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Juli's avatar
Juli
Member
11 years ago

Chemo # 2

Chemo number 2 about to start in a Few hours. All good at the moment, only a little anxious. But that may increase as I go from doctors Appointment then wait 1 1/2 hours before Chemo. Hope they give me the dex. Before I'm about to start chemo. I will find a Silver Linning. Cheers. Hope every body stays safe, where Ever you are. And we all have many happy Hours today. Cheers Juli

7 Replies

  • Hi Jessica, no worries. I can certainly understand what you have described regarding your second chemo. Wow. And yes I get a bit worked up with the amount of meds. And confused (and I am a nurse) but it's so different when it's you. The nurse briefly explained to me about the last three cycles when I change to Docetaxel, and 8 mg of Dex twice a day the day before treatment and for three days after ( Ive just copied that straight from the chemotherapy patient information sheet). But what I'm saying , is when the nurse was saying this I just lost the plot. I had no idea what she was saying. I just said to her will this be written down for me. I've answerd my own question, haven't I ? Thank you for that, you have made me look it up ( probably again, as I have read this before, but I needed to read to again ) I hope your second chemo went well. And I'm glad your daughter was able to drive you to pick up the Dex. family are wonderful Hang in there mate. Two down. Hey. Cheers always here for a chat. Best wishes Juli xxxx
  • Hi Juli, I am really glad it all went well. I found the second chemo was the most scary: I had real trouble getting myself there because my body knew what I was about to put it through. 

    My oncology nurses said that they worry that people don't ask the questions because they don't want to be a nuisance, but they really would rather be rung about silly stuff than have us getting stressed.

    You didn't mis-lead me, I just misunderstood your post. I had a real stress-out one Sunday night before my Monday morning chemo, when I discovered at 9.30 bedtime that  I did not have my Sunday night Dex pill.

    I rang the oncology nurse. The oncology nurse rang my oncologist.  My oncologist said that if I could get to the hospital they would give me the pills to get me through. My husband said he didn't want to drive me the hour's drive to the hospital coz he had a 6am start the next morning, and I could not contact my daughter and I felt too sick to drive myself.

    I got really upset but finally got hold of my daughter, arrived home about midnight with enough Dex pills for Sunday night and Monday morning. But I was scared stiff what would happen if they gave me my chemo without me having had the Dex to reduce the chance of bad allergic response. So that's why I answered you as I did.

    Sorry, you are a lot more on top of it all than I was at that point: well done

    best wishes

  • Hi lovely ladies. Thanks for for your replies. Yes I was less anxious. Yes they did give me the Dex. Oral and IV. Then 2 for next two ams. I'm having FEC FIE 3 cycles then Docetaxel For 3 cycles. JessicaV sorry I did not mean to be miss leading. I do have all the numbers. And written information. I am less anxious and that really helps. But really I'm sitting on about 97% so that's really good. I'm happy. Best wishes to all. And thanks for all your great advice. Cheers. Juli.
  • Hi lovely ladies. Thanks for for your replies. Yes I was less anxious. Yes they did give me the Dex. Oral and IV. Then 2 for next two ams. I'm having FEC FIE 3 cycles then Docetaxel For 3 cycles. JessicaV sorry I did not mean to be miss leading. I do have all the numbers. And written information. I am less anxious and that really helps. But really I'm sitting on about 97% so that's really good. I'm happy. Best wishes to all. And thanks for all your great advice. Cheers. Juli.
  • Hi Juli,

    What sort of chemo are you on? On TCH (Docetaxel, Carboplatin and Herceptin) I was given  little white Dex tabs for three days: I had to take one the day before my chemo and one  the morning of my chemo, and one the evening after my chemo. And the following day too. They gave me an infusion of more Dex at the start of the chemo infusion process.

    But they have different Dexmethesone regimes at different places for different chemos

    I also had the phone number of the oncology ward, and if I was in doubt on anything I rang and spoke to the best-informed nurse, with a number for day  and another for after-hours cos they worked 24hrs.

    It sounds to me as if they have either not given you these contact details or not encouraged you to use them to check on anything you are not sure of. 

    I would suggest you get them at your chemo today, and write them somewhere you won't lose them, and even at the risk of feeling you are making a nuicance of yourself, ask when anything concerns you. Talk to all the nurses, find out who are the senior ones with most experience who can answer your questions well.

    But for now, can you ring the ward and speak to the senior charge nurse about your dex and when it is given and what to expect? then you know and don't need to be concerned.

    best wishes.

  • Try to stay calm.The second one should leave you feeling less anxious because you know what to expect.Eachtreatment is closer to the end.You CAN do it!!! Stay on here for support whenever you need it.Cheers Robyn.xox
  • Try to stay calm.The second one should leave you feeling less anxious because you know what to expect.Eachtreatment is closer to the end.You CAN do it!!! Stay on here for support whenever you need it.Cheers Robyn.xox