MENTALLY PREPARING FOR CHEMOTHERAPY
Posted on March 17 2021
During treatment, it is normal to experience mood swings. Sharing your feelings with loved ones can help ease fears and worries. It is often considered "a burden", but in most cases your loved ones will be happy to help you. If you don't feel able to talk to them, going to a psycho-oncologist can be very helpful.
Feeling tired is a common side effect during chemotherapy. However, some people downplay it so as not to worry those around them. To make it a little easier to cope with fatigue, you should consider a few things:
Rest. As long as necessary.
Prioritize. Do I need to do "this" now or can it wait for me to feel a little better?
Eat well. Following a proper diet as much as possible can greatly help reduce fatigue.
Accept offers of help.
Precautions before chemotherapy
If you must go to the hospital for the administration of your chemotherapy treatment, it is advisable to bring some type of entertainment and personal items. Some common objects are:
A bottle of water
Candy or aroma therapy inhalers (it can relieve nausea if they appear)
Lip balm
A music player
A book, crossword puzzles or magazines.
On your first day of chemotherapy, try to show up early to reduce stress. Put on comfortable clothes and bring a jacket that you can put on or take off depending on the temperature. Bring along someone you trust for support. On the other hand, before starting, it is advisable to have a check-up at the dentist and inform them that you are going to receive this treatment, since the teeth and gums may suffer some side effects.
To prevent nausea and vomiting it is better that you do not go on an empty stomach. During the day, try to eat several small meals instead of large ones, and eat and drink slowly. There could also be alterations in the skin, usually of little importance. Try to keep your skin clean and dry, avoid products with alcohol, use moisturizing creams daily, and avoid direct sun exposure.
Finally, one of the big concerns before chemotherapy treatment is hair loss. However, not all chemotherapy treatments produce this side effect.
References:
- https://www.headsweats.com/logo-add-on-breast-cancer-awareness-logo-happy-alive/
- https://www.cancervic.org.au/cancer-information/treatments/treatments-types/chemotherapy/preparing-for-chemotherapy.html#:~:text=Try%20to%20stay%20as%20healthy,the%20side%20effects%20of%20chemotherapy.
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