As usual we got to the Unit way before our 10:30 appointment and of course they were running late (they always do apparently, the schedules are just too tight)
I managed to stay fairly calm in the waiting room but when it was finally my turn, I did have a lot of tears πͺ and can’t really say why - I think just the reality of it all is hitting me and what hurdles we might have to face over the next 18 weeks.
Sarah my nurse was an angel πΌ(she’d noticed my upset on Wednesday and that was just being there for pre treatment “obs”) so managed to find me a quiet area with no one looking on - I know we're all in the same boat but there are old hands there who might have forgotten the trauma they first went through and maybe unsympathetic towards the newbie.
Sarah my nurse was an angel πΌ(she’d noticed my upset on Wednesday and that was just being there for pre treatment “obs”) so managed to find me a quiet area with no one looking on - I know we're all in the same boat but there are old hands there who might have forgotten the trauma they first went through and maybe unsympathetic towards the newbie.
Sarah told me it was absolutely OK to cry and be upset, she would simply carry on with what she needed to do - fabulous way of dealing with the situation and it helped me get over the tears far quicker than someone telling me to pull myself together.
I don't think I made it clear yesterday but FEC is actually 3 different drugs which work together to stop the cancer cells dividing and multiplying and each drug attacks the cells at a different phase of their growth - hence why they are given jointly.
First I had a needle inserted into a vein in my arm and luckily she got a good vein at the second attempt (the first one wasn't suitable), otherwise apparently she had to work from my wrist up to my elbow trying to find one - ouch! Then a bag of anti-nausea fluid was dripped through followed by a bag of saline to flush the line.
Sarah talked nineteen to the dozen making us laugh a lot, she also gave us lots of useful info and tips to help mitigate some of the side effects.
Then in her words she got out the "3 evil ones" and these she administered with a hand syringe slowly and steadily pushing the plunger - the first one 'F' looks just like a nice rosΓ© wine and indeed my first few wees were very red (preferred the nuclear blue on Op. Day) - they were no problem, a little cold sensation under the skin but OK. Each one was then flushed through the line and finally a dose of Zolendronic Acid which is the bisphosphonate to help prevent bone problems.
The session lasted three hours rather than the scheduled two (and I was given a delicious Salmon Sandwich) and whole experience was made very easy by Sarah's attitude and I am incredibly grateful to her. Also a big hug for Ian who stayed by my side throughout and even accompanied me to the loo to wheel the drip stand - true love πππ
First FEC down - 2 to go π₯