Hi again Lorna, how are you doing with your post op recovery?

I started cycle 1 of my IV chemo after my Lobectomy on 29th Jan, I too was dreading it especially as day 1 was 9 hours long but I coped and it honestly wasn't as scary as I imagined it would be as the nurses were all so lovely. I had some reactions to the Cisplatin and Vinorelbine that I was on and they've changed me to Carboplatin and Gemcitabine which I had for the first time yesterday. (It was delayed slightly as my white blood count got very low and I was neutropenic, so I've got injections to start from tomorrow for 3 days to try and stop my white cells going so low this time)

One side effect they were concerned about when I was on the Cisplatin was the tinnitus. I coped ok with the nausea by taking the anti sickness meds, and if I felt tired I lay along the sofa or went to bed although I did/do try to get out for a walk and some fresh air every day. I had bad constipation too and left it a bit late to take laxatives, so I've learned a lesson from that to take them sooner if I've not had a movement. Try to drink lots of fluids too, at least 2 litres a day and eat healthily, although I developed a craving for chocolate which isn't very healthy! Avoid too many crisps and crusty bread, I cut my mouth on some bread which was sore and I had to get a prescribed mouthwash to help clear it up. Your immune system will be lower than usual; I've tried to avoid crowds, have asked friends to stay away if they have colds etc.

Everyone seems to react differently and there is useful info on the macmillan and CRUK websites about general side effects and their typical liklihood.

I've also found it useful keeping a short diary each day listing any side effects, my temperature, if I've had a bowel movement etc, makes it easier to remember when you meet with the oncologist/cancer nurses.

Good luck with everything, you will be stronger than you think you may be. The nurses administering the chemo are all very nice, I had questions at every step of the process and they were happy to explain exactly what was happening, how long each 'bag' would take etc.

If you have any discomfort at any point, let the nurses know.

One final thing on the Cisplatin in case they've not already explained is that you have to make a note of fluids in and fluids out, ie write down how much you drink while in hospital and how much you pee (you take a measuring jug to the loo with you, but don't wait until you are desperate like I did as I was worried my jug would spill over....)

Hope that's helped.

Take care

Ruth

Hi, sounds like you are healing well. I'm really struggling finding bras that don't rub on my scars and vest tops only give so much support! I'm using bio oil now too in the scars.

If all goes well after yesterday's chemo (cycle 2), I'll continue with cycle 3 in 3 weeks time and then 4....

The sun made an appearance earlier today so I popped out, it's been so cold and wet recently it's hard to motivate yourself to go out...

Keep in touch and let me know how your chemo goes.

All the best

Ruth