A Day in the Life: Infusion Day

One Rhodie's Account

My specifics: 4 cycles of 5-day EP treatment at Rhode Island Hospital

A typical Monday during treatment: asterisk indicates Day 1 of each cycle only*

Getting to The Cancer Center at Rhode Island Hospital

Arrive at the Cancer Center 20 minutes before the appointment. I requested the first appointment of the day, so this was plenty early. For afternoon appointments, I recommend arriving even earlier because the valet line can be quite long.
When in line for the complementary valet, I checked in using the MyChart app.
Go to floor two for in-person check-in at the desk and receive hospital bracelet for the day.
Wait to be called.

Medical Meetings:

Called back to have vitals taken: weight, blood pressure, pulse-ox, and asked about any side-effects and falls. My caretaker came with me for this and waited outside of this room. Typically, I didn't return to the waiting area after vitals.
*Escorted to exam room to meet with medical oncologist and/or nurse following your case. Prepared questions/concerns I had
Taken to pod five, my typical home-base. A nurse showed me to my "room" within the pod for the day.
Settled in while nurses prepare medicine.

Chemo Infusions:

*Port intubation: optional cold spray to numb the chest while nurses connect tubing from port to IV line. This intubation stayed placed for the duration of the cycle because I chose not to have it placed daily.
In this order, my regimen called for: fluids, chemo 1, chemo 2, fluids.
I chose to go to the bathroom while the IV was running to cut down on transition time between medicines.
Most days, volunteers will came around with snacks and drinks for me and my caretaker. Nurses will often offer to get any snacks or drinks needed.

After the infusions:

Nurses will disconnected the chest port tubing from the IV. They used medical tape to secure the loose end to my body.
Leave the pod.
Go outside to the valet. Present valet ticket.
Head home and appreciate one more day of treatment done.