Anxious

I agree with the other ladies. I overcame my initial apprehension by asking questions eg. Why do you sometimes put on white gloves and sometimes the purple ones? Certainly takes your mind off what is happening when they are finding a vein. The nurses are very helpful and my breastcare nurses were an absolute font of knowledge. Don't know where you are being treated but at my day treatment centre we are a very social bunch with many patients (after they have been hooked up to chemo) taking off around the unit to visit others. Just talking to others can help you on your treatment journey. I was lucky to find women on the same chemo as me who were a cycle ahead of me, so I knew exactly when the side effects would hit! Some did, some didn't, chemo affects us all in different ways. I gave myself permission to not get dressed on one day of each cycle and just looked after myself. I think it was the dex. that caused my sleep patterns to change completely but this wears off.

Depending on what chemo you are on the side effects will change. I craved sweet things with some, others I craved salty things. I actually drove to an all night convenience store at 3am to get a packet of salt and vinegar chips. I ate them before I reached home, mouth burning from the vinegar, but couldn't taste anything!

Good luck with your first treatment, it does get easier.

With love

Joy K