Chemotherapy sessions

[ValB2]

(This may appear twice - technology glitch!)

Thanks for all the helpful advice & comments re cannulas and lines etc.

Next question which has probably been asked a thousand times and has as many answers.....

How long does each chemotherapy session last?

Thanks in advance.

Val x

[Whippit]

Hi Val

It's such a good idea to ask lots of questions as I think you'll get every permutation of experience on here and women's experiences are so incredibly helpful going through diagnosis and treatment.

Don't worry overmuch about the cannula if it is really difficult to get in. Hospitals can also insert a port where the chemo is administered. I've never had one but having spoken to loads of women who have it seems it's a really good idea if the veins are delicate.

How long chemo lasts depends on what you're having. Most women start with carbo-platin and paclitaxel. Each is given separately in case a patient develops an allergy and they will know exactly what is the problem.

I had paclitaxel first. That was given slowly over 3 hours. The paclitaxel was given over 30 minutes at first though it can be given over a longer period if women get a minor reaction to it.

I hope that's helpful and the next few weeks go well for you.

Sending loads and loads of love xx Annie

[Lily-Anne]

It's an hour for the anti-sickness to do it's magic, and you will be on a fluid drip, then Carboplatin is half an hour, although my first one they spread over forty five minutes. More fluids and then off home. I've had a couple of dramas both times, so ended up being there longer than expected. I have no experience of Taxol, but one of the ladies there said she was there 9 to 5 with combination in case of a reaction. Hope that helps.

My veins are rubbish but the needles are tiny, so don't worry.

LA

[baxbird]

Hi I'm on carbo/taxol at the moment (3rd line) I bank on being I. the unit for 5 hours. That includes waiting for chair, waiting for the incredibly busy nurses to get things going, changing bags over, finishing things off. The first time I had the combination each bag took 90minutes, so I'm hoping as I didn't react that could be an hour each. It does depend on the dosage you are having ( my first line was an hour each time but smaller dosage), wether you have access to a cold cap as that adds time ( 30 mins) beginning and end to each cycle, and also how you react. You need time for the anti sickness/steroids/antihistamine to work, though having said that it does depend the units protocol. On the wards I had to wait for an hour, the unit just got on with it one after the other.....!

Anyway, once you've got the first couple under your belt, it does tend to become routine. Good luck xx

[Barlow1951]

I am on Carbo/taxol and usually spend 7 hours in total on unit. Taxol takes 3 hours to go through then line is flushed for about 15 mins before they start the Carbo, which takes just over 1 hour, so length of time must depend on the dose, which is likely to be different for each of us.

Sometims. have to wait for a chair or for a busy nurse to be free but not often.

Hope that helps have some idea of what to expect. Once first cycle is over you will get into the routine.

Hope all goes as smoothly as possible.

Best wishes,

Barbara