V&O treatment in ‘The Kitchen’

[Miu48]

I’m moving onto the next stage of treatment on Monday…it all starts with a quick trip to Guy’s on Monday to pick up my Venetoclax from one of the lovely specialist cancer nurses. I’ve then got a relatively intensive schedule for the next 5 weeks, of going into hospital for pill taking and blood monitoring. Back in this Thursday for Obinutzumab infusion number 1 of cycle 2. For those that have read my previous posts, you will know that I’m renaming the Chemotherapy Village at Guy’s to ‘The Kitchen’. Why would I do this?…Note to Guy’s Cancer Centre…signage and lift buttons need changing from C to K.

I’ll try and paint a picture here…Guy’s chemotherapy village is split into suites, I’ve been in suite A and suite B….Out of the two I really like suite B, there are 6 chairs and all of us cancer folk park ourselves and get down to business. Now, why am I calling it the kitchen…it’s quite simple really. As we all sit there in ‘the chair’ periodically we all start to ding (or beep)….as I’m there for such a long time I experience a lot of dinging within our suite.

On one occasion, I felt like we were all somewhat like microwave meals….here I sit with the timer set….’ping’ I’m done now. I now need tending to, maybe peel back the film, give me a stir and set me going again until I ping again. Or maybe we just need to do a flush. So, I’ve pinged and as per packet instructions, leave to sit for a while…..

However, obviously the suite I’m in isn’t just CLL folk, it’s people with all different types of cancers and of course their treatment differs. So, on any given day we have a mix of ready meals that ping really quickly and then we have chair occupants like me who sits there for a good five to six hours all in. I view myself as a slow cook dish….it’s a long time until I ping and I see a lot of comings and goings during my time in ‘The Kitchen’…so whereas some are ready meals, I’m more of a slam it in the oven and forget about it whilst you get on with something else. The nurses know that I’m all good and don’t need frequent checking….call me a nice slow cooked tagine…

Love to you all.

Emma xx

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

Your analogy is apt! I never thought of it as a kitchen (probably because I don't cook much and do not have a microwave)--yeah, i am an anachronism in the electronic world.

As I read your version of the infusion room, I was picturing the experience I had, which was much as you have described it--I was ALWAYS, the last to leave. Others came and went all day long and as my time neared, I was restless and needing to get up and move, but pretty tired at the same time.

I found the RNs to be very friendly, and very busy whether attending to one of us or getting the information they could on each patient and connecting with Drs. and other entities for patients who had questions. As I type this I am reminded of the one who was expecting in April--I must check in next time I have a Drs. appt. to find out how she and baby are doing.

[Fran57]

Ha ha! Very good analogy.Funnily enough, yesterday, when my microwave pinged, then the washing machine beeped and the oven timer buzzed, my husband made a beeping noise, so that I would give him some attention! 🤣

Keep up the humour and I’m sure you’ll soon be ringing the bell at the end of your treatment! 🔔

Stay safe,

Fran 😷