Chemo is complex. For starters, consider the infusion process itself–how detailed and intentional every step is. My clinic was meticulous, as I’m sure yours is, too. The whole process reflects a multitude of studies and data, and well it should, right? That said, it’s up to us patients to simplify as much as we can on our end. We have enough to think about without inadvertently making things harder for ourselves.
Don’t make any big decisions the week after an infusion. You may not be functioning at your best mentally during that time, and don’t try to solve any major conflicts or problems. Those things can wait.
Hydrate! Dehydration is awful. I went through it a couple of times, even though I thought I was hydrating fairly well.
When you’re hungry, eat right away. I found if I didn’t do that, my appetite left quickly, and then I had no interest.
Don’t cook any strong-smelling foods. The fumes linger. Some days the smell of any cooked food made me queasy.
Focus on good-for-you foods with protein, if possible. Avoid large meals, raw or spicy foods, alcohol, and smoking. I have a friend who ate ice cream the whole time, saying it was the only thing she could tolerate. Go ahead and smile at that one. She’s fine, by the way.
Regarding nausea, you will have to experiment to find the combination of medications and timing that keeps your stomach and plumbing, etc., stable. Easier said than done, but your comfort depends on it.
Take good care of the port. Put a post-it note on your driver’s license that you have it and where it is.
Pay attention to what the nurses are doing. Mine were great, but a couple of times they didn’t read my chart carefully to note that I was allergic to hexachlorophene, the antiseptic usually used to cleanse the skin. I was watching, though, and when they grabbed the wrong thing, I reminded them.
The saline infusion helps a lot. I found that out the hard way. Usually after the infusion, nurses offered to dispense the rest of the saline, but one time she didn’t offer, and I didn’t notice. That was the only time I was woozy walking out of the building.
Learn the possible side effects of the chemo you’re taking and be diligent to take appropriate precautions.
Take care of your mouth. I gargled with salt water after every meal and even snacks.
Take care of your skin. Use sunscreen. Moisturize. My skin was so dry, the only relief that worked for me was Vaseline, especially on my hands and face.
It takes 48-72 hours for the actual chemo substance to flush out of the body. I was told to use my own toilet and shower, if possible, so as not to expose my husband. After 48 hours, sanitize and clean. Fortunately, we have two bathrooms.
Some clinics have adopted what they call “prehab” strategies that begin shortly after diagnosis. The idea is to adapt exercises and activities personalized to you to strengthen your body during treatment and hedge the need for rehab later on. In retrospect, I think I would have liked that, just some simple exercises or maybe a massage or something.
If you have someone who will come with you to office visits, I think it’s a good idea during the treatment months. Another set of eyes and ears can help you receive, interpret, and understand better.
© Copyright Marianne McDonough 2022
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