Skip to main content

The Fluorouracil Infusion at Home

The Fluorouracil infusion is over 46 hours delivered by a small portable pump. The container is about the size small coke can and is totally quiet. I was provided with a small pouch on to hold the container that could be hung around the neck or tied at the waist.

The infusion is continuous for 46 hours, day and night, but the container and the fine pipe did not cause any significant issues or discomfort.

On the second morning of having the infusion I woke up with a bleed from the PICC Line entry site and phone the hospitals Chemotherapy Help Line. As the bleed had stopped the nurse said that I should come into the hospital as planned for the pump to be removed at 5 pm. 

Later in the morning I suffered a leak from the PICC Line site, a clear fluid that soaked the dressing and my shirt. The second call to the Help Line advised that my upper arm be bandaged and that I should get to the Medical Day Case Unit as soon as convenient and if the infusion had been completed, they would remove the pump and pipe early and then dress and flush the line.

After driving myself to the hospital and arriving at midday I was invited into the chemotherapy suite without a wait. On checking the nurse noted that the infusion had come to an end and did the planned flush and redress of the PICC Line. Thirty minutes later I was on my way home.

No Crisis.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Blood Test Results

 The pre-treatment blood test is important to ensure that patients are capable of with standing the toxic effects of the chemotherapy drugs. My neutrophil and Alt levels have cause deferment over the past few months. This weeks blood test results are ok so Monday's infusion will go ahead. That's Monday morning at 9:30 am definitely early! 
Post a Comment
Read more

Chemotherapy Cycle 20

My 20th infusion occurred on August 23rd a week later than expected due to last week's abscess. Blood test was on Mondayand while the Neutrophils were in the normal range at 2.6, the Liver function test ALT was high at 131, up from 89 four weeks previously. This result need Dr Webb, my consultant's approval before the chemotherapy could go ahead. Drugs can only be ordered from the hospital Pharmacy once approval has been given so there was a two-hour delay befor ethe drugs arrived. All went well and I was discharged only around 45 minutes later than expected. Just needed Corsodyl mouthwash in the way of drugs this cycle. The next step on this journey is pump removal on Friday and CT scan on 29th August.
Post a Comment
Read more

Oncologist consultation

 I have a quarterly appointment with my oncology consultant, Dr David Webb or one of his team every three month. Last week my appointment was with one of his team and two Mcmillan nurses, Sue and Jo. The oncologist asked how Iam coping with the treatment having had 20 chemotherapy infusions. I told her that I continue to tolerate the drugs very well and am managing most of the key side-effects well and continue to search for solutions for the others. She then told me that the recent CT Scan showed that the two growths remain stable, and the Blood CEA marker has recently fallen to 2, the lowest since November 2021. Most pleasing. She then asked if I wished to have a break, which I declined an ordered a further 12 infusions.
Post a Comment
Read more