Hi there cat

i has Cisplatin 6 weekly appointments and 8 hour sessions

im not sure how many sessions your dad has got but from about my 3rd session onwards (I was having radio therapy too) I was not that responsive and just tired

i also had throat cancer so could not talk much, so there was very little point in anyone being with me as I could not talk to them and if anyone was there for that length of time ... I’d feel obliged to engage with them

however my advice is as follow

if your dad is having 8 hour sessions try and secure him a bed if the have one...those big chairs are just not comfortable for 8 hours

you may not get this at the start, but if you have several sessions be honest with the staff if you dad is really feeling it, try and get him a bed.

in my experience I had a friend drop me off, and my wife and family came in towards the end. During the 7 hours in between I slept, listened to music or watched a film on my iPad.

your dad will get used to seeing loads of people come in for their 1-2 hour treatment and just go and that will just be in the next chair or bed to him

in the main though the staff are very good and will let you in, but sitting there for the full 8 hours will take a lot out of you and possibly you dad, but try it, mix it up and try different things as the sessions progress .. eventually you will sort out what is right for you al

let us know how you and your dad get on

vatch

sorry to hear about your dad  my partner had 6 rounds of chemo  every month and i went and sat with him for every session  lounges where he will go are cosy and very friendly also tea and coffee  when you want it  i hope this helps you  doroty

It varies from clinic to clinic.

Mine allowed one per chair ... there wasn't any room for more. I discouraged my family from staying as it was so boring and I just wanted to get on with reading my book.

Best wishes

Dave

Thanks all,

it is his first session I was wanting to with him the most, after that I’m sure he wouldn’t mind me having a bit of a shop while he has some shut eye.

but he’s not the best at taking things in, and if he’s not feeling well I can imagine he would sit in silence rather then telling the nurses whereas he would mention it to me!

My husband has an 8 hour session every three weeks and a pump the rest of the time in between. I always sit with him, might not talk much but I’m there for him. It’s a lonely time. 

Hi Cat,

Definitely phone and ask them.  When my mum had chemo she was allowed someone there for the first time but not afterwards (she was fine with books, music etc.)  Where I am seen we can have people stay the whole time or pop in and out (I used to work at the hospital so that happens with me) and some people do have two folk at their bedside (although that's not common).  Usually around half have a person with them and others are happy to sleep through it (very comfy chairs), watch a film, be online, read books etc.

The nurses will check on him regularly actively asking how he is so he won't need to flag things up so much, as long as he is honest with them when they ask.

A couple of times I've had really chatty and friendly people next to me and it's been great to talk to them (and not about cancer either!)  At my last one I ended up with a woman next to me in for her first chemo and absolutely petrified, my heart was just breaking for her.  Her friend was just delighted that I was there as I looked healthy (despite the headscarf), looked happy, had started a new job during chemo etc. and generally it helped her see how individual an experience chemo is and she was stunned that I'd had so few side effects and seemed to start to realise she will need to take it each day as it comes to her rather than taking in all the scare stories.

Whatever works for your dad hopefully they will accommodate.

LJx

 

Check with the hospital, but I was encouraged to bring someone with me for each of my 8-hour+ sessions. My partner came to every one - he read a lot of papers, books and occasionally listened to music, and became an expert on the shortest route to the best coffee shop in the hospital!

You do end up chatting to people though, including other patients, visitors, nurses and HCAs, so it never really seemed like 8 hours.

If you think he would communicate better if you are there, I would say definitely go. The staff really do want to know if there are problems. Some may be "minor" - needing an extra cushion etc - but some can be signs of something major, such as an allergic reaction or a problem with the veins.

It is not the place to just put up with things and keep a stiff upper lip.

Good luck! I hope everything works out well for him.