What do chemo patients need most?

Healthy snacks and water.
Bring snacks (e.g., crackers, fresh fruit, chicken broth, ginger tea) to stay nourished. Chemo can cause dry mouth and taste changes so bring mints, lemon drops, ginger chews or hard candies.
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What do you need during chemo?

Personal Items
  • Your toothbrush (especially if you are using a soft toothbrush due to chemotherapy)
  • A scarf or hat when you have no hair (it gets cold)
  • Lip balm.
  • Your medications (make sure to bring along any vitamins, as well as herbal or nutritional supplements you have been using)
  • Hand sanitizer.
  • Soft, fluffy socks.
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What can you do to help someone going through chemo?

19 ways to help someone during cancer treatment
  1. Take care of the grocery shopping, or order groceries online and have them delivered.
  2. Help keep their household running. ...
  3. Bring a cup of tea or coffee and stop by for a visit. ...
  4. Give the primary caregiver a break. ...
  5. Drive the patient to appointments.
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What are some things that cancer patients need?

To get started, Ulreich recommends filling your cancer care package with some of these items:
  • Chapstick. Lips can become dry during radiation and chemotherapy. ...
  • Coloring books and travel games. ...
  • Framed photos. ...
  • Fuzzy socks or slippers. ...
  • Hand sanitizer. ...
  • Hard candy or gum. ...
  • Hat or salon gift certificate. ...
  • Hobbies.
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What are good snacks for chemo patients?

Some quick-and-easy snacks
  • Cereal (hot or cold)
  • Cheese (aged or hard cheese, cottage cheese, cream cheese, and more)
  • Cookies.
  • Crackers.
  • Dips made with cheese, beans, yogurt, or peanut butter.
  • Fruit (fresh, frozen, canned, dried)
  • Gelatin made with juice, milk, or fruit.
  • Granola or trail mix.
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Having chemotherapy for breast cancer - patient guide



How do I prepare my home for chemo?

Stay healthy and strong.
  1. Take it easy.
  2. Don't compare your body to how it was before chemotherapy.
  3. Drink lots of water.
  4. Go for a walk every day, if possible.
  5. Try to eat something. ...
  6. Read the provided handouts regarding chemotherapy and its side effects.
  7. Try acupuncture to help alleviate pain and nausea.
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What do you pack in a chemo bag?

7 must-haves to pack in your chemo bag
  • Healthy snacks and water. ...
  • Books/tablet or magazines. ...
  • Your phone, laptop or iPad. ...
  • Journal/notebook or coloring book/sketchpad. ...
  • Games, puzzles and crafts. ...
  • Comfort items. ...
  • Relaxation tools.
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What foods boost immune system during chemo?

Protein-filled foods are important to eat while you're on chemotherapy, as they help build and maintain muscles, tissues and cells — including immune cells, according to ACS.
...
1. Protein-Rich Foods
  • Beans, peas and lentils.
  • Nuts or peanut butter.
  • Chicken.
  • Turkey.
  • Fish.
  • Tofu.
  • Eggs.
  • Cheese.
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Does chemo get harder with each treatment?

The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle. My doctors warned me: Each infusion will get harder. Each cycle, expect to feel weaker.
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How do you feel after first chemo?

The most commonly reported side effect after receiving chemotherapy is fatigue. 7 Give yourself time for extra rest and sleep in the days after a session. Tell your healthcare provider if your fatigue begins to affect your ability to function or complete basic tasks, like bathing.
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What should you not do during chemotherapy?

9 things to avoid during chemotherapy treatment
  • Contact with body fluids after treatment. ...
  • Overextending yourself. ...
  • Infections. ...
  • Large meals. ...
  • Raw or undercooked foods. ...
  • Hard, acidic, or spicy foods. ...
  • Frequent or heavy alcohol consumption. ...
  • Smoking.
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How many days after chemo do you feel better?

Most people say it takes 6 to 12 months after they finish chemotherapy before they truly feel like themselves again.
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What is the hardest chemo?

Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) is one of the most powerful chemotherapy drugs ever invented. It can kill cancer cells at every point in their life cycle, and it's used to treat a wide variety of cancers. Unfortunately, the drug can also damage heart cells, so a patient can't take it indefinitely.
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When are chemo side effects the worst?

Blood cell counts often reach their lowest level about 7 to 14 days after chemotherapy. Low blood cell counts is the most common and most serious side effect of chemotherapy. When it happens, the dose of chemotherapy is adjusted right away or chemotherapy may have to be stopped temporarily.
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What are the signs that chemo is working?

Complete response - all of the cancer or tumor disappears; there is no evidence of disease. A tumor marker (if applicable) may fall within the normal range. Partial response - the cancer has shrunk by a percentage but disease remains. A tumor marker (if applicable) may have fallen but evidence of disease remains.
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Why can't chemo patients have ice?

You are being treated for cancer with a chemotherapy medication called Oxaliplatin. This medication has an unusual side effect called “cold dysesthesia”. This means that different parts of your body may be very sensitive to cold – cold drinks, cold food, and cool or cold outdoor temperatures.
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Is watermelon good during chemo?

Can watermelon help people already diagnosed with cancer? Believe it or not, it can! In addition to helping the body manage free radicals, it can also help with dehydration and restricted fiber diets. Since watermelon is 90% water, chowing down on this snack is a great choice for patients with diarrhea.
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Can you drink coffee during chemo?

Avoid caffeine as it acts as a diuretic and draws water out of your cells, causing you to urinate more fluid than you are consuming. Stay away from strong smelling foods to avoid aggravating any disorders of taste. Avoid fatty fried, spicy and overly sweet foods, as they may induce nausea.
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What should I do the night before chemo?

Try to stay as healthy as you can before and during treatment. Eat a nourishing food, drink lots of water, get enough sleep, and balance rest and physical activity. Good nutrition and regular exercise can help reduce some of the side effects of chemotherapy.
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Can you drive yourself to chemo?

Have a friend or family member drive you to your first treatment. Most people can drive themselves to and from chemotherapy sessions. But the first time you may find that the medications make you sleepy or cause other side effects that make driving difficult.
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How do you clean the toilet after chemotherapy?

wipe the toilet seat and rim with a sanitizing wipe after each use. After cleaning, wash your hands with soap and water before touching anything. At the end of 7 days after treatment, wash the toilet and bathroom floor. If you have a low flow toilet, put the lid down and flush the toilet twice.
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Can you use the same toilet as a chemo patient?

Flush the toilet twice after you use it. Put the lid down before flushing to avoid splashing. If possible, you may want to use a separate toilet during this time. If this is not possible, wear gloves to clean the toilet seat after each use.
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What should I eat the day before chemo?

What do I eat before going to chemotherapy?
  • Plain or Fruited yogurt.
  • Fresh fruit and cottage cheese.
  • Poached egg and toast.
  • Toasted bagel with a small amount of peanut butter.
  • Cereal and milk (try Lactaid® milk, or Soy milk, if lactose intolerant)
  • Chicken rice soup with saltine crackers.
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What is the Red Devil in chemotherapy?

The chemotherapy (“chemo”) drug “The Red Devil” is doxorubicin (Adriamycin). It is an intravenous cancer medicine with a clear, bright red color, which is how it got its nickname.
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How many rounds of chemo is normal?

During a course of treatment, you usually have around 4 to 8 cycles of treatment. A cycle is the time between one round of treatment until the start of the next. After each round of treatment you have a break, to allow your body to recover.
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