Hi
When I had my original chemo treatment in 2004 I used to have to go to Cheltenham oncology centre so was always taken now I am able to have it at Worcester royal which is only about 2 miles away. When I went for my first chemo in August my OH came too my appt was 10 and we finally got home at 6:15!
I felt really guilty ( he works nights) and all we did was sit around waiting - yes we did have a nice fish & chip lunch whilst waiting for the drugs but other than that I did feel guilty him just sitting there and feel he’d be better off sleeping for his Fri night shift & I’d be quite happy dozing, reading etc
This Friday I’m going to go on my own - what do you do/think?
I’ve had 4 chemo sessions so far and my OH has been with me for each one. I do feel guilty when the treatments get delayed and I spot him checking his watch. But he wants to be there for me “every step of the way” - I start on TAX later this month and he will be with me for the first one but if that goes okay then I may “fly solo” for the rest.
It’s nice having someone with you though - perhaps you could get a friend to come with you so that your OH won’t worry about you being on your own? He needs his sleep if he is a shift worker. Best to try and work out something so that he doesn’t feel guilty if he isn’t with you.
I went on my own for the middle few… then OH came again…it’s useful to have someone there to run up and down to pharmacy, but other than that, I agree it’s just sitting… if there are plenty of volunteers to do the pharmacy bit, perhaps have a go on your own and see how it goes - you can always revert to Plan A! Jane
My first chemo I had my OH there because I was scared of the unknown.
The rest |I said theres no point because it’s just sitting there, nothing dramatic happening and could just talk with other people having chemo or read magazines, so not that bad.
So the rest I did on my lonesome. It’s not like you collapse when you get up or anything. I had all sorts of horrors in my head about it.
I would come home and then have a sleep.
Try 1 on your own and see how you find it. xxx
Hi ladies, my best friend from school day came down from Scotland and came with me on my first chemo… love her to bits. She going back soon and i will be on my own, but i know what to expect.
Rose x
Just explain to him how you feel. If he really wants to come with you, let him. My OH wanted to be with me the first few times but was happy for me to go on my own once he was sure that traveling on my own wasn’t going to cause me problems. Hopefully it won’t take so long next time as they often give you your first dose more slowly in case of an adverse reaction.
My hospital has recently introduced a new system which reduces waiting times and saves money. Previously you had to have a blood sample taken within 2 days before chemo and then when you arrived for your chemo appointment the onc nurses would check the blood results and have a chat with you with a list of questions to make sure you were fit for the chemo. If there were any issues, they would have to find an oncologist, and sometimes the pharmacy would not make up the chemo until all these checks had been done. Now they make an appointment to phone you the day before, and an onc nurse checks that you’re ok and that you are def coming in. If there are any issues they can organise for an oncologist to be available to see you. This saves the patient lots of time and it saves the hospital time and money.
Best of luck with the chemo. What are you on?
Love, Lynn
Hi joandsteve144
I went on my own every time.
On the first time I texted my daughter to let her know I was “going to the chair now” and she came then. She insisted on being there to see what was happening -bless her. She popped in for a short time with her one year old on subsequent occasions.
I made my own way to and from the hospital by public transport each time without any problems.
Good luck with it all, may your side effects be few and small!
I went by myself each time as my OH is great but sitting around makes us both frustrated and timings were so erratic. He did work just 5mins away from the hospital so I felt he was accessible if I wanted support. He always took me home just is case I had an adverse reaction. Some people love having company and chatting - I’d prefer just being quiet when waiting and read; it depends on what suits you I think.
I share the same point of view as francesw, I have had four sessions so far and have done them by myself( with just my OH picking me up at the end). I usually take a bag of goodies and mags to pass the time.
Hi joandsteve144
As you’ve had chemo before you’ll understand what happens and also what the delays can be 
My OH doesn’t like needles so for him to come was always not going to happen! My elder daughter came to collect me the first time (I had 6 x FEC) and saw how the treatment was given etc but to be honest I didn’t want to talk or be with anyone whilst having chemo. I had a ‘heads down, let’s get on with it’ attitude and really didn’t want to have any one there that I felt I had to chat to. I did however chat with other ladies (and gents) having chemo at the same time and the nurses were lovely so time did pass pretty quickly. Having said that several patients seemed to have the whole family visit so I guess it’s up to you how you feel. If you do go on your own just take lots of things to do e.g. magazines, books and I always took my Nintendo DS - my brain training came on in leaps and bounds 
Nicky
Hi Joandsteve.
Not sure if you mean the company, or the treatment itself, but at Cheltenham you have to use the chemo suite alone. OH can come forst time around, but will have to wait outside after the first infusion.
I think different hospitals have different rules. Mine was very clear - you can take someone in with you the first time but after that you’re on your own. To be honest I was quite happy like that - chatting to people in other chairs or doing puzzles or listening to see which inappropriate song would come up on the radio next…
Maybe you could check what the rules are and that might decide for you?
Hope all goes well, and sorry you are having to do this a second time round.
hope you dont mind me butting in, i am not having chemo, but I do have a husband who want to support me but does not quite know how to do it.
have you thought of asking him to drop you off and then coming back to fetch you after you have finished? that way he will feel as if is contributing and you will not feel so bad about him loosing so much sleep. If the session is delayed you can contact him to say what time you need to be picked up
my chemo was a go in on your own place… which meant OH would wait till we saw the onc and then go home , I would send him a text when i finally started my treatment and he would come back an hour later to take me home…my dad was treated in a diff hos and my mum went with him (his drugs took 8 hours to put in) and my sister went along too once so that was my dad plus 2 in the unit!
My OH came to the first one so that he could see what was involved but after that I went on my own. Partly because it’s so boring most of the time and also because even with a season ticket, parking was so expensive so he’d drop me off and collect me. I had a central line in so it was less of an ordeal than having to have a cannula each time. Mostly I was in a room on my own so I took my Kindle, Walkman and tried not to think about how long it all took. 
Nymeria x
My OH came for the 3-weekly ones but I go alone for the weekly ones. There is no way he could would be able to walk out of work every week, even if he wanted to, even though his work is virtually next door.
its amazing how every hos is different, in dorchester we get given a free parking ticket as chemo patients valid for 6 months… I was very naughty and used it once when i had a cyst drained and not chemo!
Pretty much the only complaint I have about my local hospital is the cost of parking, plus the car park is quite small which made it a nightmare for afternoon appointments.
I did first 4 chemo with friends ( Think they just wanted a nosie!!) But have done last 8 on my own I take a book and get a cup of tea. I think it is easier on your own as you don’t worry about the waiting and wasting friends time. Went for last one today on my own YAY finished!! and cried on the way out Not sure what happened there!!! Car parking is free at Oncology dept at my hospital x x
Slight variation here, my OH always drove me as a long drive and my sleep was too erratic for me to be safe driving. It was he who had the Kindle!
We had specially allocated parking for which we paid a £10 refundable deposit each time-so free once we had got the special pass.
Accompanieds/unaccompanieds were about 50/50.
One day the woman beside me had her OH with her, he would have driven me crazy, jumping up and down the whole time to see if her drip had gone through yet etc etc far rather have my silent old man!