Preparing for chemotherapy

Posted on 1 October 2014

Facing a cancer diagnosis is traumatic enough. Psyching yourself up to deal with potentially life-saving chemotherapy treatments doesn’t have to be. Here are a few tips to bear in mind when preparing for treatment.

What practical steps can I take to prepare for chemotherapy?
Many patients say that, in most cases, the administration of chemotherapy drugs is painless – but it’s the side effects of treatment that need to be prepared for. These range from nausea and vomiting, to hair loss, sleep disturbance, loss of appetite, sensitivity to sun and easy bruising, to mention just a few in the veritable shopping list of ailments that accompany chemo.

But there are a few things to tick off before treatment starts, according to Living Beyond Breast Cancer:
• See a fertility specialist Check with your doctor that your chemo won’t impair your ability to have children. If it does, consider taking steps to harvest eggs for future use yourself or with a gestational carrier.
• See a dentist Check that your teeth and gums are in good condition. Buy a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste for sensitive teeth because chemo can often leave your mouth dry, ulcerated and sore, and prone to infection.
• Enjoy a favourite meal Chemo often changes the way food tastes so have one last sample and then avoid for the rest of the treatment.
• Plan for hair loss Some people cut their hair short prior to treatment to make hair loss less traumatic, plus investigate hair replacement options such as wigs. The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) offers advice and support, and has access to a supply of wigs.
• Arrange for company during your first few treatments Some patients feel strong enough to drive to and from chemo, but for the first few times, get someone to go with you for support.
• Wear loose-fitting comfortable clothing to treatment You’ll feel more at ease and the nurse can access your arm easier.
• Drink lots of water and stock up on nausea-busting foods Ask your nurse what these are – some recommend snacking on dry Provita or Marie biscuits.
• Be as open as you can Share what you’re thinking and feeling with others – they may be too afraid to ask. Tell people what you need and when.

Can I work and have chemotherapy at the same time?
That depends on two things: the type of cancer treatment you’re given and if you feel up to it. Professor Michael Herbst from CANSA explains how treatment usually works: ‘Chemotherapy treatment is given in cycles with rest periods between each cycle. Since chemotherapy drugs target fast-growing cells, the body will need time to rebuild healthy cells after each treatment. Most cancer chemotherapy cycles are either once every three weeks for standard chemo or weekly for low-dose chemotherapy. As you plan your calendar for chemotherapy appointments, you’ll need to allow time for more than just infusion sessions. This may affect how much time you need to take off from work or other pursuits, so you need to understand how many appointments you’ll require. Fatigue or tiredness is a common side effect of chemotherapy. Almost everyone who has chemotherapy will experience fatigue, so it’s important to get plenty of rest. You shouldn’t carry out tasks or activities that you don’t feel up to. Light exercise, such as walking or yoga, can help boost your energy levels, but be careful not to push the body too hard. If you’re still working, you may need to ask your employer permission to work part time until the chemotherapy has finished.’

How bad will the nausea be?
That depends on the kind of drugs you’re given. Treatment almost always starts with anti-nausea/anti-emetic medication as a precaution. Natural Standard via Health24 cautions: ‘Some chemotherapy medications cause more nausea and vomiting than others, including cisplatin (Platinol©) and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan©). Acute nausea and vomiting usually occurs a few minutes to several hours after the chemotherapy is initiated and goes away within the first 24 hours. The vomiting will be at its worst usually after five to six hours. Delayed vomiting develops more than 24 hours after chemotherapy is given. It might occur with cisplatin (Platinol©) or cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan©). Cisplatin-related vomiting will be at its worst usually from 48-72 hours following chemotherapy and can last six to seven days.’

The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publishing. At Mediclinic we endeavour to provide our patients and readers with accurate and reliable information, which is why we continually review and update our content. However, due to the dynamic nature of clinical information and medicine, some information may from time to time become outdated prior to revision.