How did you mark the occasion of your last chemo?

kber

My last chemo (WBC count permitting) will be tomorrow.  

My center does not have a bell - something about respecting people who don't get the chance to ring.  However, treats and flowers occasionally show up and I think they may be linked to patients marking their last appointment.  Last week was one of my "chemo buddies" last day and she got a picture with the nurses and her 4 sons who all came to treatment with her pretty regularly (really nice guys - I'll miss them!).

I was planning on having my husband bring in two bouquets of pink roses - one for the lab team and one for the nurses station.  Plus trays of cookies or something.  Store bought as I want to respect the fact that many patients are immune compromised and could not partake of something home made from a strange kitchen.  

What did you do or what would you like to do?

illimae

I had chemo weekly with a different nurse each time. I did have the same wonderful lab personnel for the entire 5 months. I brought the hilarious caller/wristband lady a restaurant gift card and flowers for the staff.

I didn’t ring a bell, I was told at my last abraxane that “you’re HER2+, you’ll be here every 3 weeks forever”. It was a little harsh but true.

Ingerp

kber at my “lasts” I always take in cupcakes (from a bakery—much better and prettier than anything I could make). My husband met me at my last chemo and some friends surprised me with flowers and balloons. I’m glad you mentioned the flowers—I think I’ll get some for the volunteer who was almost always there on tx days. Other than that I took myself to McDonald’s after my last rads (yes I love Mickey Ds) and after my last Herceptin I’m going out of town by myself for the weekend. We’re having a larger family vacation a week after but I wanted to do something other than sit around the house so off I’ll go. That said, if you’d like nothing more than a quiet weekend at home, I’d make sure to have some of your favorite junk food around and some champagne if you like it. In fact I may take some in to my last Herceptin although will keep it to one glass until Iget the drive behind me. ;-)

kber

I have had a rotation of nurses throughout the past 5 months, but limited to the same 4 - 5  women and they all know and great me each week.  I think there are about 10-12 who sit at the chemo nurses station.  My daughter ordered a few dozen pink roses, plus a bunch of those little plastic green stem holders in case each nurse would like to take a few home.  

I've been so tired and have been kind of dreading this last one as I know it will get slightly worse before it gets better, but I'm starting to get into the spirit of things.  

LaughingGull

I appreciated the job from nurses, labs people etc. from the bottom of my heart, but I didn't do anything.

When I finished chemo, I still had 9 months of Herceptin/Perjeta infusions to go. When I finished Herceptin/Perjeta, I was worn out from arguing with my oncologist and not in a celebratory mood. Also, I feel superstitious about celebrating the "end" of anything related to my cancer, since I have high risk for recurrence. And I am frankly traumatized by this whole experience.

So, to me, this is like the pink or cancer survivor stuff. Public celebration is not mandatory. If you don't feel up to it you don't have to do it.

sbelizabeth

My husband took me for a long, glorious mountain bike ride the afternoon of my last chemo. The celebration in the March spring glow was heavenly.

kber

Laughinggull - fully agree!  And tbh, that's kinda why I didn't include my Oncologist in the party.  He and I are going to have years long relationship - he doesn't get flowers every time we pass a milestone.

(Besides, I don't think he'd know what to do with them anyway.)

Pinky24

I didn’t ring the bell - it felt too much like tempting fate. I snuck out quietly. My husband said it reminded him of the Irish blessing that says something like, “May you be dead and buried three days before the devil knows you’re gone.” We went out for ice cream that night

BellasMomToo

My infusion center didn't have a bell either. Which is fine with me cause I would not have wanted to ring it.

Patients and former patients often brought treats to the infusion center. My last chemo was on Valentine's Day. I didn't bring anything. But on my last Herceptin day, I brought two boxes of See's candy -- one for the front desk and one for the chemo desk.

ETA: The SEs from my final infusion of TCHP hit me really hard. There were some days where I was exhausted from walking up the flight of stairs to get to my bedroom. I had a couple of sets of 30 minutes of uncontrollable shivering. I remember thinking that there are must be only 6 infusions cause I wouldn't survive a 7th. So I wasn't up to celebrating even if I wanted to.

LaughingGull

Pinky, that's exactly the way I feel! I snuck out quietly, too. Ice cream, a hike, some special time with family or good friends. To me, those are glorious and private ways to celebrate.

Too traumatized to throw a public party to celebrate one of the worse things that ever happened to me. Regardless of how wonderful the nurses are -and they really are.

kber, I also felt the relationship with my oncologist would be yearslong, but it is not going to be. When I started asking him questions that took him out of his comfort zone, and pressing for answers, he was annoyed, frustrated, and quickly tired of me. May have to do with this environment of endlessly thankful and admiring patients, and an army of adoring nurses who think he is semi-divine. So the last thing I felt like doing was throwing some thankful cancer party.

Sorry to hijack your post with my rant!

kber

I have very little use for doctors who think they are God’s gift. Had a bad experience with undiagnosed lymes years back that was very frustrating. Also a good way to learn how to self advocate in the end. I think if i hadn’t gotten the run around and learned how to politely challenge medical professionals when i know they are wrong, i would not have been so persistent with my diagnosis process. That bad doc years ago may have saved my life by teaching me to stand up for myself when it really counted. (How’s that for glass half full?)

When I met my MO for the first time I laid it out. I was going to research, ask, google challenge and considered myself the primary interested party in my treatment and recovery. If he was uncomfortable with that, I’d thank him for his time and for a referral to another doctor who’d be a better fit.

I have been a PiA ever since. I bring him studies about treatment options. He responds by reading and commenting. Occasionally we’ve changed our approach based on something I’ve found. I also respect the hell out of his expertise. He says he appreciates my active approach and since we are both data geeks, we are on the same waive-length so far. But if something changes, I’ll change too. No docs ego is more important than my life.

LaughingGull

Love your attitude!

moth

There is no bell at my center & I didn't bring anything or do anything other than get out of there as fast as I could. Hubby, kids, the dogs & I went camping by a lake the day after for a few nights. That was nice.

kber

I suspect I'm not going to feel up for a friends and family celebration for a couple of weeks, but we are definitely going to do something. Each chemo has gotten harder with a longer and less complete rebound, so why should this last one be different? I don't expect I'll walk out of my last session and just shake off the last five months overnight

I'm going to allow myself to rest and recuperate for a bit. Then in 3 weeks my husband, daughter and I are flying cross country to attend my sons college graduation. I'll still take it easy, tho

Ive not had alcohol during chemo, mainly because I've been nauseous and it seems entirely unappealing. But I've had enough people drop off wine or champagne “for later" that once I get my taste back, I could stay nicelysauced for a week. I'll have tp pace myself.

Pinky24

Kber, I’m guessing you will probably be feeling pretty good by your son’s graduation. It definitely took longer for the last round to cycle through my body, but now I’m exactly 2 weeks out from my last AC and finally feeling pretty decent. I even worked out last night, something I haven’t been able to do in months! Congrats on making it to the finish line. Pat yourself on the back, celebrate when you’re ready, and look forward to your son’s graduation

Ingerp

kber--thinking of you this special day. (And secretly hoping your taste buds return quickly and you can hit some of that sauce!!!)

Legomaster225

The flowers sound like s great idea!I brought chocolate covered pretzels and strawberries to my chemo nurses. They laughed and cried with me for 6 months and I was thankful for them. My sister made me a shirt and my niece made a sign. We also had a family/friends dinner that night at our traditional burger joint. To me that was pretty special. I was so glad to be done with chemo and had my BMX scheduled for 2 weeks after. Everyone has to do what they are comfortable with. I am not a big pink ribbon person on a daily basis but I'm ok with it sometimes.

Legomaster225

Kber- I just noticed today is your last chemo day! Hope your neutrophils cooperated. My only chemo delay was my last scheduled one. Frustrating but neupogen worked and it was just a one week delay. Congratulations!! Praying you bounce back quick!!

Simbobby

I just quietly slipped out after my last chemo, thensent them an Edible Arrangement.

kber

Quick update - I’m ok for chemo. So “authorized” DH to go get flowers.