Chemo Chicks: What did you do during your chemo treatments?

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LadyParvati
LadyParvati Member Posts: 328
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
A sister survivor told me she had a "Chemo Care Bag" she took to every treatment--she took her computer and a movie to watch, a book to read . . .

My laptop is pretty heavy, so I'm wondering what else I might take. My son is going to load an iPod with music for me, but I'm not very good at just sitting around twiddling my thumbs listening to music--I have to be DOING.

What did all of you do? What worked best to pass the time?

Sandy

Comments

  • crselby
    crselby Member Posts: 441 Member
    #2
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    thumb twiddling
    I can't wait to read the answers to your post, Sandy. I don't need chemo, but what an awesome gift it would be to a friend undergoing it to create a series of bags with various and surprising things to pass the time! Let the suggestions begin!
    Connie
  • newbiefromcananda
    newbiefromcananda Member Posts: 234
    #3
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    crselby said:

    thumb twiddling
    I can't wait to read the answers to your post, Sandy. I don't need chemo, but what an awesome gift it would be to a friend undergoing it to create a series of bags with various and surprising things to pass the time! Let the suggestions begin!
    Connie

    chemo bag
    hello

    I brought a crossword puzzle, magazines, almonds, water a notebook and paper, my thank you cards (you can fill out your christmas cards at this time as well) they have tv's so I watched a bit of tv and of course my sister, I was there 5 hours and it didn't seem that long best of luck to you xoxoxoxo
    Lisa
  • Sam726
    Sam726 Member Posts: 233
    #4
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    crselby said:

    thumb twiddling
    I can't wait to read the answers to your post, Sandy. I don't need chemo, but what an awesome gift it would be to a friend undergoing it to create a series of bags with various and surprising things to pass the time! Let the suggestions begin!
    Connie

    hey there
    I always bring a friend. We usually bring a computer too...play on internet, games, etc..A deck of cards is good too. My friends are pretty goofy so sometimes we just talk and laugh. She will also go get me some lunch across the street too...since the steroids make me eat like crazy this is always fun, lol. Our chemo room has tv's also. I find that the people in there are always nice to talk to. Hope this helps...
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #5
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    Some cancer centers have
    Some cancer centers have communal chemo rooms~ mine did not. It had private rooms, and my daughter and sweetie came with me everytime. My daughter and I laughed our way thru much of chemo by doing MadLibs! It was distracting, and silly and it reworked my brain to remember exactly what an adverb is! LOL And sometimes I would drift off to sleep, wrapped in my "blankie". The room I was in also had a TV, and I could watch an old movie, or the news, or HGTV and cooking shows! The first time was the absolute WORST~ the whole hooking me up to poison, and OMG I really do have cancer, even though I had already had sugery and drains! This was the biggie...Chemotherapy! But, after the first infusion, and knowing I didn't have to go back for another 3 weeks, I settled in and entertained myself. Getting to know the chemo RNs (angels with stethoscopes), feeling welcomed and nurtured at the center all helped. And whearas I am an active person too~ chemo was cumulatively exhausing physically~ I ended up doing less and less each time. I still liked looking up and seeing my 2 favorite people with me, but they could leave to get coffee or make phone calls and I didn't feel abandoned. I would hunker down as much as possible, close my eyes, and know that the poison wasn't killing ME, it was killing the Beast, and giving me a chance to have a long, cancer free life!!
    Oh , and drink water! And then drink some more water~ and after that~ Drink Water! Keeping hydrated and your system flushed is imperative!

    Hope this primer helps! LOL

    Hugs,
    Chen♥
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #6
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    chenheart said:

    Some cancer centers have
    Some cancer centers have communal chemo rooms~ mine did not. It had private rooms, and my daughter and sweetie came with me everytime. My daughter and I laughed our way thru much of chemo by doing MadLibs! It was distracting, and silly and it reworked my brain to remember exactly what an adverb is! LOL And sometimes I would drift off to sleep, wrapped in my "blankie". The room I was in also had a TV, and I could watch an old movie, or the news, or HGTV and cooking shows! The first time was the absolute WORST~ the whole hooking me up to poison, and OMG I really do have cancer, even though I had already had sugery and drains! This was the biggie...Chemotherapy! But, after the first infusion, and knowing I didn't have to go back for another 3 weeks, I settled in and entertained myself. Getting to know the chemo RNs (angels with stethoscopes), feeling welcomed and nurtured at the center all helped. And whearas I am an active person too~ chemo was cumulatively exhausing physically~ I ended up doing less and less each time. I still liked looking up and seeing my 2 favorite people with me, but they could leave to get coffee or make phone calls and I didn't feel abandoned. I would hunker down as much as possible, close my eyes, and know that the poison wasn't killing ME, it was killing the Beast, and giving me a chance to have a long, cancer free life!!
    Oh , and drink water! And then drink some more water~ and after that~ Drink Water! Keeping hydrated and your system flushed is imperative!

    Hope this primer helps! LOL

    Hugs,
    Chen♥

    My husband goes with me and
    My husband goes with me and reads a book. I bring my Ipod, a book. I dont have a port so one hand is usually occupied. I find the Ipod helps me block out some sensory overload and they are songs that make me feel good. the benadryl makes me sleepy so sometimes I doze off. The social worker usually stops by. I dont watch the TV when iam there I like quiet, in fact i am finding I cant tolerate too much craziness in general these days. I am on taxol and as the treatments go on it doesnt take too long. And yes i am trying to drink drink drink!!!!! and usually get up to pee!
  • redundant echo
    redundant echo Member Posts: 9
    #7
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    Sleep
    I had one of those old cassette tape players & went to the library & got "books on tape", which seem to be plentiful. I would get all cozy & put on my headphones & next thing I knew, I was being shook by the nurse to tell me I was finished & it was time to clean up my port. I don't think I ever got through with one side of the cassette or finished a book, but I always had a nice nap.
  • Mama G
    Mama G Member Posts: 762
    #8
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    redundant echo said:

    Sleep
    I had one of those old cassette tape players & went to the library & got "books on tape", which seem to be plentiful. I would get all cozy & put on my headphones & next thing I knew, I was being shook by the nurse to tell me I was finished & it was time to clean up my port. I don't think I ever got through with one side of the cassette or finished a book, but I always had a nice nap.

    Great answers!
    I did some of all of the above, but have to say I've met some amazing people and really enjoy talking and joking and sharing stories with other "guinea pigs" who are in the same room with me. The most interesting one so far is an amazing World War II veteran who is battling cancer for the second time and has a great attitude. It's very contagious, so beware. If you're around happy people you may become HAPPY even during the chemo!


    God bless
  • ppurdin
    ppurdin Member Posts: 1,181 Member
    #9
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    Chemo
    Hi,I took my daughter and we always had something to talk about.The time went fast,I am a people person so I talked to the nurse,other patients if they wanted to talk.I took magazines but couldn,t consitrate when I was their.They had a tv to watch if you wanted.Good Luck to you.Love and Prayers.(Pat).
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #10
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    With A/C, I either read or
    With A/C, I either read or crocheted or tatted. Now with Taxol, I get a bed so I start reading and dose off for a nice nap. There's a TV in the room that's on cable and has music channels on it.
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #11
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    Rague said:

    With A/C, I either read or
    With A/C, I either read or crocheted or tatted. Now with Taxol, I get a bed so I start reading and dose off for a nice nap. There's a TV in the room that's on cable and has music channels on it.

    My chemo area is not a group
    My chemo area is not a group type thing, so I dont see the same people to chat with. and people dont seem to like to talk, I usually smile at people and am not shy with pts as i am a nurse. I think it may be different in radiation, when you may see the same people.
  • LadyParvati
    LadyParvati Member Posts: 328
    #12
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    Mama G said:

    Great answers!
    I did some of all of the above, but have to say I've met some amazing people and really enjoy talking and joking and sharing stories with other "guinea pigs" who are in the same room with me. The most interesting one so far is an amazing World War II veteran who is battling cancer for the second time and has a great attitude. It's very contagious, so beware. If you're around happy people you may become HAPPY even during the chemo!


    God bless

    Sounds good to me!
    I hope I am around happy people! I'm sure that maintaining a positive attitude is going to be important for me! I would love to meet your WWII vet--he must be a wonderful man!

    I think I'm a lot like you, Mama G--I'm a people-person, too, so I hope we're in a group room so I can talk to people if I feel like it.

    Thanks! Sandy
  • LadyParvati
    LadyParvati Member Posts: 328
    #13
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    Rague said:

    With A/C, I either read or
    With A/C, I either read or crocheted or tatted. Now with Taxol, I get a bed so I start reading and dose off for a nice nap. There's a TV in the room that's on cable and has music channels on it.

    A craft project! Great idea!
    I have a small, pillow-top quilting project I've never begun . . . I think I'll take that! Thanks for the suggestion!

    Sandy
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #14
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    LadyParvati said:

    A craft project! Great idea!
    I have a small, pillow-top quilting project I've never begun . . . I think I'll take that! Thanks for the suggestion!

    Sandy

    Avid Reader here
    I took the latest Iris Johannsen book and never managed to read even one page of it!...............I was having way too much fun with my wonderful nurses and the other patients!...........sorry........I'll try to behave now...
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #15
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    tasha_111 said:

    Avid Reader here
    I took the latest Iris Johannsen book and never managed to read even one page of it!...............I was having way too much fun with my wonderful nurses and the other patients!...........sorry........I'll try to behave now...

    Well, that's just the thing~
    Well, that's just the thing~ I would have liked to be with other people but that was not an option where I went. Each of us had our own private room which was tiny; Reggie and Siobhan took turns sitting in the only other chair ( aside from mine) which fit in the room. I don't think I ever saw the same patients in the waiting room either. I imagine going every 3 weeks, and never at the same time of day would account for that! :-) It sounds as if many you were at a c.ocktail party~ too bad the c.ocktail was chemo!

    Hugs,
    Chen♥
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #16
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    chenheart said:

    Well, that's just the thing~
    Well, that's just the thing~ I would have liked to be with other people but that was not an option where I went. Each of us had our own private room which was tiny; Reggie and Siobhan took turns sitting in the only other chair ( aside from mine) which fit in the room. I don't think I ever saw the same patients in the waiting room either. I imagine going every 3 weeks, and never at the same time of day would account for that! :-) It sounds as if many you were at a c.ocktail party~ too bad the c.ocktail was chemo!

    Hugs,
    Chen♥

    Chen..............
    You are a STAR! No wonder we all luv u so much! Huge hugs 2 u and r XXXxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #17
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    chenheart said:

    Well, that's just the thing~
    Well, that's just the thing~ I would have liked to be with other people but that was not an option where I went. Each of us had our own private room which was tiny; Reggie and Siobhan took turns sitting in the only other chair ( aside from mine) which fit in the room. I don't think I ever saw the same patients in the waiting room either. I imagine going every 3 weeks, and never at the same time of day would account for that! :-) It sounds as if many you were at a c.ocktail party~ too bad the c.ocktail was chemo!

    Hugs,
    Chen♥

    Chen!
    Hugs to you and R Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Whoknowz
    Whoknowz Member Posts: 82
    #18
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    I've only had one treatment
    I've only had one treatment so far, #2 is tomorrow but here's the rundown for treatment 1. I took a crossword puzzle book, a paperback, and my blackberry. A friend went with me and brought a movie and a magazine for me. We talked to each other and to others around us as it is a group room. Watching tv/movies requires headphones and I found I liked shutting out the noise around me for a while. My friend got us lunch and snacks as we were there all day.

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