Anxiety before first chemo

cathyjoan · March 2011

I'm starting chemo this Thursday and am feeling nervous. The past five days I've had nausea and I'm wondering if this is due to nerves? I've heard the anxiety leading up to the first treatment is worse than the actual treatment.

I take anxiety medicine to sleep, but I'd like to avoid it during the day. Any advise is appreciated!

lovemyfamilysomuch · March 2011

Hi cathy,

Of course you are nervous, sweetie! It is so incredibly frightening to forge into the unknown. Try to take a deep breath, and know that you will have the strength to do what you have to do--do you have people you can talk to? We are here to help if you need us! Chemo sucks. Sometimes the anticipation is so scary. You can do it sister!! Hang in and keep breathing! MAybe go to a movie or visit a friend, or take a walk. But we are here for you!!! xo

msmpatty · March 2011

Cathy - The nausea probably is due to anxiety and anxiety is perfectly normal prior to your first chemo. I found it useful to focus on the positive (you're fighting this disease with everything you've got!), rather than succumb to the fear. Once you get in the treatment room you'll feel better. Everyone is so supportive and you'll get lots of helpful information. Just seeing the other patients made me feel less alone in the fight. And while chemo is a long haul, it was not as bad as I imagined. I took the post chemo meds exactly as prescribed and was surprised by how much of the time I actually felt pretty normal. You can do it! Stay strong and if you need support, BC.org is just a click away!

Patty

dlb823 · March 2011

I was also terrified of chemo. One thing that helped me a lot was a guided imagery CD from www.healthjourneys.com It's the one by BellaRuth Naperstak. One of my SIL's had sent me the one for surgery, and it helped so much that I bought the one for chemo. It's available as an MP3 download, so you can get it immediately, if you're interested. And there are previews on that website, so that you can actually hear a little bit of it.

And yes, the anxiety leading up to it is much worse than the chemo itself! Being prepared helps you feel more in control. In the Chemotherapy forum here (click on Forum Index above), you'll find a thread with all sorts of helpful ideas -- things to pack in a chemo bag, OTC antidotes to have on-hand to ease any SEs.

Luckily, chemo for early stage bc isn't nearly as horrible as it was years ago or as some chemos may still be. Most of us managed to get through it just fine, and I'm sure you will, too. Oh, one more thing ... in that Chemotherapy forum, look for the thread for women who are starting chemo this month. Going through it with others -- knowing you're not alone and being able to compare experiences and information -- just makes it so much easier.

Good luck! Deanna

cathyjoan · March 2011

Thank you Deanna.

Funny that you mention the BellaRuth CD. Last week I bought the one for cancer and enjoyed it so much that last night I bought the one for stress (thinking I can use it post-cancer too). I do enjoy the imagery and it helps me to relax. Perhaps I will get the chemo as well.

I'm making a list of things I need for chemo and I will check-out the chemo thread for other suggestions. Good idea.

I'm looking forward to getting the first treatment over with. Knowing others are going through this helps a lot - it can feel isolating.

Thank you!

Fearless_One · March 2011

If it helps at all, chemo was easier on me than I had expected it would be. I pretty much worked full-time through it, except on treatment days and usually the day after. Hopefully it will go as well for you, too....

Mauimama · March 2011

hi cathyjoan....

it's completely normal to feel nervous prior to your first treatment, but you will be surprised...in a good way. the nurses do everything they can to make you comfortable and relaxed, and the actual treatment is pretty uneventful -- i think it's just that we make it so big in our heads that we imagine it to be worse than it actually is.

i had my first treatment this past monday, the 7th, and have been surprised at how well i've been doing. it's definitely a physical issue, but your outlook and attitude can get you through anything, and i know you already know that.

the cd by bella naperstak was wonderful....a dear friend loaned me the cd and i listened to it on my ipod during the treatment, then read my yoga journal magazine and chatted w/my daughter and some of the nurses. before i knew it, the treatment was over and i was free to go!

it's okay to be nervous -- completely understandable -- but honestly, as everyone else here has written, you'll be just fine and will do better than you think. try not to over-amplify it in your head because you'll see that you stressed over it more than necessary. that being said, we're only human and sometimes it's hard to keep the emotions/nerves under control.

but you WILL BE FINE....you'll see. just take a breath when you go in, relax and let the process begin. look at it as a GOOD thing that you're doing for your body and your mental state will align with that and you'll see that it is much easier than any of us ever imagined it to be.

best of luck -- and this is an awesome site to come to for support and encouragement and (((hugs))) when needed....we're all in this together, but we'll all get through it together as well.

take care -- deep breaths -- you're going to do great.

Aloha~

Marl5900 · March 2011

I too was so terrified. But I planned the day at the chemo center. I packed: books, magazine, music, ear plugs and blancket for napping, drinks, favorite snacks, cream for dry hands etc. And I felt as if I were on a transatlantic flight. Business class even. I actually enjoyed my entire day of calm!

And plan on resting even more when you get home. I did not get super tired until the last 2 cycles but I took it easy anyway. Wink

PS. IF you have a port, remember to use a little numbing cream on it before going in and you are set!

mrsnjband · March 2011

My onco gave me ativan to take the night before chemo to help calm my nevres & get a little sleep. NJ

Teckler2 · March 2011

I have my first chemo this Friday, and I am really nervous too. I haven't been nauseuos, but my brain is so fogged right now, I can;t remember anything. I hope your first treatment went well

((Hugs))

browniefranks · March 2011

I had lumpectomy (+ re-excision surgery to get clear margins) to remove my bi-lobal nodule. It's currently staged at IIA, and all lymph nodes were negative. I am supposed to start chemo in a week. I am terrified! I have to get a port and I am scared of infection etc. Right now I am always tired and in pain from the 2 surgeries. I don't know if I can handle chemo. I am 39 years old and have to be brave for my 3 year old and 8 year old, and husband. All I want to do is hide somewhere and return to February before I found the lump!

browniefranks · April 2011

Chemo finally starts April 22nd at 11AM. Had to wait to recover from surgery and get approval of Oncotype DX test from insurance before choosing a chemo regimen. Oncotype DX was intermediate so expecting 12 weeks of chemo. Had port a cath placed on Wednesday 7AM. I wonder if I am the only one that has visions of Sergourney Weaver from aliens when the port a cath was implanted. It's such a weird feeling having a foreign body in me. Too tired to do much on Thursday during the day, so napped a lot and now I can't sleep even though I am supposed to be relaxed for tomorrow. Tried walking on the elliptical but got winded after 5 minutes, so I lay here with my laptop and contemplate if I should start working on a new project?

Anxiety before first chemo

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