A Day In The Chair
As I can't take you all into chemo with me, I thought I would let you in on a 'day in the life of' a chemotherapy treatment day.
My day starts very reluctantly with an unfamiliar sound of an alarm clock! Which I blissfully ignore until my mum comes in and drags me by my feet out of bed. Naturally I have left everything last minute so the first thing I do is pack my bag of entertainment. In goes a magazine, a notebook, my iPad, my origami dinosaur booklet (yes I am a dab hand at origami dinosaur making), Sudoku book, pens, lip balm, cosy socks and about 3 beanies. I never know why I take so many beanies but I like to be prepared! I have taken this fully prepped bag of tricks to all of my chemos so far (11) and never used any of it. I scrabble on my comfy clothes which is always leggings, a shirt and big ol' jumper and head off to make breakkie. Chemo day means I attempt a big breakfast, you feel a lot less nauseous if you start your day with food. Scramble eggs on toast is usually the winner but I mostly skirt it around my plate a little until it is time to leave.
I put my war paint on in the car, yes war paint. I put a full face of makeup on I think in an attempt to tell myself if I look well, I will feel well. Mind over matter and all that jazz. One piece of advice though, wait till you have parked before you try and draw your eyebrows on otherwise you will end up looking like this:
Along with enough makeup to seem like I am going 'out out,' I always chuck my wig 'Kourtney' on. This part of my day always baffles me slightly as the minute I get in the chemo chair, Kourtney comes off.
When we arrive at The Royal Marsden, the search begins. As the hospital is in London trying to find parking can be a bit of a pickle. If you are really lucky and manage to nab one of the 6 hospital bays, you know it's going to be a good day because they are like gold dust! In the couple of hours from waking up to being plonked in the chemo chair, I have barked at all members of the family, picked faults in everything, complained about traffic (even if there was none) and most likely been offended at the way one of my pugs sneezed. I am a ball of stress the morning of chemotherapy. It doesn't matter how many times I have gone or how close to the finish I am, I am full of anxiety. I weirdly enjoy being at chemo as I have found a nice routine and find the fun in it but getting me there is a different story all together. I think everyone who has taken me has unfortunately experienced a rather grumpy version of Georgie!
I am now in The Chair. The lovely nurses come over and take my obs (thats observations in medical lingo) and then head off to get all the bits and bobs in order to plug me in. During this time is when I make my great escape! I take a box of biscuits with me, snacks to keep me going and bribery to make chemo friends. If there are all new faces, I go around the chemo unit and offer up my goodies! Usually there are lots of familiar faces and I sit and gossip with them until I am to I am hunted down to go back to my chair. If I am lucky, I am sitting next to a chemo buddy and we can spend the day chatting, having a laugh and discussing all the fun side effects. Don't be alarmed if you ever take someone to chemo or it is your first chemo and the topic of conversation moves to bowel habits within the first few minutes.... this is acceptable. Possibly the only place in the world it is acceptable! I love being able to sit and chat to a chemo buddy throughout the day, it is such a good distraction for me from the sickness.
After the nurse has hunted me down to return to my chair (if I have runaway) it is time to get plugged in. I have a Portacath that is fitted under the skin in my chest. This process is a little nerve wracking, 11 down and still makes me quake in my booties a little. This probably says more about me than the actual act itself as I always have numbing cream on it before it is accessed anyway. I think I am a bit of a chicken! A needle is pushed into the centre of the port and is connected to the tubey thing that goes to the bags on my wheely trolley (this is also the medical lingo!).
After being plugged in, it is time for the pre-meds. This includes my anti-sickness medication and steroids. I get an oral tablet, and a couple of liquids in through my port. Don't ask me their names as I still have no idea but all I do know if one of the steroids can give you an itchy bum! No joke. Then starts the fun stuff. I receive 4 bags of chemo, ABVD, each goes in over different lengths of times and all are different sizes. The 1st being 'the red devil' aptly named for its horrendous side effects, then followed by the next 3 bags!
A little tip I have found useful is to try and snack throughout the day. Your body will be telling you that food is not what you fancy but try and shovel in a biscuit or two as it seriously helps the nausea!!
Usually I arrive at 11am and then out of there by 4pm so my day isn't too long. Luckily, as I live close to the hospital I head up the day before the see the doctor and have my bloods tested to make sure my neutrophils are high enough to have the chemo.This tends to knock a few hours off the actual chemo day.
So there you have it! Don't get me wrong it is a day I wish I didn't need to attend but once you plug in and strap the old helmet on, you are ready to go!!!
I am now in The Chair. The lovely nurses come over and take my obs (thats observations in medical lingo) and then head off to get all the bits and bobs in order to plug me in. During this time is when I make my great escape! I take a box of biscuits with me, snacks to keep me going and bribery to make chemo friends. If there are all new faces, I go around the chemo unit and offer up my goodies! Usually there are lots of familiar faces and I sit and gossip with them until I am to I am hunted down to go back to my chair. If I am lucky, I am sitting next to a chemo buddy and we can spend the day chatting, having a laugh and discussing all the fun side effects. Don't be alarmed if you ever take someone to chemo or it is your first chemo and the topic of conversation moves to bowel habits within the first few minutes.... this is acceptable. Possibly the only place in the world it is acceptable! I love being able to sit and chat to a chemo buddy throughout the day, it is such a good distraction for me from the sickness.
After the nurse has hunted me down to return to my chair (if I have runaway) it is time to get plugged in. I have a Portacath that is fitted under the skin in my chest. This process is a little nerve wracking, 11 down and still makes me quake in my booties a little. This probably says more about me than the actual act itself as I always have numbing cream on it before it is accessed anyway. I think I am a bit of a chicken! A needle is pushed into the centre of the port and is connected to the tubey thing that goes to the bags on my wheely trolley (this is also the medical lingo!).
After being plugged in, it is time for the pre-meds. This includes my anti-sickness medication and steroids. I get an oral tablet, and a couple of liquids in through my port. Don't ask me their names as I still have no idea but all I do know if one of the steroids can give you an itchy bum! No joke. Then starts the fun stuff. I receive 4 bags of chemo, ABVD, each goes in over different lengths of times and all are different sizes. The 1st being 'the red devil' aptly named for its horrendous side effects, then followed by the next 3 bags!
A little tip I have found useful is to try and snack throughout the day. Your body will be telling you that food is not what you fancy but try and shovel in a biscuit or two as it seriously helps the nausea!!
Usually I arrive at 11am and then out of there by 4pm so my day isn't too long. Luckily, as I live close to the hospital I head up the day before the see the doctor and have my bloods tested to make sure my neutrophils are high enough to have the chemo.This tends to knock a few hours off the actual chemo day.
So there you have it! Don't get me wrong it is a day I wish I didn't need to attend but once you plug in and strap the old helmet on, you are ready to go!!!
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