Medicine

How to prepare for chemotherapy?

Because chemotherapy affects everyone differently, preparing for it may not be an easy task. However, there are a few key points to keep in mind before starting treatment that can help you through the process. So what you should know?

Preparation for chemotherapy — what is it?

Preparing for chemotherapy is primarily about educating yourself about the course of treatment and arranging your schedule so that it can be carried out without difficulty. One of the first symptoms after taking medications is fatigue, so it's important to keep your tasks to a minimum. The free time you will get from that can be spent on rest and regeneration.

Chemotherapy preparation in terms of general health condition also plays an important role. Before starting therapy, it is worth taking care of strengthening the body, especially the immune system. Immunity protects against various types of infections, to which we are particularly exposed during oncological treatment. Ask your doctor about how you can take care of your immune system.

How to prepare for chemotherapy?

Preparation for chemotherapy concerns several most important issues related to everyday activities. So where to start?

Questions
One of the stages of preparation for chemotherapy is searching for information not only about the disease itself, but also about the treatment. It is worth preparing a list of all troubling questions. This list can be presented to your doctor. It would be good to include the following questions on this list:

What medication will I get?
How many sessions will be included in the treatment?
What tests still need to be done?
What side effects can I have?
How will I feel after taking this drug?
How to deal with this?

Dental care
Before starting therapy, you should visit your dentist for a checkup. If any abnormalities are found, a dental treatment plan will be established. Changes such as infection and caries can lower immunity, which is crucial for cancer treatment.

Work
Before starting treatment, it is a good idea to talk to your employer. You don't have to go into details, but it is good to discuss the possible sick leave and its duration. Thanks to this, your employer will be able to properly allocate your current tasks.

Clothes
Body temperature fluctuations may occur during administration of the drug. Therefore, on the day of the procedure, it is worth wearing a few layers of clothes. This allows for better body temperature regulation. On the day of treatment, you should wear comfy clothes that will also allow setting up a chemotherapy port.

Mental health
Diagnosis and treatment are associated with the emergence of strong emotions that can upset the mental balance. Oncological treatment should also include contact with a psychologist who will help you understand these emotions, work on them and face difficulties.

Chemotherapy preparation — how will I feel after chemotherapy?

The way you will feel after administration of cytostatic drugs is strongly associated with the occurrence of side effects. The most common symptom is fatigue, which makes the easiest activities difficult. In addition, symptoms such as nausea and vomiting can put additional strain on the body. Digestive side effects (not only vomiting, but also diarrhea) that persist over a long period of time result in a loss of electrolytes and may contribute to dehydration.

Preparing for chemo — how to deal with the side effects?

Since cytostatic drugs do not act selectively, i.e., they target specific cells, they can not only destroy cancer cells. Damage to healthy, rapidly dividing cells is associated with side effects. This is especially true for the cells of the hair, mouth, gastrointestinal tract, and also in the bone marrow. Depending on the type of medication, symptoms can vary from mild to severe.

The most common side effects include:

Blood element deficiencies causing anemia and thrombocytopenia;
Reduction in the number of bone marrow cells — myelosuppression;
Hair loss;
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea;
Tase changes;
Fatigue.

In the first instance, we should talk to the attending physician for information about possible side effects. We should also receive guidance on how to alleviate them. Due to the possibility of problems with the digestive system, it is worth considering consulting a dietitian who will prepare a nutritional plan tailored to your individual needs. A properly balanced diet is also a way to maintain an adequate supply of micro and macronutrients. Thanks to this, the body will be supported, and its regeneration will be more efficient.