Hello eveyone,
I recently posted a topic regarding my personal experience with chemo therapy and in that post included a couple of things that would help you cope with it. I thought that today I might add to that list. As always, I hope this helps you in some way. God bless you always.
Ok, here we go:
Top 10 hints for surviving chemo therapy:
1. Drink lots and lots of water the day before, and for the next 4-5 days after a treatment. Drink at least 64 oz., double that if you can. Yes, you’ll have to urinate about every ten minutes, but you’ll flush the toxins out of your system sooner, and thats the goal.
2. Take stool softeners, fiber, or whatever you choose from 1 day before until about 3-4 days after your treatment, as it is common to become constipated from the harsh chemicals in the chemo. Been there done that. NOT FUN.
3. Don’t Plan ANYTHING for the first few days after you receive chemo, as you need to sleep more than usual. You’ll become a “napper extraordinaire”, 2-3 per day on the worst days, plus a full night or more.
4. Take your meds., especially ones for nausea at even the slightest hint of nausea, as it can sneak up on you fast, and then it’s too late. If your meds aren’t working, tell your doctor asap, as they can try different ones. I myself NEVER threw up, though I had nausea, I took my meds. around the clock, even waking in the night to take them on schedule.
5. Eat plent of food, as balanced as possible. Your body will need TONS of regenerating energy, and food is your fuel. You may feel constant hunger, don’t deny it, nows not the time for that. Also, for some people, constant grazing can help keep nausea at bay, empty stomach = more chance for nausea. You probably will gain some weight, THATS NOT IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW, when you are through this, you can get back into shape. I gained 25 lbs., and this year lost it all and a little more. I hope your significant other is understanding.
6. Keep warm, especially your head when your hair falls out. Other than hot flashes, I was feeling cold most of my chemo months. I slept with more blankets, wore more layers, and still felt chilled, weird !!
7. For your chemo treatment days, come prepared. Wear layers, bring a book, or something to do. I either knitted while listening to my ipod, or did puzzles, also while listening to my ipod. I’ve seen some people sleep, but I just didn’t feel that tired.
8. If your doctor tells you that your meds will cause hair loss, ( some don’t ), have yourself an event with friends and or family to have a head shaving party. I did it and it felt SO good to take charge of my hair loss and not let it take charge of me. Don’t worry, have fun with it. It’s just hair, it will grow back. I never even cried or felt sad, I laughed the whole time. Very empowering. And mind you, I had hair down to my butt before getting it cut prior to chemo.
9. If you are one who likes to write, then journal. Later you can look back to see how you did and felt during the darker days, and it helps to let things pour out onto paper. Pictures can be good too. I still look at both occasionally.
10. Remember that it doesn’t last forever, that it will come to an end, and then you’ll feel better, get your hair back, regain strength and everything else will fall into place.
Most of all, if you ever feel you have no one to talk to, no one who understands, you can contact me at anytime.
God bless all of you always,
Meredith – RNC
6 comments
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August 12, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Toni
One thing kept me sane during my chemo last year… my wig. I went to a local wig salon (http://www.chicagowigsalon.com/) and had them look at my hair before treatment. Then I went back and they had a wig that looked exactly like my own hair. My oncologist even remarked at one point…”I’m surprised you haven’t lost your hair yet!”. He couldn’t tell. Once my hair started to grow back, they removed the wig and gave me my first style free. It really helped keep my mindframe positive.
August 12, 2008 at 7:03 pm
labornurse
Toni,
I liked my wig too, some people do, some don’t. I have a job where I can wear hats and scarves, and not worry, but some people have jobs that are more in the public eye, and wish to not look ‘like they are going through chemo’. Many factors influence whether people opt for wigs or not.
I mainly wore my wig out to eat or going to the mall, or to church, anywhere I’d be in front of a larger group, or strangers.
Some insurances cover the cost of a wig, under a benefit for a cranial prosthesis. Mine did not, but I found a nice inexpensive one at a local wig shop in town.
It’s nice that your salon helped you so much, there should be more that do so!!
Keep doing well, stay healthy!!
Meredith – RNC
September 30, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Laura
Hi,
Can anyone tell me the time frame for a typical round of chemo.? My girlfriend had her first session 6 days ago & we were told that she would have it once a week for 3 weeks, then 1 week off for the next 3 months. Her doctor told her she would have a “short round” of chemo, but this seems really extensive to us. She has had severe pain & fatigue since her first treatment & is really scared to go in for the second one which is scheduled for tomorrow. I’m scared too. She’s so weak.
October 2, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Lora
Hi to you all, I am done round 3 of AC, one more round to go. I had my last round on friday sept 26th. Chemo administration usually takes around 2-21/2 hours of a boring iv drip. Then 3 weeks in between each round, bearing in mind that your wbc count is high enough for the next round. I am extremely blessed, I get nauseau for about 3-6 days, controlled with Ondanestron, which I only use for 3 days. I am working out at the gym, doing weights and cardio 5 days a week, working full time and not having any other side effects other than the first week of constipation. But that is the gi tract stopping. So I am not tired at all, full of energy, and no one knows that I am on chemo, except I lost my hair day 13. I work in the public so chose to wear a wig. I really thing attitude has a lot to do with the chemo, and the exercise kept the side effects at bay.
November 18, 2008 at 12:47 am
david
Excellent advice…
It helps if you have somebody to go with you for your treatments. Usually you will see an Oncologist before treatment and also have a blood test taken. It can be a dizzy type of day so another person there to help take notes and remind you about things would help.
My wife just finished 15 weeks of andramycin (sp?) and it was tough. She was orginally diagnosed with stage 2 b breast cancer tumor about 4.78 with evidence of it spreading to her lymph nodes.
After 5 treatments tumor reduced by half and after 14 treatments the doctors thought the lymph nodes appeared normal and there was no evidence of the tumor.
She will still proceed as though she was first diagnosed with the cancer that means surgery, radiation, and possibly 8 weeks of Taxol.
Keep up the fight! Use all the tools to beat it.
December 20, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Anonymous
Thanks. I have just had a mastectomy and am so concerned about what chemo therapy will be like. You have given me a realistic take and some good advice. I am also concerned about wearing a wig. I have always worn my hair pulled straight back… and can’t imagine any wig that would even begin to emulate that!??? I also swim and have never used a cap, but had my hair back in a swimmer’s knot. Any suggestions re: these concerns?