I’m so pleased that one way or another you finally got your chemo! You must have felt so stressed waiting for it. I would’ve been out of my mind with worry.
I’m sorry it wasn’t very friendly or nurturing there like the wards usually are in normal times, but you did it!
I wish you all the luck and love in the world and kick cancer’s arse, once and for all!
I’ve recently had Covid too, though by the time I was tested ( I’d had it over three weeks) I tested negative Thank heavens it’s on its way out finally!
( Of course I can’t be 100 per cent sure, but my symptoms were textbook; I felt dire!)
Anyway, onwards and upwards and hope you feel the benefits ASAP!
GLAD TO HEAR YOU'RE FEELING GOOD TODAY. I WAS ON THE SAME REGIMEN AS YOU ARE NOW. THE SIDE EFFECTS WERE NOT SO BAD. CERTAINLY NOT AS BAD AS THE TAXOL/CARBO I HAD THE LAST TIME.
MY PLATELETS NEEDED ATTENTION A FEW TIMES AND HEMOGLOBIN.
WHATEVER IT IS, I KNOW YOU WILL HANDLE IT WELL AND GET THROUGH THIS. BY THE WAY IT DID WORK AND IT WILL FOR YOU TOO!!!
THINKING OF YOU AND SENDING YOU LOTS OF GOOD ENERGY,
LEE
Brilliant news! onwards and upwards from here on! x
Dear Laura, so please that you got your treatment after such a stressful time . I was on carboplatin, didn’t lose my hair . Had my dose reduced by 25 percent after the first round . After that once I got into knowing the effects, I could plan how I would be .
Oh Laura, I was so pleased to read that you have started chemo, even though you had a lonely time & the nurses were not that friendly which is not very good when it was a new hospital for you. I hope that you do not get any nasty side effects. It is all a lot to cope with while things are so restricting. I so hope that this works for you as you have had a horrible time of late. Take care, Caleda xx
Although Chemo wouldn’t be a choice it’s what you need and thankfully it’s been started. Now look after yourself: vitamin D, fluids and rest. Another hurdle to jump but mentally you sound amazing and up for a fight! Keep going Laura x
Good to hear you've finally got the treatment you want. This must be a huge relief! My wish for you is that you can breeze through this relatively well & it does the trick. Take care, Ruth xx
Well done, Laura! Next time you could bring food and a flask of tea or coffee. I like to have my headphones and listen to audio books or watch Netflix during chemo. I get free audiobooks from the library through the BorrowBox app.
Thank God that you didn’t have a bad reaction to the Carbo.
I hope they were observing you and that you had a bell in case you had a reaction to the Carbo. I had bad allergic reactions to it and had to have extra antihistamine & cortisone drips.
I’m sure you’re not feeling great today so be good to yourself. Onwards & upwards.
Can't believe similarities. My husband drove me to new hospital. Passed Covid temperature test. Went into unit to find they had been trying to ring my house phone before ordering chemo to make sure I was well enough to come.
We were obviously on our way!
Returned home for a couple of hours and returned for 4pm, (appointment as for 10am) where much to my surprise managed to get cannula in and infusion went well.
Fab unit, only 2 years old. All mod cons.
Staff great and steroids must have kicked in cos feeling quite reasonable today.
Let's hope next sessions go better for both of us and the treatment has long lasting good effects!
Ooh, the Circle, very smart indeed... wish they'd transfer my chemo to a private hospital. As for it being lonely, I can tell you its just the same in the NHS chemo wards too at the moment- when I was at Charing Cross last, there were just three of us, a long way apart, we were all masked, and there were only two nurses on duty who were mostly outside in the corridor somewhere, so we were just sat on our own most of the time, not able to talk to anyone. Eventually, I did ask for a drink of something because I was there for so long - it wasn't that well organised, so I had to hang around for nearly 2 hours before the infusion started and I got both thirsty and hungry. It was certainly nothing like being at Hammersmith with lots of staff and patients... it felt a bit like the Marie Celeste... and it was cold in there, to the point that my vein receiving the infusion went into spasm, which wasn't pleasant. This Covid thing does not make for a cheerful environment...
Glad you're getting the chemo, must be such a relief. I hope its not too heavy a regime - carbo's not too bad, but I don't know what else they're giving you ...
I'm curious as to whether you're still testing positive for Covid? I read about that very recently - people who still test positive a few weeks after initial infection aren't actually infective, its just the test is picking up the presence of dead viral particles still present in the body, but of course, you may still have been feeling weak after having Covid in the first place, I think it can take a while to recover.
I tested negative in my very last test, just last week, but I am having scary temperature fluctuations, hence the paracetamol before going to hospital.
I can’t account for it and have no other symptoms.
And oh I miss the Royal Marsden Chemo Suite and all the lovely nursing staff there and the cart from the friends shop coming by with goodies!
Oh well. At least I am on Chemo, which is a combination of Carbo and Gemcitabine, something I have never had before
A weird program of both on first day, just Gem a week later, one week off and back to both again, for four cycles. Then a review.
I am hoping it really works and I can get the full 6 cycles, but who knows?
Exactly, who knows... good luck with the gemcitabine in combination, hope it doesn't make you too ill. Its ghastly we have to take these drugs, but I'm at the stage (like you) where there's no choice about it...
Covid is a strange, novel virus - some people have residual effects afterwards, and though the scientists and medics are learning more and more about it, there's a lot yet to be revealed. Enormous efforts in recording and researching it, I must say, seems like the scientists and medics are focusing on it big time... there's usually scientific reports at least a couple of times a week from various places. Thank heavens they're all sharing what they find out very quickly...
Take care... I'm back at the Marie Celeste this Friday for my third infusion, oh deep joy (not) but only if the Covid test they want to repeat on Wednesday comes back negative again.
So good to hear you’ve started chemo despite it not being your usual experience.
I have one more chemo to go of my 2nd line & have luckily been able to have it at the the same hospital with the same lovely friendly nurses I had for 1st line.
Unfortunately due to Covid they’re not able to spend as much time with me so the usual banter & laughter isn’t as it was. It must be hard for you because it was the first time meeting these nurses. I’d imagine that’s what it would be like for 1st line chemo patients too.
Sign of the times unfortunately.
Still, you’re back on track to get that nasty disease killed.
So relieved to hear you have started Laura. It's been a long road to get to that and you finally did. I hope you are not feeling poorly and that you breeze through treatment. So nice the facility is close to home too. Hugs, Judy
Dear laura I do hope you feel well and less stressed now that treatment is underway. Yes tea and bickies are a welcome distraction, albeit just talking to the lovely trolley dollies! You will be armed to the hill next time, wishing you good luck xx
Hi Laura, so pleased you have finally started your chemo. It seems to have been a long and rocky road but you got there in the end. How things have changed. I had carbo/taxol for my first line treatment. Hated the taxol, it caused a few problems but when it was stopped after session 4 I felt ok on just the carboplatin. Different people different tolerances I suppose. Still waiting to find out what's going on with me now - finally had scans etc and have Oncologist appointment next Tuesday. Hope I'll find out one way or another. Hope your treatment goes well for you. Hugs. Jackie.
Hi , Lovely Laura. So happy you’re finally getting the treatment so you can move on. I hope it’s not so bad for you. Even if you have the discomfort , one’s mindset is that the chemo is going to do its job so you are willing to work through the discomfort.
I will be thinking of you. Sending you hugs and kisses. Please keep us posted. 😘🙏❤️
Hi Laura, so pleased to hear that you finally got your chemo even though it wasn't the best experience. I usually manage to sleep through a good portion of my chemo especially when I have had piriton to start with. I was at the end of the ward in a small space where I could see no one this week so I was glad I did sleep.
At least you will go prepared next time with food, drink and entertainment. I do hope it works for you as you are one lovely lady. Sending hugs and love Jenny xx
Hi Laura, So pleased for you that you've eventually managed to start chemo. Sorry that the posh place isn't up to the Royal United, sounds very quiet. At least as you've said you can go prepared next time with your own goodies to keep you going. Hope you don't feel too bad after this regimen.
I am so happy for you, another part of your journey has started.
However there is another part of the journey and equally one of the most important parts of our journeys is to have someone who is capable of fighting that journey with us when we are not able to, when our brain is too befuddled, to know what pills we should or shouldn't be taking, someone to produce a meal, when we have lost all appetite, someone to shout at the medical staff when necessary and in part I have that, but as I have always been the strong, deceive one in the family, and the fact that I have spent many of my years living in Italy has put me at a disadvantage, one handing over the reins to someone else and two I do not know enough about the uk medical system and feel quite lost sometimes.
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alternatives to chemo.
Chemo
