The most newbie question ever?

^^ File under “late night anxiety” obviously. 

Mine didn’t feel anything much at all - perhaps a little cold, but certainly not icy. I didn’t notice it much - until I sprung a leak when I had to go
to the toilet while still hooked up. Not my fault (faulty canula as it turned out) much running about by nurses, no
harm done and much hilarity. You have to see the funny side! 

Side effects do vary - my neighbour who had bc ten years before me (no, not a cluster!) could not get home after treatment before being sick. I never felt remotely nauseous. Many find chemo is cumulative - particularly fatigue. It may well be (I didn’t have fatigue either) but no-one should underestimate how tired you can get of the whole shebang! But you get through. If you have difficult side effects, ask for help. Most of all, try not to anticipate. What you dread may not happen. Worrying about it won’t change anything.  Don’t waste good days thinking about not so good days. Best wishes for a good run. 

That is great advice @Afraser - not to waste perfectly good days worrying before worry is due! I have read a few of your posts on various threads and your perspective is so wonderful (especially as you are “past” the immediate crisis). I’ll calm the farm and take myself out to lunch tomorrow and think about other things!

Excellent decision! Enjoy your day! 

The first chemo infusion I had, I distinctly recall a gripping pain in my lower spine where I already have osteoarthritis.  It was quite distinct and lasted a couple of seconds, sort of like spasms.  Other than that I just felt a sort of feeling as though I had severe jet lag.  Nothing more, but just not pleasant, but doable.  The subsequent chemo sessions were just a feeling of jet lag and I felt very tired, and would not have been driving home.  I am told that also if an accident did occur and I was driving home that perhaps I would not be covered by insurance, so I never took the risk of driving my car home.  I had a friend or family member take me to all chemo, except when I continued with Herceptin, I drove myself and also for the 6 weeks of radiation therapy I drove myself there and back also.

In addition I did feel a sort of weird out of body experience, but nothing too weird.  The unknown can be frightening.  Overall I would just say that often I felt a severe case of "jet lag".  

I never had anyone describe the experience of a chemo infusion to me before I had my first infusion, so I hope my description helps you somewhat. 

Ask any questions and I hope I will give you an honest answer on my experience.

As @Afraser says try to not worry about what may not happen.

I got through 4 AC's 12 paclitaxol and continued for 12 months of Herceptin, and 6 weeks of radiation therapies (both boobs), and now on AI's.  All this and having a couple of heart conditions to be considered.  The oncologists know their stuff and you are in good hands.  

I did my chemo back in 2016 and 2017, as as our very wise @Afraser says...one step at a time. My take on it is "How do you eat an elephant"? ..."One bite at a time". Hear goes the tip of an ear. I had a port put in on the morning of my first chemo and so "hunt the vein" wasn't a problem. They found it, poked it...ans we were in business. Aside from a strange taste, sort of at the back of my throat, top of my sinuses area, as well as in my mouth, I had no other effects. I found nibbling salt and vinegar crisps(well chomping really, but nibbling sounds a tad more ladylike), very good at cutting through the burning plastic, acrid taste. By the time I got to the paclitaxel part of things, I knew to have very fast removal pants on and a clear run to the loo. (I also took spares with me in case of a total disaster, but fortunately they weren't needed. Montezuma's Revenge...big time. I did purchase a plastic bucket from Kmart to puke in, and it remains a puke virgin to this day. It now spends its days as a mere laundry bucket. When you get to eating the trunk, or other bits...ask away. Nice to see another member with a ...shall we say...different sense of humour....I like mine black...

I didn't feel much at all but like AllyJay I had a funny taste but mine only lasted for a few minutes. I did get a headache part way through but found panadol was enough to send it packing. I also got cold part way through. My friend cannot stay awake through her treatment and spends her time in the chair happily snoring away. I got the munchies.

@AllyJay I hadn’t even thought of snacks!! Good one. My husband is allowed to come with me for my first one thankfully so I can send him off to find whatever my heart desires! After that due to COVID it’s a solo endeavour. And yes, I generally enjoy a very dark sense of humour!! But I will be honest and say I absolutely howled at the moon and cried my eyeballs dry in the shower this morning, so it’s not nonstop LOLs by any means  🥺 like everyone else just drawing on whatever I can find to cope with this very sudden situation.

These descriptions are really useful in having some idea of reality (or multiple realities). I guess I didn’t realise how many tropes from movies and TV I have in my head around treatment - even though I do have sibling that’s gone through extensive chemo, it was 22 years ago and I wasn’t there all the time at the hospital.

I’ve forced myself to do a 15 min yoga video to calm myself down which really helped, along with walking my dog for an hour this morning. Putting on a brave face when my children are home is so hard, but that’s a whole other thread no doubt.

Just to clarify....my above comment pertains only to the day of the chemo treatment...what followed for me was a whole other story (or saga) for another day. One bite at a time....

Thanks @AllyJay - got it. Kind of why I’m only thinking about what will happen on the day. Currently hearing on the news that Melbourne might be about to go into a 5 day lockdown - selfishly hoping they don’t take away my husband coming with me. x