Chemo starts in few days

ppurdin
ppurdin Member Posts: 1,181 Member
in Ovarian Cancer #1

chemo should start Tues. I have known for awhile now this would happen.But hearing the exact day has brought back fear again.I feel like I could cry a river.This is my second time with Cancer and Chemo.I have been stronger then I thought for second time.But right now I feel a lot of things.Fear,dread,not wanting to,.Its a emotional roller coaster.dont know if I want to go to first one by myself or not.Any advice is appriatted.

Comments

  • wholfmeister
    wholfmeister Member Posts: 315
    edited June 2016 #2
    Take someone!

    By all means, take someone with you!  It helps pass the time, it is an extra set of ears, and it is comforting.  I bet there is a friend or relative that would feel so honored to share this emotional journey with you.  I've been getting chemo basically for 4 years now.  I so look forward to chemo days, just to spend that time with my husband, talking, laughing, looking at Facebook together.  Take someone!

  • LorettaMarshall
    LorettaMarshall Member Posts: 662 Member
    #3
    Pat~You never want to "go it alone" if someone will go with you!

    Dear Pat,

    Dr. Marshall here!  From my experience, the session will be for several hours.  You will want to take your Ipad, laptop, good book, or something to distract you from the dread of the chemo session.  As I told someone else, at my clinic volunteers come around at noon time offering you a lot of good food, plus chips, cookies, and drinks.  They are a welcome site.  

    But as for going alone, I would not recommend that.  Yes, it's an emotional experience.  Yes, it's not one that you are saying "Yippee, can't wait to get there!"  But think of what the purpose is, that is killing as many tumors as possible.  So you always have 2 choices, do nothing and take a chance on "stray cells" multiplying, or try to "stop them in their tracks."  

    Like I said, be sure to read the letter I sent to "BrianFromTheNorth" on the Peritoneal site.  His mom was starting chemo and he wanted to know what to do that would help her best.  So try to think of it as a "positive" step toward recovery, because it is.   

    With each of my sessions, my doctor scheduled a return visit the next day for "steroids, hydration, and an injection of Neulasta to keep up my white blood cell count.  I never had my immune count drop so low that I had to miss a session.  And eat a good breakfast before you go.  

    I'm gonna put your name on my calendar, and remember you in prayer next week.  And once more, please get a friend or family member to go with you.  It's best to have someone to take with you, it'll be a distraction from having only the IV pole as your buddy!  So Pat, like we like to say, "Put on your Big girl panties, and go for it."  You can do it.  Remember, "You gotta' go through the rain if you wanna' see the rainbow!"

    Loretta

    Peritoneal Carcinomatosis/Ovarian Cancer Stage IV

     

  • ppurdin
    ppurdin Member Posts: 1,181 Member
    #4
    LorettaMarshall said:

    Pat~You never want to "go it alone" if someone will go with you!

    Dear Pat,

    Dr. Marshall here!  From my experience, the session will be for several hours.  You will want to take your Ipad, laptop, good book, or something to distract you from the dread of the chemo session.  As I told someone else, at my clinic volunteers come around at noon time offering you a lot of good food, plus chips, cookies, and drinks.  They are a welcome site.  

    But as for going alone, I would not recommend that.  Yes, it's an emotional experience.  Yes, it's not one that you are saying "Yippee, can't wait to get there!"  But think of what the purpose is, that is killing as many tumors as possible.  So you always have 2 choices, do nothing and take a chance on "stray cells" multiplying, or try to "stop them in their tracks."  

    Like I said, be sure to read the letter I sent to "BrianFromTheNorth" on the Peritoneal site.  His mom was starting chemo and he wanted to know what to do that would help her best.  So try to think of it as a "positive" step toward recovery, because it is.   

    With each of my sessions, my doctor scheduled a return visit the next day for "steroids, hydration, and an injection of Neulasta to keep up my white blood cell count.  I never had my immune count drop so low that I had to miss a session.  And eat a good breakfast before you go.  

    I'm gonna put your name on my calendar, and remember you in prayer next week.  And once more, please get a friend or family member to go with you.  It's best to have someone to take with you, it'll be a distraction from having only the IV pole as your buddy!  So Pat, like we like to say, "Put on your Big girl panties, and go for it."  You can do it.  Remember, "You gotta' go through the rain if you wanna' see the rainbow!"

    Loretta

    Peritoneal Carcinomatosis/Ovarian Cancer Stage IV

     

    Thank you Loretta

    you are so inspiring to me.You made me feel better all ready.My friend ask if I wanted her to go.Both my kids are on vacation.I going to take my friend up on going with me.Thank you so much.

  • ppurdin
    ppurdin Member Posts: 1,181 Member
    #5
    wholfmeister said:

    Take someone!

    By all means, take someone with you!  It helps pass the time, it is an extra set of ears, and it is comforting.  I bet there is a friend or relative that would feel so honored to share this emotional journey with you.  I've been getting chemo basically for 4 years now.  I so look forward to chemo days, just to spend that time with my husband, talking, laughing, looking at Facebook together.  Take someone!

    Someone with me

    yes good ideal.thank you

  • scatsm
    scatsm Member Posts: 296 Member
    #6
    glad you are bringing a friend

    On days I went for what I call 'big chemo' I always had someone with me so I had some company and a ride home. Right now I am on my 5th line of chemo,having failed the parp inhibitor after only 5 months, taking Topotecan as a single agent and it's only a half hour infusion. Had my first week, 3 weeks on and 1 week off so I went alone. The chemo nurses all know me well and so I have lots of interaction but I have my phone and kindle just in case.

    I hope things go well for you!

    Susan

  • Soup52
    Soup52 Member Posts: 908 Member
    #7
    I've had someone with me for

    I've had someone with me for every chemo and it felt like the time flew by. 

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