't expect, although I of course forgot to ask a couple of questions. Just wondering if I will need a picc line or port for my chemo . Also, is it generally OK for me to drive to and from my chemo appointments myself ?
Hello Nit.Thu57
I am glad that you have had your follow up appointment. Am sorry to hear that it is high grade 3C. I was also high grade and it came as a bit of a shock to me as I had no idea before the post op pathology came back. I also had chemo and radiotherapy. (External beam)
It is normal for them to wait a couple of weeks to make sure you are healed- I was around 6 weeks from surgery when my chemo started. Just before the last cycle of chemo I had an appointment with the radiotherapy consultant to go through the radio and that started around 2-3 weeks later. If you want to get an idea of timings, click on my name and I have done a sort of timeline.
Am not sure which chemo you are having. I had carboplatin and paclitaxel. I also used the cooling cap. My chemo days were about 8-5 ish. I had someone take me and pick me up each time. I would advise if possible that you do the same- especially for the first one as you do not know how the drugs will affect you and it can also be a big thing emotionally. Its not just the chemo infusions but the pre meds, steroids, anti nausea meds and Piriton they give you. I felt very shaky and light headed at times. I had very wobbly legs at times and I found the effects accumulated with each cycle. I also found sometimes I had some pain in my back from the paclitaxel and the sitting in the chair all day. Everyone is different and it may be that after the first one you feel well enough but I would still think it is better if at all possible to have someone to drive you.
I had my chemo through a canula into the back of my hand. I did not find it particularly painful and not much worse than the blood test. You sort of get used to it. I didn't want to have a pick line as I preferred it all to be taken out at the end of the day. It made sense as my chemo was a 21 day cycle and I was at the hospital for day 1. I figured I didn't need it in for the next 20 days. It also depends on your veins. Mine were ok to begin with but they seem to get irritated by the chemo and it was definitely harder for them to take the blood tests by the last cycle.
Chemo is not great but it is doable with the support of family and friends. There are side effects but they can give you medication that makes a lot of difference. I did not experience half the side effects they have to warn you about. It was nothing like as bad as I imagined it. I think the first one is the worst as you don't know what to expect but after that you just sort of get on with it. They normally give you a book to write notes in and it is a good idea to fill it in and then you can use it when you talk to the doctors. It also gives you an idea what to expect on each day as I found it similar each cycle. The nurses were lovely that looked after me.
I wish you well with your treatments and if there is anything that you want to ask, please do so.
Jane
