when you go in for chemo are you in a room with several other people or by yourself in a small room?

BobsProstate

My center has a fairly large room and about 24 chairs can be filled. As the room starts to fill everyone starts to share about their day, their week, their problems or just what they've been up to. It's kind of nice to chat with everyone while the chemo drips. It passes the time.

I've heard of some places where you never see the others, I wonder why they do that?

Bengal

My hospital is quite small so the Infusion suite only had, I think, 6 chairs with curtains in between but sometimes people asked that the curtains be opened so they could chat. One day the patient next to me heard me talking to the nurse about my horses. She asked if I would mind if the curtain be pushed back so she could ask me some questions about caring for them while in treatment. She had horses too, had just started treatment and was concerned if she'd be able to continue to do so

There was also one private infusion room. It was used for people who were very ill or if there was overflow. The chemo messed up my eyes and made the overhead florescent lighting excruciatingly painful. I would request the private little room if it was available because I could ask for the lights to be turned off.

Some folks prefer privacy whole going through their I fusions. It gets look for distraction.

Bengal

Spellchecker strikes again! My last bit should read "while" going through infusion and others look for distraction.

If I want spellchecker I'll ask for spellchecker!

BoiseB

My chemo suite has several options. There were a few chairs lots of beds and about seven private rooms. The center was great at multitasking so the rooms were used for other appointments like appointments with the dietitian, or the social worker to go over insurance. I even had an appointment with the physician's assistant to help with my mouth sores. I also had a consultation with the psychologist. Which ever you chose it was completely private all stations were curtained. There was enough room for visitors though

po18guy

The pandemic is one good reason for separate rooms. However, it does lack that sense of community, which is very important. Another reason? A semi-horror story: When I was in primary therapy, I was in a double room which was divided by a curtain. On the other side was a man in his late 50s or early 60, a lung cancer patient who was receiving a transfusion. He was understandably cranky and we could hear him mumbling and grumbling. About 20 minutes later, his wife called for help. It turns out that his lungs had hemorrhaged and he died on the spot. Being an emergency first responder, I was well familiar with death, but not all are.

GregP_WN

My first facility, 32 years ago was a small clinic, there was a room with 4 or 6 chairs maybe, I can't remember. But it was enjoyable to talk to others. I was usually in an OK mood but not over the top cheery. There was this little old lady that couldn't have weighed 90#. She looked bad, but every day would walk in and just yell HI EVERYBODY, HOW ARE Y'ALL?

My current facility is the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. It's a massive place on two floors of a large section of the facility. The infusion center is huge also, there are mostly private rooms each with a curtain for a door, TV and two chairs in each. Very comfortable if you can manage a nap.

LiveWithCancer

When I was first diagnosed and getting chemo, i was in a huge, cold, impersonal community room. I hated it. When I changed doctors and facilities, they had private rooms for everyone, which I absolutely loved.

Unfortunately (for people like me who like the solitude and privacy), they ultimately built a community room (warmer and not AS impersonal as where I first went) where those whose treatment was shorter had to go.

JaneA

My cancer center has a big, open room. It was kind of like church in that we almost always sat in the same area each time so we got to chat with people over the months. Some people slept through their chemo (must have gotten Benadryl) but several of us would chat. My infusion day was long (about 6 hours) so I would read too.

GregP_WN

Thes 6 and 8 hour infusion times blow my mind. I have a short fuse with no patience and I get worked up when I see things that are either inefficient or just poorly done by employees that are lazy or don't care. As a business owner for over 40 years I can't help it. I sit somewhere and watch what's going on and even though I know nothing about the place and how or why they are doing something I start figuring out how it could be done faster. Sitting there with the IV hooked up for that long would drive me nuts. By the end of the day, I would have a list of ways that it could be sped up, they probably wouldn't work, but I would be pushing for it.

So far, the 1 infusion that I've had took about an hour or less total, for the pre=meds and the infusion

Carool

My chemo section had small, separated areas for each patient. MSK has a separate building for breast cancer (since my time, the breast center moved to a new, much bigger building nearby). I liked the privacy of having chemo in a small area. A friend would go with me, a different friend for each of my total of four infusions. Each infusion took about an hour. This was way before smart phones, btw. Now I’d be fine with only my phone.

Kp2018

My hospital has a small satellite infusion center that is more convenient to travel to than the larger in-hospital center. I chose the small center.

It had a large room with only 5 or 6 chairs, spaced quite a distance from each other. (Perfect for Covid "social distancing.") Limited socializing was possible with other patients because of the space between the chairs, and the rather loud roar of the exhaust ventilating system.

I was fine with that since I preferred to read and meditate during the infusion. I was often the only patient present because I chose early morning appointments. No privacy curtains were available.

When I was the only patient present, my oncology nurse would turn down the lights while I meditated. I really appreciated the personalized care.