did any of you drive yourself to your treatments?

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moonlight60
moonlight60 Member Posts: 57
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

My dr told me I'd be able to drive myself, but all my friends are telling me I'm crazy. I haven't had surgery yet, so I'm not sure how many treatments I'll have.

Anyone here drive themselves through the whole series?

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited January 2012

    I drove myself back to work after chemo treatments...

    I don't know if I would do it again though...

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  • starbeauty
    starbeauty Member Posts: 327
    edited January 2012

    Perhaps some treatments are kinder than others, but if you receive dose dense ACT treatments... My opinion post whopping doses of benadryl is that you would be putting your own life and others at risk... I did not

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  • SharonMH
    SharonMH Member Posts: 353
    edited January 2012

    Hi,  I did not drive myself to chemo. But I drove myself to rads.  SharonH

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  • mks16
    mks16 Member Posts: 415
    edited January 2012

    I drove myself 30 miles each way to chemo and radiation treatments. Although I often had my sister with me during chemo, she doesn't drive so I drove. It usually took a few hours for me to feel the effects of chemo (fatigue and mild nausea) so I just made sure that I drove straight home after chemo... no staying in the city for shopping :)

    All the best to you, please remember that everyone reacts differently and go easy on yourself...

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited January 2012

    Are you asking about radiation or chemo?  I drove myself to both.  The only exception was my first chemo, because my DH came along for moral support.  Other than that, there was absolutely no reason I couldn't drive to & from chemo and rads.   Deanna

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited January 2012

    This is on the radiation forum so I'm assuming you're talking about driving to and from your daily radiation treatments. To answer your question-yes, I drove myself to and from all 33 daily appointments. It was about 15 minutes each way.

    Mary 

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited January 2012

    My mom rode her bike to and from chemo. I am not sure I would have been up to it though. 

    However, when you go to the chemo, you usually feel pretty OK. The bad effects do not usually hit immediately, so you probably could drive yourself home. 

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  • rosemary-b
    rosemary-b Member Posts: 2,006
    edited January 2012

    I drove myself to chemo and radiation. I had a few hours aterwards until I crashed.

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  • Reality
    Reality Member Posts: 782
    edited January 2012

    I had dose dense AC/Taxol. I drove to and from chemo. I only live 10 mins. from the hospital, but still should not have driven during AC as I was often dizzy and lethargic. I was ok with Taxol. I live an hour from my rad center. Driving was never a problem. I also drove 2 hours home the day after my lumpectomy, as I did not take pain meds. 

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  • redsox
    redsox Member Posts: 523
    edited January 2012

    I drove myself to work and then to radiation treatments and then home throughout the radiation treatment.  My total driving mileage was at least 80 miles a day and it was no problem (at least not any more than driving those distances in heavy traffic always is!). 

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  • moonlight60
    moonlight60 Member Posts: 57
    edited January 2012

    I'm sorry, yes, I meant rads treatments. I'll have about a 20 min drive each way and figured I'd drive myself, but all my friends are telling me to quit being so independant and let them help. I don't have a problem with them helping,...for this though, I prefer to drive myself if I can.

    YramAL, you're in Shoreline :) I"m in Kirkland and will be driving downtown to the Virgina Mason there.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited January 2012

    This is a radiation thread so I'm assuming you mean radiation. I drove myself and my rads center specifically said that you could easily drive. The only people I noticed being driven by someone else were very frail or elderly. Chemo may be another story.

    Caryn

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  • mks16
    mks16 Member Posts: 415
    edited January 2012

    You can drive yourself if you want to. Also, having a friend with you can be nice, just so you're not bored. As far as treatments go, radiation is rather uneventful :)

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  • Jelson
    Jelson Member Posts: 1,535
    edited January 2012

    I didn't have chemo, but walked back and forth to radiation and then would go kayaking.

    Julie E

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited January 2012

    Moonlight, the SEs are cumulative, so you might be OK at the beginning of rads but as time goes by you might need help.

    Best of luck.

    Leah

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited January 2012

    If a friend goes with you, they will probably have to wait in the main waiting room, rather than be able to go with you in the actual RT waiting room (where you wait after you change into a hospital gown) or actual RT area.  So, unless you're going to go out to lunch afterwards, or something like that, your friend(s) might feel a bit left out and more like just a chaffeur, since they can't be with you in the patient waiting area for privacy reasons.     Deanna

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  • Pegs
    Pegs Member Posts: 198
    edited January 2012

    the first chemo my husband took me and stayed after that i went by myself, emotionally sometimes I was good others not so much, radiation i went myself , that was no big deal, i felt no different after rad . treatment.  good luck

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  • sflow
    sflow Member Posts: 297
    edited January 2012

    Yes, worked all day then went straight to radiation treatments then home to take my son to work.  I got tired toward the end and did take a mental health day off work to rest.  Good luck to you!

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  • CTMOM1234
    CTMOM1234 Member Posts: 633
    edited January 2012

    I drove myself to every rad appointment. No problems at all and the last thing I wanted was to have a loved one or friend wait in that depressing waiting room.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited January 2012

    LOL, my daughter insisted on going with me to my first rads tx. That made me feel frail and elderly, which I am not!

    Caryn

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  • mks16
    mks16 Member Posts: 415
    edited January 2012

    That's sweet of her, exbrnxgrl!

    I had to take my seven year old with me couple of times because I couldn't arrange a babysitter, and the nurses took her into the RT room after the treatment was completed (and I was covered up), and let her manipulate the equipment to move it out of the way and lower the bed down so I could get up. She enjoyed thatSmile

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  • Tanya62
    Tanya62 Member Posts: 8
    edited January 2012

    Hi, Moonlight.  I did not drive myself to any of my 2 surgeries (lumpectomy and partial mastectomy in June/July), or any of my 8 chemo treatments which was every other week for 16 weeks, Sept - Dec. 2011.  You can drive yourself to chemo but i would suggest having someone come with you for support and to also drive you if possible.  You may be too tired or just feeling "blah" after treatments so please dont turn down help when it is offered.  Now that I am in the radiation part, I drive myself everyday.  The only hard part is getting dressed every morning, M - F.  I have radiation for 6 weeks which started last Thursday.  I hope this email helps, let us know how it goes.  Good luck!!

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  • AlaskaAngel
    AlaskaAngel Member Posts: 1,836
    edited January 2012

    The newer antinausea meds work better from what I understand. The only antinausea meds I received in 2002 were steroids and Compazine (prochlorperazine) and Zofran (ondansetron). I had family or friends that helped me out. When I did drive the half-hour drive home on my own or when they drove me, I usually peuked along the road. Lovely experience.

    A.A.

    P.S. I drove to and from rads (8 miles) without any problems.

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  • kiley56
    kiley56 Member Posts: 164
    edited January 2012

    I drove myself to radition twice a day for 10 weeks with out a problem.  But that is nice that you have friend that care so much for you !  And company might be nice, but it's whatever you are comfortable with.   Hugs, Kiley

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  • Ellie1959
    Ellie1959 Member Posts: 316
    edited January 2012
    Hi - I drove myself to rads all but one of the 34 times. The only bad about it was the hospital where I got them had a nurses's strike and I had to cross the picket line every time! I'll never forget that!Cool
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  • redsox
    redsox Member Posts: 523
    edited January 2012

    Just want to add -- don't be afraid to let your friends help you if they want to but this may not be the best way. 

    Bringing over some home-cooked meals?  That sounds better to me!

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  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited January 2012

    Hi Moonlight,

    My sister went with me to my first rads treatment ... after that I drove myself for the next 34 treatments.  It was about a 15 minute drive to my facility.  Towards the end I was getting tired, but I was lucky I had my appointments in the morning.  By afternoon the last two weeks I really needed a nap.

    Hope everything goes well for you,

    Bren

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited January 2012

    I didn't drive myself to surgery, my first AC treatment, or any of the Taxol treatments because I don't think benadryl and driving are a good combination.  That stuff kicked my butt.

    All other five AC, and all rads though.  None of this was major.

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  • Kay_G
    Kay_G Member Posts: 3,345
    edited January 2012

    I drove myself to rads, was a thirty minute drive each way.  I didn't find rads to hinder driving in any way.  The times my DH was able to accompany me were nice though, but that was rare.  And all my friends and sisters work, so there were no other options.  If you have friends who would like to drive you and would be a good companion, I would let them, but on days that no one is available or you feel like being alone, you'll be fine.  My cancer center had computers available to go on while you were waiting so that kept me occupied.  If yours doesn't, bring your own or a book or something for while you wait.  The actual treatment is only a few minutes.  Good luck!

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  • Megadotz
    Megadotz Member Posts: 302
    edited January 2012

    I drove myself to and from all my chemo/rad treatments except the first chemo.  The drive was about 10 minutes tops each  way.  So that was 5 of 6 chemos (TAC) and 35  external radiation treatments.

     We're all different and a lot will depend on how far away you are from the treatment location, traffic on your route and what type of side effects you experience.

    I also drove myslf to and from getting my port removed -- it was local anesthesia.

    Do what works for you. 

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