What should I eat the night 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 should I eat the morning before chemo?

Improve Your Appetite.

Since carbohydrates are usually digested well, Erika Connor, RD, clinical dietitian for the Stanford Cancer Center, recommends trying snacks such as hot cereals, toast with peanut butter or other nut butter, or pita bread with hummus. Other foods to consider include yogurt and blended soups.
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What can you eat to prepare for chemo?

Before chemotherapy begins, a person should eat a healthy diet and try to maintain a moderate weight. A healthy diet should include various fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, lean proteins, whole grains, and legumes.
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What foods should be avoided during chemotherapy?

What foods should you avoid during cancer treatment?
  • Lightly cooked or raw fish, such as sushi.
  • Soft-cooked eggs or foods that contain raw eggs, such as homemade mayonnaise.
  • Unpasteurized cheeses and dairy products.
  • Unwashed fruits or vegetables.
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What foods taste good during chemotherapy?

Try foods that are less sweet: Drink beverages such as diluted fruit juice, milk, buttermilk, lemonade, ginger ale or sports drinks.
...
In place of sweet snacks, choose other foods, such as:
  • Cheese.
  • Chips or pretzels with dip.
  • Cottage cheese.
  • Crackers and cheese.
  • Deviled eggs.
  • Nuts.
  • Peanut butter.
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How Should I Eat Before Starting Chemotherapy?



Does drinking water help flush out chemo?

Chemotherapy can be dehydrating. Drinking plenty of water before and after treatment helps your body process chemotherapy drugs and flush the excess out of your system.
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What should I pack in my chemo bag?

Below are seven 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 increase white blood cells during chemo?

There is no particular food known to help boost WBC count. Our bodies need protein to produce WBCs, so it is important to get enough protein in your diet. If you are not eating well, ask to speak with an oncology dietitian at the treatment center.
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What foods help with nausea from chemo?

Eat bland foods, such as dry toast and crackers. Eat food cold or at room temperature to decrease its smell and taste. Avoid fatty, fried, spicy, or very sweet foods. Try small amounts of foods high in calories that are easy to eat (such as pudding, ice cream, sherbets, yogurt, and milkshakes) several times a day.
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How can I boost my immune system during chemo?

Here are eight simple steps you can follow to care for your immune system during chemotherapy.
  1. Ask about protective drugs. ...
  2. Get the flu shot every year. ...
  3. Eat a nutritious diet. ...
  4. Wash your hands regularly. ...
  5. Limit contact with people who are sick. ...
  6. Avoid touching animal waste. ...
  7. Report signs of infection immediately.
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Can I eat salad while on chemo?

Do not eat from high-risk food sources, including salad bars, delicatessens, buffets and smorgasbords, potlucks, and sidewalk vendors. Do not eat raw fruits and vegetables . Ask for pasteurized fruit juices.
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What candy is good for chemo?

Try some hard candies – Peppermints, lemon drops, root beer barrels, and ginger chews are often effective in relieving nausea and eliminating bad tastes in your mouth.
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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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How can I raise my white blood cells fast?

Lean meats, such as fish, eggs seafood, and skinless poultry contain high quantities of protein. Great plant based sources include lentils, beans and soy. Zinc is one of the best foods to increase white blood cells you can consume as it can help the body produce more WBCs and makes existing WBCs more aggressive.
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Can you drink Coke while on 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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Can you have honey while on chemo?

Honey may help painful mouth inflammation caused by cancer treatments. Compared to usual care, honey was more likely to reduce moderate or severe pain for patients after radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy treatment.
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What do you say on the first day of chemo?

If you're struggling to find the right words, here are 12 kind things to say to someone with cancer:
  • “I'm here for you.” ...
  • “You are in my thoughts and prayers.” ...
  • “I'm so sorry you're going through this.” ...
  • “Let me help you with…” ...
  • Tell a Joke. ...
  • “How are you doing?” ...
  • “Any time you need to talk, I'll listen.”
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What happens on the first day of chemotherapy?

Your nurse will begin with a saline solution through your IV. As soon as the medications are delivered, your nurse will hang the bags of medication on the IV stand and then start the different IVs. You'll be given pre-medications first, then the chemotherapy.
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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 is best to drink during chemo?

Sip cold, clear liquids, such as ginger ale, iced tea, sparkling water, or fruit juice. Some people find sparkling water with a splash of juice soothes the stomach. Sip ginger tea. Avoid fatty, spicy, and sugary foods.
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Does chemo get worse with each cycle?

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 can I prevent my hair from falling out during chemo?

Wearing a scalp cooling cap during chemotherapy infusions might help prevent hair loss. These caps are thought to slow the flow of blood to your scalp. This may limit the amount of chemotherapy medication that reaches your scalp, reducing its effects on your hair follicles.
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How much water should you drink while on chemo?

The goal is to drink at least ten 8-ounce glasses of fluid every day. That amount should increase if you have diarrhea, vomiting, or a fever. Don't count on thirst to tell you when you need to drink. Always keep a beverage with you, so you can take sips throughout the day.
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How long does hair fall out after last chemo?

Fortunately, most hair loss from chemotherapy is temporary. Many patients experience an initial thinning or loss within 1-3 weeks of their initial treatment or dose of chemotherapy and by month three the hair loss is often complete.
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Can you drive while taking chemo?

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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