Just a quick note to describe chemo day. If anyone (say, any middle schoolers reading this) wants a video instead, the prep video from Northwestern is actually pretty good. But basically, I start off the day with labs. This is to make sure that I’m healthy enough to proceed with chemo. Everything so far has been “in the black” and not red, but the oncologist said to expect things to move to the red as treatment proceeds. But obviously, there is a level of red they wouldn’t be comfortable with and treatment could be postponed or other steps needed before resuming chemo.
They start the draw first thing so that the labs come back while meeting with the doctor or PA. They check in with me on symptoms and any new questions I have. They also monitor the tumor itself to see it is reacting to the chemotherapy. Once they sign off on proceeding, the hospital pharmacy starts preparing the chemo drugs.
After that, I head up to the infusion center. The breast cancer center is on the 4th floor of Prentice and the infusion center on the 5th, so it really is convenient. There are steroids to reduce the swelling and I think to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. (For the first treatment, those were all IV. For the second one, I took pills.)
Then, I get fluids and they start the chemo. The chemo bays are a decent size room that is more or less private (a curtain separates them). And it is pretty chill process for us. Given the toxic nature of chemo, it is kind of interesting to watch the level of double-checking and protective garb that the chemo nurses go through.
I received two different treatments and the first takes about an hour and the second one about a half hour. So all in all, from arriving for the lab work to the final chemo treatment is about 2.5 to 3 hours. It’s actually very efficient for the seriousness of the treatment.
While there, it’s a good time to catch up on TV or listen to the playlist you all made me, since I’m pretty stuck in the ice gloves and booties. And it’s really pretty relaxing as long as you don’t think about how it basically poison running through your body!
I do bring a few of my own snacks, because the steroids always make me hungry. But there is also an organization that partners with local restaurants to deliver lunch to people receiving chemo. Last treatment, it was Wildfire and an excellent chicken lunch. For me, it it has been a special treat to have a good meal, but many going through chemo have struggling with financial difficulties and the meal is critical to their health. So if you are looking for somewhere to give a donation this fall, Culinary Care could be a good option!
And then I head back home to deal with the symptom cycle that results from the chemotherapy itself.