Chemo Tips

I will use this page to share some chemo tips. These will include tips I received from those who started this journey before me, as well as things that I learned from my own experience. Feel free to contact me with questions via the FB page, e-mail or the contact option here on the blog.

Post under construction:
Once I get everything typed up, I'll try to organize it into something manageable.

• GET A PORT! If they ask, say yes. I know, it's one more procedure but, trust me, you'll be glad you did!
• Get EMLA/numbing cream and nausea meds IN HAND prior to the start of treatment. If your doctor doesn't offer, ASK!!!
• On treatment day, put your numbing cream on thick and early!! If you have it on for an hour you'll still feel something when they put the needle in. The longer you have it on, the more it numbs. 90+ minutes is my target. I've put it on HOURS before my appointment before and didn't feel a thing when they put that needle in. It was lovely. Oh, and when you put it on, put on a big ol' glop and don't rub it in. Once you have it on, cover it with Glad Press N Seal. Seriously. It keeps that junk in place and off of your clothes.  
• Learn about the possible side effects associated with your specific course of chemo. Educate yourself. My oncologist provided me with info sheets on all of my drugs but you can also find information from REPUTABLE sites online. Check the Links & Resources page (I'll be adding more to it soon)
• Stock up on items you might need during treatment before treatment starts. I made a list of products to have on hand "just in case". Treatment affects everyone differently so I prepared for everything. Yes, that means my list included Imodium and Dulcolax. LOL  Luckily I haven't had to use either but I certainly did not want to be in desperate need of either one and have to wait on someone to go get them for me.  If you're interested, I'll provide you with my pre-treatment shopping list. You can also check out the products page to see what I've been using and what has worked for me. I think there is also a post somewhere in the archive detailing what I was eating.
• When I was on the A/C cocktail (the heavy duty stuff) I started taking my nausea meds the day prior to treatment. I received this guidance from other BC patients as well as my nurses. DO NOT wait until you feel nauseated or get sick before you start taking the meds. Once you feel icky, it takes a while to get the nausea under control. Trust me!! I stopped taking my meds too soon one cycle and got sick, it took 3 hours before I felt "OK" and probably 3-6 more after that until I would say I felt close to normal. KEEP THE NAUSEA AT BAY!
• If you find that you start to feel queasy before you can take your next dose of nausea meds, TELL YOUR DOCTOR ASAP. There is no need to suffer for no reason. My oncologist prescribed an additional med for nausea that I could take in between doses of the first one.
• Stay hydrated - drink LOTS of water.
• Eat frequent small meals. For me, it was very much like morning (all day everyday for me)sickness while pregnant. I felt much better keeping something on my stomach. Belvita Soft Baked were my snack of choice.
• Be warned! Your taste buds will likely be affected by the chemo. Don't eat things you like a lot because you probably won't like them after. Example, I loved the Belvita Soft Baked during treatment and I have no desire to eat them now.
• Treatment days can be long. Take water and snacks with you.
• I don't know if everyone has this issue but when they put saline in my IV, I can taste it. Yes, taste it. If this happens to you, I suggest you have chewing gum in your treatment bag. The nurses said lemon drops work too. Whatever works for you. It's not a huge deal but, again, why suffer?
• Have a treatment bag. Especially if you are going to treatment by yourself (which I don't recommend). Take a book, your iPad/Kindle, watch a movie, take a puzzle book, knit...whatever. You will get bored if you have to just sit there.  I have fantastic treatment buddies who knew I would be a dork even during treatment and they embrace it and go with it. We are a bundle of laughs during treatment. We chat everyone up. As always, we are respectful of others and sensitive to the tone.
• LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. During round 1 (A/C) I would sleep for the better part of 4-5 days. No joke. GO WITH IT!! Fatigue is ongoing issue but it isn't as bad with this round (though I could take a nap every single day).
• Steroids suck. While they are intended to help with nausea/reactions and appetite, they will keep you awake, make you eat nonstop and can make you an jerk (roid rage). The secret is out, the reason the expression on my face in every picture is a "smirk" is because if I cheese it up, my cheeks look ginormous. lol  Did I mention that steroids suck?
• This one is important...maybe I should move it up on the list...keep chocolate on hand. When everything else tastes funky or has no taste at all, chocolate tastes like chocolate...at least it did for me.

I'll add more as I think of things.