@calistay Good morning! Getting your port is the first step towards moving past this chapter in your life. There are different types of ports…mine was a Hickman line with 2 lumens (connectors) running out of my chest. I remember standing in the bathroom in front of the mirror looking at my newly implanted line and thinking “I look like a Cyborg!” I don’t remember what movie that was from but the character had tubes and wires popping out at random locations. LOL. I also had thoughts running through my head like, “The “s*** just got real!” But, these ports are key players in administering the meds that get us healthy again!

Your emotions will be all over the place, especially before the 18th because you don’t have a clue what any of this will feel like, the procedures for what’s going to take place and the outcome. Reading your comments I can already sense that you’re going to handle this situation well. Yes, things do take on a little more predictability once the treatments are underway. You’ll fall in to a rhythm of monthly cycles with chemo.
I don’t know your treatment plan but generally chemo is on a cycle of somewhere around every 28 days and a break between, depending on your type of medication.

The infusions are usually in an Infusion Center at your local cancer clinic or hospital. You’ll have either your own little room with a comfy reclining chair or sometimes there is a common room with several chairs where you’ll be able to talk with others having their infusions. It’s a bit like a weird social club! Not much in common but the cancers that link us together. And let me tell you, it’s a strong bond! In February it will be 7 years for me and I still keep in touch with one of my ‘chemo buddies’…we’re alive and healthy because of what we endured.

Anyway for your infusion, take along a bag with snacks, water bottle, ipad/phone (and charger), book, little art project…whatever you want to keep you amused and distracted. The infusion can take anywhere from a half hour to a couple hours so you want to be prepared to fend off boredom. The IV is portable on wheels, so you’ll be able to walk around, use the restroom, snack, etc.

There will be nurses present to monitor you during the infusion. Everyone is friendly and helpful. I’ve had infusions at several locations and never had a crabby infusion team! ☺️ Let them know immediatly if anything is uncomfortable. You may or may not feel nauseated. But nurses have meds for that! So take them! There are no awards given for being stoic!

During the next week or so, the chemo starts to work by rapidly quickly dividing cells, such as cancer cells. But there may be some collateral damage with other quickly dividing cells like blood cells, hair follicles, fingernails, mucous tissue in mouth and intestines. So hair may fall out, might want to get that preemptively buzz cut (it was liberating for me!! ) Things that helped my guts were eating Greek yogurt daily. While I still felt some nausea, the yogurt helped protect the gut biome.

Fatigue usually sets in between cycles as your blood numbers decrease. You may hit a very low period mid month that’s called the nadir period or neutropenia. After that, blood numbers begin to climb again, you start regaining energy feeling a little more peppy, just in time for the next cycle.

Because of the decrease in blood cells, red/white and platelets, your immune system will be compromised so masking and frequent handwashing are important. Avoiding food born illness too…it’s important to follow guidelines your team lays out for you in trying to avoid infections.

I know, I know! This all sounds so discouraging and overwhelming. But it doesn’t last! It’s a period you’ll be going through for a few months and then you’ll be on the upswing again. Keep in mind always, that our bodies are meant to heal! Sometimes they just need a little help. And until something better comes along, our chemo treatments are what we have to return us to health.

I know you’re a university student. Were you able to return home to be around friends and family during your treatments?