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Brenda5's avatar
Brenda5
Member
10 years ago

pre-chemo meeting

7th Jan, 2016

Pre Chemo visit with good news and a little bit of skiting.

Today was pre chemo visit so I saw a chemo Dr who wouldn’t commit and say he would be my permanent Dr as they have no full time one until next month.

He asked my personal history etc, explained what chemo was and stuff. Asked did I have any questions but really most of my questions were for the head nurse, the pharmacist and the chemo administration so I didn’t ask much then. 

Good news! I don’t have to have the chemo drug the other cancer patients call the Red Devil. Yay! I will be on Docetaxel and Cyclophosphamide. Bad enough I guess but not as bad as it could be. 

Next I saw the introductory nurse who explained it a lot more and introduced me to the pharmacist (who said she would have to order in those drugs so no chemo till next week sometime) and met the head reception chemo nurse and I got to see where I would be having chemo and what services they had available. Free tea and coffee and sandwiches during treatment will be an unexpected bonus. No free internet access was a bummer but I have my own modem access and joked to the receptionist we’d have to have a picket line started to get the free wi-fi internet on in this new building lol. 

The nurse said I had a good positive attitude to the chemo aspect of my treatment and should do just fine. I said to ask me again after the first chemo cycle as I am never sick hardly a day in my life and it might be rather a shock to me to have to slow down. She said oddly enough a lot of cancer patients are the same, never been sick much at all in their lives and then bang they have breast cancer, very odd. 

I was given an order for a blood test before my chemo which the nurse said I could do today or tomorrow. I said I would go and see how busy they were at the General Hospital pathology and if too busy I would get it done in my own neighbouring town.

Skite time - Pathology was empty of patients. I walked in, had the test, needle in first try and I was out in minutes! Woohoo!

chemotherapy

6 Replies

  • Nadi's avatar
    Nadi
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Brenda great to see how positive you are! I have had one round of Docetaxel and Cyclophosphamide as well as Herceptin and except for a few days of no neutrophils and very frustrating time with a problematic IV  I haven't felt bad at all. No nausea, no fatigue. My 18 yr old son also has very severe eczema (have had a wonderful week of treatments and wet bandages this week) and I didn't get any rashes so far. So I am feeling a little less apprehensive about going into my second round. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Stay positive.

    Nadine

  • Robyn_W's avatar
    Robyn_W
    Member
    10 years ago

    Yep a bit far! I walked round a circuit track of 1.5 k each day.There were a handful of days when I only made it half way!!!!

  • Brenda5's avatar
    Brenda5
    Member
    10 years ago

    Define daily walking? I walk my dogs twice a day for half an hour each time on the beach. I suppose that far will be out? Its about 3 or 4km.

    Tipping I will definitely have the skin troubles as just from a 2nd CT scan I had blisters and lost the skin from my hands and feet.

    My son who is 22 has severe eczema so I can just imagine absolutely no sympathy from him who lives with the itching but I might sneak downstairs and pinch some of his treatment creams.

  • Robyn_W's avatar
    Robyn_W
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hello:)I had cyclophosphamide and docetaxel.It wasn't that bad for me,but there were things that I did that certainly helped.I had my head shaved a few days before I started,and on day 14 of the first round,it ALL started to fall .my eyebrows went first.Every round,the tiredness started on about day 5, and continued till day 10. I walked EVERY day,and it REALLY helps.My oncologist is very big on daily walking.The second round,I had very terrible skin rashes,and the itching was something like I have never experienced.Get some Zyrtec now,as it was the only thing that helped me.My food cravings were bizarre,but that's no big deal I reckon.All the best,and come on here and ask questions if you get stuck with anything.Cheers Robyn.xox

  • Vietjennie's avatar
    Vietjennie
    Member
    10 years ago

    You go girl. You got the right attitude to kick that chemo back into place.

    All the best for your first round. 

    Jennie