First Treatment
As and when required, your oncologist may decide to start you on Immunotherapy Treatment, which is given to you intravenously, by specialist cancer nurses. Treatment is given typically every six weeks. Like everything you have to do for the first time, we understand why you may be worried about it, but we have a wealth of experience amongst us. In fact, one of our group has recently completed her 100th treatment cycle! The one thing our experienced FROG's will tell you, is to keep hydrated and warm before your treatment. You will have to have a cannula inserted, for the nurses to administer your treatment and being hydrated and warm, makes it much easier for them to find your veins!
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You might find this video from the Churchill Day Treatment Unit, helpful.
Our Experience
Having your first Immunotherapy treatment, is one the things that our new members can find quite daunting. Well, the FROG's are here to reassure you and help you understand what to expect. Firstly, the cancer treatment centres are full of wonderful and caring staff, who do this day in and day out. They will make you as comfortable as possible, whilst ensuring that you are fit to receive your treatment, by reviewing your blood test results and making sure that you are feeling as well as can be expected.
Take a good book (or a bad one!) or ear pods for listening to music and it's usually all over before you know it.
For most of us, you don't feel like you have had anything done at the time, but for some there are some side-effects that follow.
Blood Tests
Before every treatment, you will have to have a blood test. Depending on where you live and where your treatment will be done, this can be done at your GP surgery, or at the treatment centre. It has to be done within a week of the treatment for the results to be relevant. They will typically take three vials of blood to ensure that they have everything covered. Apart from ensuring you are okay for treatment, this also helps your oncologist keep track of any hidden side-effects, like your thyroid function.
Visitors
Typically, visitors are not allowed on the treatment wards, mainly just due to space. It is however widely accepted, that you are able to take someone with you for your first treatment.