Immuno-therapy - the beginning


 Today was my first scheduled treatment of Nivolumab, the immunotherapy drug that I am allowed to have due to new Covid guidelines. I was booked in for treatment at 11 am - so I set off from home at 9.30 (Yay - free travel!) and arrived at the Marsden at just before 10.30 am, after a super slick journey of bus train, tube.....(mostly thanks to being able to get on the Gatwick Express since lockdown!) 

Upon arrival, everyone is given a new mask - this is routine. I made my way to the Medical Day Care unit where the drugs are given. Never been in there before, so I wasn’t sure of the routine. You can tell the ‘old hands’ because they stride in with purpose! I was told that I had been allocated chair 26 and I responded gleefully that it “matched my age!”.... this flippant remark was treated by the receptionist with a wry smile....... bastard. He told me that if the chair was empty, then I could sit in it, so I went and found it. The treatment area is a huge room, sectioned into areas, with 6 chairs, 3 per side, facing each other. No 26 was indeed empty so I sat in it. I looked around and waited...... and waited..... and waited. I was there early - but even so!

After an hour, I went and asked a nurse if I should do anything apart from wait! I wasn’t complaining, but just worried that I didn’t understand the protocol. I was assured that I was fine - and just to sit it out. 

Sure enough, within another ten minutes, I was hailed by a cheerful staff nurse, who apologised and said that she and Louisa would be looking after me today. Louisa duly arrived with Lily (who she was teaching) and they proceeded to get me set up.

They were all lovely - everyone I met today was utterly charming. I think they must choose these nurses on the strength of their wonderful smiles and cheerful countenance.  They got me cannulated up - had another lengthy discussion about possible side effects (skipping past the 1 in a hundred DEATH bit again) and I was hooked up to the Nivolumab. 


Please not that this medication must not be shaken........ I don’t know why - it’ll sure as hell get shaken on the inside! 

It was a breeze - I hope it always is! We discussed the fact that no-one has suggested an end date - and we just assume that someone will decide this at a later date. It took around half an hour, then 30mls of saline went in as a flush, and I was done! I set off home, happily thanking my lucky stars that I was referred to this amazing hospital 2 years ago. Felt great, if a tad weary, an that’s probably due to adrenaline overload.

Happy days . Long may it continue.........


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