Driving myself to Chemo treatments?

Question

I will be beginning chemotherapy in a city about 30 miles away next week. I know I need a driver my first time, but will there ever be a time when I can drive myself? (I will be having Herceptin and Navelbine, which are quite mild for side effects like nausea and hair loss.)

I don't know ANYTHING about the actual immediate effects chemo has on people, other than the nausea but surely that doesn't begin within the 1st hour?!

Do I have a window of "wellness" where I can drive home safely after treatment or do I ALWAYS have to have a companion? The ride is about an hour - depending on traffic.

And unless you have had or worked with the drugs I mentioned, you may have out-of date info. Thanks anyway.

This is NOT because I don't have anyone, but sometimes I want to be alone.

(It's possible that I am like a wolf who needs to go into a cave alone and lick my wounds before coming out and rejoining my pack when I'm feeling better!)

Answer 1

FYI. The American Cancer Society has a program called "Road to Recovery" where volunteer drivers drive patients who cannot drive themselves to cancer therapy. Most of these volunteers are elderly and retired. So, they have available time to assist.

Check out information at their website:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/COM/content/div_Southeast/COM_4_2x_Road_to_Recovery_Service_Program.asp?sitearea=COM

Answer 2

I think you will have a good idea after you have your first treatment, and also by finding out if you will have recovered from the side effects of the previous treatment before the next round begins. Probably the biggest obstacle to driving once the chemo starts is lack of energy and strength if you end up becoming sick on top of everything else. You will just have to wait and see. If you drive yourself, pack a suitcase as if you were going on a 2 or 3 day trip, that way, you don't need to worry about making it back home while feeling sick. You can check into a motel (maybe even covered by insurance) and make arrangements for someone to help you home.

Answer 3

Here is what I know with chemotherapy. Much will depend upon what type of chemo you receive, the dosage and how long you have it. Chemotherapy is cumulative, so in general, in the beginning you will feel relatively normal. As the treatment goes on for a few days, eventually you may start to feel nauseous. When you start feeling sick, anti-nausea meds will be offered and that is when you may need to have someone drive you home. Many of the anti-nausea drugs will also make you tired and sleepy so obviously you should not be driving.

On the other hand, if the chemo is mild enough you may never experience any of these side effects at all. And, you won't need anti-nausea meds . . and you may be able to handle driving by yourself.

So, it will depend . . depend on how your own body reacts to the chemo . . how long you will be in treatment . . and your choice of whether to take anti-nausea meds. I know people who drive themselves back and forth to treatment and are fine. My son on the other hand received high dose chemo and anti-nausea meds and he could not drive. He is able to have his chemotherapy at home now anyway, so that whole issue has been eliminated. They come to us! Real convenient since today we are having a huge snow storm.

You should ask at the clinic, doctor, or nursing staff what the side effects of your chemo will be and whether they think it will be okay to drive. Probably at first it will be, so this is something you might need to play be ear as you go along.

Good luck.

Answer 4

I agree that you will have to gauge this after your first treatment but also the last for sure, which in most instances is the roughest. I am speaking from personal experience & always had someone there with me for 4 rounds. Everyone is different, a couple I chose to have someone there in the last 30 min., simply for quiet time but to cover the need of driving. I live in CO & left the hospital twice in snow storms so it was also helpful in that situation. I respect your need to be alone but reaching out at certain times in necessary during this. I would occasionally feel a little light headed when going home but nothing too drastic but again, each case is different. God Bless you on this journey!

Answer 5

You will be fine especially as its your first time out. Some times they do premed infusion before chemo if you find you have nausea that is your doctor option.
Each person reacts to drugs differently even the mild ones.

Go to breastcancer.org. it is a live chat forum. All the women in there have or had BC and can tell you their experience on treatment.

Answer 6

I respect the being alone part but driving yourself doesn't sound like a good idea. What if the treatment is not the problem but for some other reason you are not up to driving back?

Could you have someone go with you who would respect your need for quiet? Or could two friends go in a separate car so you could be alone but they could drive you if needed? Is this option available with the volunteer services?

Understanding family and friends should respect your wishes. Don't hesitate to ask for what YOU want. It is the other person's choice whether to help or not.

Good luck.

Answer 7

Hi,

I was not on the same drugs, as I have stage IV colon cancer. I drove myself to all my chemo appointments as I preferred to be by myself during infusion. You get premeds for nausea so that should not be an issue on your way home. See how you feel after the first round and then you can determine if you can drive yourself.

Wendy
www.wendysbattle.com

Answer 8

yes you will need a driver sooner or later but know when to ask for help dont put you life on the line or someone else just because you wont to be alone driving and chemo after a while will not mix my mom has to go to chemo and done had to stop driving

Answer 9

You might want to ask the people at the clinic/hospital because often times they provide a service for people who have no one to drive them. They will pick you up and take you home. I work at the Roswell park cancer institute and they provide this service for chemotherapy patients.

Answer 10

This all depends on the individual.
Symtoms can occur very fast.
best to have someone with you and not need them then to not have someone and do!