Starting Chemo

Joleystub

Hi everyone

Well my journey started in April with diagnosis of breast cancer.  Since then I've had the surgery, the pet scan, an ECG and blood work done.  I start Chemo on Wednesday with Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide.  My lump was Grade 3 so my Oncologist has recommended a 5 month journey on Chemo.
I'm nervous as I'm sure is natural but the funny thing is all I can think about is what do I wear to treatment?    That might sound silly but I want to be as comfortable as I possibly can. 
Gosh this plays havoc with your rational thinking!

Anyway I know you all will help me out with some rational ideas 

Thanks 
Jo 

Alfie

Well Jo
That's not silly. I start in 2 weeks and asked do I get a cup of tea or do I have to take my flask.

I am dressing for comfort. No tiara...taking my earplugs, book..etc...  will follow this...

Katie46

Welcome @Joleystub, I had a grade 3 diagnosis and assume a similar treatment plan, 4 round of AC and 12 weekly paclitaxel which I finish in May. I’ve just finished radiation. There are no rules about what to wear, although they will want to be able to insert a catheter easily into your arm without your clothes getting in the way. I wore a comfortable pair of lounge type pants and a t-shirt. It's pretty hot up there in Darwin so the aircon could be pretty cold at times, so I also took a blanket.

All the best for Wednesday 🙂

Joleystub

@Alfie I hope we get a cup of tea 😁 goodluck too

Joleystub

@Katie46 yeah I'm thinking comfort.  Hobart is cold at the moment so I'll be prepared for warmth.  

Paris_24

@Joleystub - I have a port that is two-way enables fluids in (chemo or other bags - magnesium, potassium, blood etc) and blood out.   So I normally wear front button shirts and comfy pants and take a jumper.  Heated blankets are on offer, which are sooooo good.  I wear the same clothes and am throwing them out when I am done with all the treatment.  I have completed the AC journey and am down 7 with 5 more of the Taxol to go.  5 months can seem like such a long time, however each one will be a countdown.  The chemo days can be long too.  Good luck for Wednesday and I am sure you will rock it whatever you wear.  😎

GinGin

Hi Jo,
I had 5 months of yummy 😋 chemo🤮. It was the cocktail of AC (2 months - every fortnight) and 12 weekly Paclitaxel.

My chemo was in Sept which was still chilly in Melbourne. I dressed for comfort. I wore track pants and a Short sleeve t shirt layered with a hoodie front zip sweat shirt. It’s like my uniform- I wore the same for at least 4 months till Jan when the weather was warmer, and I dropped the hoodie. When I got to the centre, I’ll remove my long sleeve hoodie so the nurse can stick the needle into my hand for my chemo infusion. I don’t have a port or PICC line. My center provided very comfortable warm blanket which they changed regularly to make sure I stay warm ( I was icing my feet and hands🥶). The hoodie sweater is useful as it covered  my head (scalp) as by third round of AC, I lost at least half my hair). I am not a fashionable lady, went in with no make up etc , only use sun screen.

Some of the ladies at the centre do dressed up and come in with make up on. so it’s really what makes you feel comfortable. I just wanted to be comfortable and for me it was track pants and t shirt layered with hoodle sweater. Sometimes days I did have to wear a longline puffer jacket when the temperature dropped ( as my chemo is in the  early mornings).

All the best for your treatments.

Coastiejas

Hi @Joleystub
I'm also a member of the grade 3 club. As others have said make sure you're comfy! I have a chemo port too so had to make sure I wore something with front buttons so I didn't have to flash the ward during treatment when they accessed it!  I also wore a zip front polar fleece (Kathmandu) which was good as it's light, warm and comfortable!  I wore comfortable shoes too, usually sneakers or slip ons. I had most of my 16 rounds of chemo in the warmer months and found the air-conditioning in the hospital was freezing..I also got a heated blanket a few times too! I got morning tea and lunch on my longer infusions brought to me my the wonderful cancer council volunteers who looked after us like royalty,  I'm not used to being waited on 😉. I took my ipad / tablet with me which was a godsend as there was free WiFi in the hospital so I could stream tv shows, do emails, play games, watch a movie, book doctors appointments on line, read the newspaper etc etc...a great distraction when you need to sit for a few hours!
@Paris_24 you're on the countdown now!
Best wishes for Wednesday 

arpie

Hi @Joleystub

Wishing you all the best for your chemo treatments .... I attended all my husband's treatments & as @GinGin said, they have lovely warm blankets to wrap around you (you can get a 'new warm one' when the first one cools down too ..)  Taking your tablet, or puzzle books are better than trying to read a novel as there is just so much going on .... your concentration is easily broken!    They usually supply you with morning & afternoon tea & lunch if your treatment is over these periods .... and they have access to water or other bits, as you need.

Definitely dress for warmth & comfort.  Ask about a cold cap (which may prevent losing your hair, dependingon your chemo mix.)  Hubby started with the transfusions going into the lower arm, so wearing something that is easy to access the wrist area is good.   Then he had a Picc Line put in (upper arm from memory) before finally having the Portacath put into his upper chest.  Both bloods and chemo can go thru the Portacath, with less trauma than trying to find 'good' veins in the arm all the time.  My sister made a couple of tops for him (like this) that have a zip in the front that allowed really easy access (specially in this cold weather.).  They can be short or long sleeved .... and you are still 'covered' elsewhere.


Take care & all the best xx

Alfie

Well great I don't have to take a flask.
Giggin why did you have cold packs for your feet and hands was it to stop neuropathy??

May I ask if anyone used a dietician prior to the start of chemo.

I have just had my lymph nodes removed and as mentioned will start chemo on the 29th of July. Hope I can lift my arm again.

Good luck Joeystubb. Yep cuppa tea is looking good.

GinGin

@Alfie, 👋 Hi,
yes, it was to prevent neuropathy. Some ( not all) chemo drugs cause neuropathy and Paclitaxel, my weekly chemo is one of them.

I was really struggling with food and my oncologist consultant nurse recommended me a BC dietitian.  I saw her throughout my chemo treatment..

Have you been given arms exercises to do? Do those exercise but don’t over do. I had the same fear as you after I had my lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed. I wondered if I can lift my arm again. And yes, you can as I could. It took a while ( because I then also had cording .. my surgeon referred me to a physiotherapist).

However, now my arm has become restricted again ( cause by radiation, I finished radiation in Mar this year). My physiotherapist assured me I will be able to move my arm again😉.

Alfie

Hi Gingin
Thankyou for that.

 My surgeon believes just move your arm as per normal. He wants me back swimming which will help, the sea is pretty cold. However I have been following the BCNA pilates exercises.

All the best for Wednesday joleystubb, if you are like me you may be nervous.