what to do during THP treatments

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hhuey
hhuey Member Posts: 151
edited July 2017 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

My oncologist advised that my weekly THP infusions I will be starting in a few weeks could take like 5 hours. Has anyone else experienced this and what the heck do you do in a chair for that long?

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited July 2017

    Huey - below is a link to lots of tips & tricks. Read the header and then some of the posts. My infusions were usually longer that that since I also had carboplatin added. And then I was back the next day for Neulasta. Like I mentioned in another thread where you posted, you might want to join the current chemo thread so you can visit with others doing the same thing. Or read the June thread to see how those women are doing.

    I read, I napped, I just zoned out. I iced my fingers & toes. I took a lunch & some snacks. Take a jacket - it can get cold.

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics...


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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited July 2017

    Is it possible that your MO was only estimating 5 hours for the first infusion? The first one is longer since the meds are higher loading does, after that they're considered maintenance. Also, I've never heard of H&P weekly, only every 3 weeks but taxol is sometimes weekly.

    My infusions were in a private room, my husband and I usually watched American pickers or a movie or just played iPad games. The infusions typically lasted 2-2 1/2 hours with premeds and the multiple chemo bags.

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  • BellasMomToo
    BellasMomToo Member Posts: 305
    edited July 2017

    My first infusion was 6 1/2 hours. Subsequent infusions were 3 1/2 hours. I downloaded a bunch of movies to my tablet and watched them. My infusion center also had wifi so I was able to search the web too.

    Some of the IV bags are refrigerated and you may feel very cold. But it's summer now so the coldness might feel good.

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  • Beatmon
    Beatmon Member Posts: 1,562
    edited July 2017

    I always take my own pillow...comfort snuggle with it. One thing that has helped me are good, soundproofing earphones. I leave them on after my movie to lessen the conversations that I can hear of other patients and their visitors. I'm not a hermit, but I find it irritating that those with bad manners and speaking on their cell phones on Speaker drives me through the roof.

    Bose earphones....my own little piece of zen! Lol

    Oh, and you can also walk around in the unit and stretch your legs, go to the potty etc. Just be sure you are steady on your feet after pre medications. Mist people try to snooze. Your first treatment you will,probably be a little nervous and not rest as well. But, it gets much easier after the Unknown of the first treatment. You can crochet or knit







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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited July 2017

    It seems like my first treatment was around 6 hours and the others were about 4.5 hours. It actually goes by pretty fast. In my center, I frequently had my oncology nurse or the social worker or someone stopping by.

    I mostly talked with my husband, read, played games on my Kindle, and sometimes worked on my laptop. I've been known to fall asleep, too!


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