Before
starting chemotherapy, the hospital likes you to attend an information session.
Between my oncology appointment on the Friday and my first treatment on the
Monday, I attended my “training” on the Sunday. My Mum came with me and we were
rearing to go.
This turned
out to be so, so helpful not only because of the information I was given that
day, but because when we went to the oncology department on Sunday it was absolutely deserted. Only a couple of
nurses and patients in the chemo treatment room. No one else about.
It made the
department seem not as daunting. I was able to walk through calmly, taking
everything in. I felt comfortable there. I didn’t feel as overwhelmed as I did
just a few days prior. This was really a blessing.
There was
just Mum and I and one other small group with a lady a lot older than me who
would be receiving the same type of chemo as I was. One of the nurses went
through the information with us such as what chemotherapy is, how it’s
administered, side effects, more side effects, safety and lots more.
Side
effects can include any of the following:
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Easy bruising and bleeding
- Infection
- Nausea and vomiting
- Appetite changes
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Mouth, tongue and throat problems such as ulcers and pain
- Nerve and muscle problems such as numbness, tingling and pain
- Skin and nail changes
- Urine and bladder changes and kidney problems
- Weight changes
- Chemo brain, which can affect concentration and focus
- Mood changes
One of the
most important things to take away (which I wasn’t aware of) is that I need to
take my temperature twice a day and if it ever gets to 38 degrees, to present
to emergency immediately. I even got a special card to “flash” so I get
fast-tracked through emergency. Any sign of infection can turn serious pretty
quickly apparently.
There were
a couple of other surprising bits of information such as I need to take care of
my mouth as ulcers and other complaints are quite common. Chemo is hard on your
entire digestive tract. Lots of gargling with salty water.
I also need
to be super careful with cuts, burns, bites etc as any opening on the skin will
bleed more, heal slower and is a risk of infection.
Not
surprisingly, I will be more susceptible to germs as chemo essentially wipes
out your healthy white blood cells. The general advice is to avoid public
places. I had decided to avoid shopping centres and school as much as possible
but I can’t avoid my children who are always picking up bugs. Lots of hand
washing should help but this did make me a little nervous and paranoid.
We were
given a couple of vomit bags, some disposable gloves (in case of handling body
fluids) and a couple of masks to wear to prevent spreading of germs from
coughing and sneezing. We had all the paperwork, information and phone numbers
to ring if we had questions or problems arise at any time. And we were done. All educated and ready to
start.
I think I
was high on adrenalin by then. I was so keen to get started which sounds
absolutely crazy but now that I had a treatment plan, I just wanted to start
ticking things off! Mum and I walked out of that hospital like we were on a
mission. We stopped to pick up some groceries and bits and pieces to get
prepared for the start of my chemotherapy journey.
And what a
journey it was to be.