Chemo No.1

2nd September 2022. William Harvey Hospital

Chemo 1 done ✅

7 to go 💪🏻

Finding my lump wayyy back in December, this day was a long time coming. 9 months to finally be starting a treatment plan. A plan which they originally said would be in 4-5 weeks. How wrong did that prediction turn out to be!

A huge relief to get this day over with and know what to expect for the next 4 months. My mind put at ease by the lovely staff all cracking jokes, all so warm and kind - these people are true heroes.

Finally, sat in the big old blue armchair wearing this sexy ‘cold cap’ enduring the first cycle of chemo. A pink riding hat that tries to save your hair from falling out. It has to reduce the temperature of your scalp so less blood flows there, which in turn helps the chemo drugs from reaching the hair follicles. After getting past the first 15 minutes of painful brain freeze it gets easier. Choosing to wear this adds on an extra 2 hours to the whole process, but it’s worth a shot! 🥶

Pumped with anti sickness and steroids before we kicked things off, the chemo itself was over pretty quickly. 4 large syringes of the drugs went straight in my picc line. One known as the ‘red devil’ so my wee is now also red. Lovely👌🏻

Given a ‘lunch paper bag’ mid way through to break up the day was a nice surprise! 🍱 Feeling grateful to get a full belly in me before the waves of nausea have started to creep in.

One long emotional day but one step closer to coming out the other side.

💪🏻👊🏻