Standard of chemotherapy services in hospitals? - Just Menong

The experience of breast cancer led us to a new chapter of life that we never imagined before. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to fight against the 'disease' that felt like it used to feel far from our lives. Post-biopsy and mastectomy surgery, chemotherapy becomes our next step. In addition, we also studied the standards of chemotherapy services in hospitals.

Alhamdulillah, Allah brought us together with many good people who finally sent us to continue the chemotherapy journey at Santosa Kopo Hospital, Bandung.

Currently, Santosa Kopo Hospital, Bandung, is the only hospital that still provides chemotherapy services for cancer patients. Alhamdulillah, the process of BPJS claims went smoothly. After the administration was over, the first session of chemotherapy began.

Standards of Chemotherapy Services

The standard of service will certainly be more or less the same in every hospital that provides chemotherapy facilities for either independent patients or BPJS/other health insurance.

This standard of service has a sequence of:

1. Assessment by the doctor in charge
2. Chemotherapy protocols
3. The prescription of chemotherapy drugs. Patients are given a regimen that should be submitted to the chemotherapy section
4. Signing a chemotherapy plan
5. The patient prepares in the chemotherapy room. Usually the patient must undergo blood tests, blood pressure, and others first to find out the condition of the body.
6. Submission of chemotherapy drugs by pharmacy officers to chemotherapy officers
7. Chemotherapy
8. Observation of the patient: whether the patient can go straight home or should be hospitalized

The First Session

April 16, 2020.

At 06.30 WIB, we were ready at the Cancer Center, Santosa Hospital Kopo, Bandung. The Cancer Center is behind the main building of the hospital. Connected through a link on the 3rd floor, not far from the oncological surgical clinic. Because this is the first time we have chemotherapy while waiting for us to have each other. Share stories with other patients.

At 07.00 WIB, the officer allowed us to go up to the 5th floor. Only 1 waiter is allowed to enter. Before doing chemotherapy, the patient must do a blood test first. Be us back to the laboratory in the main building on the 1st floor. Lab officers welcome we to return to the chemotherapy room because the lab results will be submitted directly to the nurse at the Cancer Center.

Not impressed, like a creepy room, unit Chemotherapy is arranged in such a way as to accommodate more than 10 divided patients into 2 rooms without bulkheads. There is no separation between common patients and BPJS. All chemotherapy patients are served in the same room, a clean and comfortable room.

At the first time, there were 5 people with most of them. breast cancer sufferers like your mother, and everything is old in over 50 years. There was no sadness or glut of a glut. All seemed happy and prepared to face chemotherapy all the time, cheering and spirited.

While waiting for the nurse to prepare a chemotherapy drug for each patient, we continued the conversation in the waiting room earlier while I forgot to prepare for us to eat. Yes, every watch brings provisions, Lunatime, and snacks because chemotherapy is just finished in the afternoon. We also understand the standard of chemotherapy services in hospitals.

As a newbie, we listen to the advice of other patients who already have experience suffering from breast cancer and undergo chemotherapy 4–5x. All agree, the spirit of health again and passing to God is the key to this test. We also told each other how we did chemotherapy preparations in advance.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is one of the cancer treatment procedures that uses very strong chemicals to stop or inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the body. There are two ways of chemotherapy: drugs or infusions that are determined based on the type and stage of the cancer and the health condition of the patient.

Chemotherapy is carried out in 6 sessions for 1 package or cycle in the range of 3 weeks per session. Chemotherapy provides different side effects in the body for each patient.

One of the patients said the effects of itching will be immediately felt after 30 minutes of infusion fluid entering the body. Another effect is gradual loss of sense of taste so as not to appetite, dizziness, and others.

Chemotherapy lasts until 5 p.m. Because the condition of the mother is in a healthy state, the nurse allows us to go home (some patients with unhealthy conditions are required to undergo hospitalization). Next Chemotherapy It will be done in the next 3 weeks. Nurses remind you that you always maintain endurance, and do not forget to ask for a regimen and register for the second chemotherapy session.

This was the first session of chemotherapy that Mom. The standard of chemotherapy in hospitals is also extraordinary.