It is natural to be scared about having chemotherapy. The medical staff have to tell you about all the side effects and the worst case scenarios, but it doesn’t mean that everyone has problems.
I had to have four doses of Abraxane (nab-Paclitaxel) and managed to work throughout. I did cut back on the socialising a little to try and reduce the chances of catching something, but mostly carried on as normal.
You asked about how long after your surgery your chemo might start. Obviously each hospital has its own ideas about that amount of recovery time needed. I had a lumpectomy at the end of July and started chemo in October.
I understand your feeling of anxiety. It’s the unknown that gets us.
I just got done done with chemo in July. It will make you tired and sometimes sick. But it was manageable for me. I was thinking I would rather do chemo than have surgery. I was really scared to have surgery. It’s over and I’m recovering now.
Hang in there, think positive. What has helped me is to plan a vacation when all this treatment crap is over.
Take care!
Hi all and @ekb
Sometimes though despite all precuations, you might have an infection. That’s what happened to me. My neutrophils dropped and dropped but it wasn’t sepsis or an identifiable infection.
After 6 weeks of chemo, i was admitted for 3 days and that was scary. They don’t have time to talk you through what’s going on until you’re on the oncology ward and it’s all a bit of a blur. But the staff are all very kind. I thought, great, i can go home and all will be well.
Same thing a week later but this time the drop was more significant and i was isolated in the end. My stay was 5 days and a delay in chemo of a week to help my bloods improve. I was sent home with antibiotics.
I was terrified before this happened of getting sepsis too. But the procedures i had for this unknown infection are exactly the same as sepsis but recovery time for sepsis is longer.
As long as you take your temperature after treatment and phone in if you start feeling unwell, you will be guided by the team. They should be well used to this in all hospitals and the protocols are standard. The positive about cancer is that we get gold star service.
I have 9 more infusions to go and I’m hoping to not end up as an inpatient again but if i do, at least i know a good proportion of the ward staff and i have experience of what will happen.
Let me know if you want more details.
Don’t let fear in too much. I gave myself 30 minutes each day for fear.
You will meet some amazing people on the chemo wards. It’s a different world.
Xx