hi i am going to have chemo soon at luton and dunstable hospital. this is not my local hospital although i have been treated here. i would like to know what chemo section etc is like as i am really scared and know i am going to let myself down by crying.
help
julie
Hi Julie
Sorry no one has replied to you yet, but they will. Can’t help with your hospital, as I am being treated at Southend and have finished chemo and am now on Herceptin. You will be fine I promise. The first time is very daunting, scary and nerve racking, as you don’t know what to expect. But I promise it is doable, if I can get through it anyone can.
My first time was ok actually, it is so not as scary as we all fear. You end up sitting in a nice comfy chair, ours have leg rests too. They insert the cannula and then you have saline first, then your chemo and then flushed through with more saline. You can expect to be there approx 4 hours, or if they are having a bad day, then longer. I would definitely recommend you take someone with you too, as it is nicer having someone to chat too, and being your first time is probably safer. Not that there is anything to worry about. And don’t worry about crying, cos we all do it. I did on my first time, but they were short lived and the chemo nurses are all so nice and used to it.
Let me know how you get on and what treatment you are having. If need anything else just shout.
Love
Dawn
x
Hello julie
i read your note this morning just before going for my first chemo treatment and thought if it went ok i would contact you, if not i would keep quiet. I have only moments ago walked indoors and the very fact that i send this message says it was ok.
Like you and everyone i guess i was so very frightened but now i wish that i had been able to be calmer during the last weeks. I go to Northampton hosp. for treatment. The treatment room was the same as Dawn described. The only difference between Dawn and I was that I was only there for one and half hours and also my hosp. no longer allows relatives in the treatment room but because it was my first time and i told the staff how frightened i was my daughter was allowed in with me. Perhaps this may be something that you want to check on - can someone come in with you. Having said this i know that next time i would be alright going in by myself.
When I first went in i didn’t cry exactly but tears poured down my face! The nurse said that she was used to this a common reaction, so try not to let this bother you too much.
I don’t know what to expect in the coming days but i do know that had this treatment been called anything other than chemo i (a not very brave person) could have gone through it with no worries.
I do wish you well and hope that when you know your dates you are able to let us know so that you can feel supported by others who have gone through the same.
With much love
Margaret
Hi Julie
I was treated at two different hospitals my local one and another one which I hadn’t been to before. At my local one I was given an introduction to the chemo lounge a few days before and the chemo nurses were all very lovely and still are (I still go for blood tests and herceptin there on a regular basis). Relatives/friends are allowed in, there are recliner chairs to sit in, the nurses bring us tea, coffee, sandwiches etc and also pass round chocolates. They really make you feel at home and really look after you. If using the cold cap, they bring you heated blankets, wrap you up and generally make sure you are feeling comfortable and they look after you if you’re feeling sad/unwell. I really couldn’t ask for better.
When I was having chemo at the other hospital I was admitted onto a ward instead of going to the chemo lounge. Again, couldn’t have asked for better treatment plus all the other patients were really nice. There was a room to go and chill in with radio, tv etc or you could just lie on your bed and rest. So I’ve had experience of chemo at two different hospitals and I can only praise them highly.
If you need to cry, then have a good cry and you’ll be well looked after - honestly they really do keep an eye on you.
Wishing you lots of luck
Ruby xxx
hi all
Thanks for your replies.
I am still shocked that noone has actually replied that is going to luton. Perhaps not many with breast cancer in our area as i see form another thread (healthy living day in luton) that not many people are going. It doesn’t explain the amount of people in waiting rooms when i go for apts.
Take care all
Have a good weekend if you can
Julie
Hi Julie
Are you going to the Healthy Living Day in Luton ? I’m planning to.
Ruby
Hi Julie,
I live in St Albans, very near Luton, but I’m being treated at Mount Vernon in Northwood as it’s all part of West Herts. I expect you live over the border in Beds. All the At Albans ladies seem to go where i go.
I really hope the replies above have reassured you, and that it goes well,
Jacquie x
Hi Jacksy
I’m also having some of my treatment at Mount Vernon as live in Herts.
I’ve been having rads for the last 2 and a bit weeks and got only Mon and Tues left.
Ruby x
Hello Julie. Sorry, only just saw your post. I was treated at the L&D in Jan-Mar 2006. Most of the nurses were lovely, particularly Sandra and Flora and Jo. Couldn’t have asked for nicer people and they took great care to make sure I was comfortable.
I threw a little hissy fit on my first day, because the nurse who had done the orientation visit with me spoke very poor English and had not explained stuff very well and I was very very uptight, but Sandra did a great job in calming me down. The chemo clinic is nice, clean, comfortable and after the first time I felt quite at home.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions, to ask people to explain stuff to you, several times if need be.
Best of luck!
Irene
Hi,
I had part of my treatment, FEC at the L and D…june 07 and i have to say i found the nurses lovely and the atmosphere in the chemo ward quite calming and quiet, then i had 3x Tax at mount vernon which has a much bigger chemo ward and on the whole took alot longer each time.
I have now had my surgery and am just about to start my rads at mount vernon as they dont do them at Luton, which is really annoying as the hospital is so close to where i live, but hey ho!
Have you been to the support group at the breast screening clinic in luton, i went for the first time this month and the ladies there were lovely and friendly, i shall definitely go again
Sue x
hi sue
i actually live in wootton near Bedford but am being treated at Luton. iIonly went for a mammogram there as Bedford had a long waiting list. I said i didnt mind thinking a one off thing. Now i have been weekly since sept sometimes twice a week as wound not healing right. I have had two ops luckily got into Cobham Clinic under nhs still cost a lot. My bc nurse is Francis… I am under Dr Ravi who has ben gt really understands me. I keep reading about mcmillan nurses never met anyone or anything to do with support only bc nurse who doesn’t say much cause i am out of the area i think. I was transferring back to Bedford for chemo as nurse told me to… think she wanted to get rid of me. Then Dr Ravi interefered and said wanted me to stay here under oneroof she didn’t like it. I am going to start chemo when wound has healed.
have a gt weekend
julie.
HI RUBY
I am not going to healthy living day as too scared at meeting people. i suffer from panick attacks and this bc has really made me a stay at home person. sorry i really would have liked to have found out more. i hope you enjoy it.
have a gt weekend
julie
Hi all
Another question for those treated at luton. please can you tell me why you have had some treatment at luton and then mount vernon. i dont want that when i can have it all at bedford two miles down the road. when they thought i was going to have rads i was going to be transferred back to bedford so i went to cambridge. i dont mind luton it feels like home now…
thanks
julie
Hi Julie
I’m like you had FEC at Barnet and 3 lots of Taxotere at Mount Vernon and having rads there too. From what I remember you can only get Taxotere at Mount Vernon and not Barnet and from what you’ve said not Luton either. Barnet don’t have rads equipment which is why I’m having rads at Mount Vernon. Plus my oncologist travels to various hospitals in the area but is based at Mount Vernon.
Ruby x
Hi Julie and Ruby,
They don’t do taxotere or rads at Luton so its off to mount vernon for that, my onc is also based at MV…dr ah see…so i am off there for 3and a half weeks of rads. My breast care nurse is also francis at L and D, she has been really helpful and lovely and Dr Ravi did my WLE in dec.
Hope you are doing ok
suex
Hi Sue
Thanks for the info. I have found everyone really nice. Dr Ravi did my wle in Oct and my mastectomy and recon in DEC. I have trust in him. When you read some things on here i think i am lucky although wound problems and no one knows y. I saw Dr ah see 2 weeks ago and she said fec chemo if i wanted it. I cant start till wound healed Dr Ravi is desperate to skin graft but i cant go through another op and then have two wounds to heal. I was told i would have all my treatment at luton. It seems people have fec and something else. I was just told fec and 4 or 6 doses whatever i could cope with.
thanks again and i will ask if all treatment at luton next time i meet Dr ah see
Julie x
Dr Ah see!!!
Hi Jacksy
I was also wondering about the Dr Ah See??
Are you in Herts area? I’m not sure but I seem to recall that maybe you are?
Ruby xx