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What to expect after starting treatment
Hello all. I don't know if this will be helpful to anyone but me, but I thought I'd throw it out there. After being diagnosed and starting this very fast whirlwind of doctors' appointments and treatments, I started to freak out a bit about how I had no clue what was going to happen. All I could think about was what was I had seen in movies and tv. I found this lady's book on kindle unlimited. It's her journal from when she went through treatment. I don't know how to explain it, but it gave me concrete things to expect. She says the same thing that the doctors do, that symptoms vary by person. But I found it helpful in curbing my imagination. It's called 180 days of Chemotherapy and Radiation. Maybe it can help someone else.
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Thank you so much. I am getting a chemo port in on Wednesday and this book is sure to be helpful to me. Appreciate you taking the time to put it up here. Best of luck:)
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2 ReactionsI had a chemo port implanted - best thing ever. Only issue was before surgery they place the IV in your hand - that hurt so bad. I talked with someone after the fact and they said you can request lidocaine before they place the IV in your hand. When I had my bilateral, I asked for the lidocaine in the hand - the experience was so less stressful because I wasn't worry about the pain in my hand from the IV. It seems like such a small thing but for my surgeries - that is what caused me the most anxiety - the IV in my hand.
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5 ReactionsMy doctor prescribed lidocaine in a tube. I would apply 1 hour before each treatment when accessing my port and it works very well when they stick you. Less anxiety for you. If you would get a script for the tube, after you apply it on your port, cover the area with a small piece of Saran Wrap, this keeps. It from getting on your clothes.
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1 ReactionI know some people have ports but there are pic lines, too. They are in the arm. I am not sure if there is a reason for either type.
Good luck to all of you.
Pic lines are also used for chemo. They use these so you can receive more than one med at a time.
The port implant allowed my hands to be free during each of my chemo treatments. I also used the saran wrap with lidocaine on my port before each treatment. Best of luck to you
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1 ReactionThe lab techs gave me a supply of the bandages they used when attaching the needle for infusion. That worked for me.