The whole day of chemo is about waiting. First, waiting your turn to start the treatment. Then waiting and waiting for the various medicines to slowly drip through the tubes into the veins.

Most patients bring a Caregiver to provide conversation and companionship during the day. Some come alone. Many bring books and magazines to read, or headphones and music. Some like to watch TV. A few bring their whole families and talk loudly, dominating the room. There are knitters and dozers. And cell phone addicts. Some poor souls are so lonely or uncomfortable with the situation that they cannot keep themselves from talking for hours and hours to the patients in nearby chairs; somehow these folks always seem to stumble into the most inappropriate topics. And their "neighbors" feel trapped.