if you scare about your first treatment of chemo what do you do

If you have concerns about your chemo drip, how much you can move around during treatment or about bathroom breaks, nurses and staff will help. Get help for nausea and vomiting. “We like to say how you feel going in to sit in the chair is how you should feel leaving the chair,” she says.

Full Answer

How can I cope with chemo treatment?

Feb 14, 2018 · It may scare others. It may do nothing for many. My thought is this: let’s breakdown some of the fears that build up before we even see our first bag of chemo drip. FEAR #1 — The thought of losing your hair is overwhelming. Yep, losing your hair is not fun. It’s not a cultural norm to walk around with no hair.

What to know before your first chemo treatment?

Mar 08, 2013 · In the meantime, use your infusion time to relax, visit, eat, work, whatever you want to do. The IV stand will even roll with you in case you want to take a walk or sit outside. After the chemotherapy is finished, the nurse will "flush" your IV line with saline and then de-access your port or take out your IV. They may have you wait 30 minutes after the chemotherapy is done to …

Do you want to go through chemotherapy?

Learn more about the different kinds of chemotherapy. During your first IV chemotherapy appointment, you should bring a friend or family member. They can support you and help you remember information. Sometimes you will be given medication before your chemotherapy treatment that can make you tired, so you may need someone who can drive you home.

Is it normal to be scared of chemotherapy?

Nov 28, 2015 · You can find the time to deal with your hobby. Exercise and hiking is very important and makes you feel good... After six months the treatment will be completed and you will probably be completely free from this disease. Maybe one day in the future, you thought it was one of the best things that ever happened in this case.. Warm regards. Read more

Is it normal to be scared of chemotherapy?

What do you do on the first day of chemotherapy?

What should I do before my first chemo treatment?

How do I deal with chemo anxiety?

What should I do the night before chemo?

How long after your first chemo treatment do you get sick?

What can you not do during chemotherapy?

How do I prepare my home for chemo?

Should I eat breakfast before chemotherapy?

Can chemo cause panic attacks?

What does chemotherapy feel like?

Can oncologist prescribe anxiety meds?

Before You Start Chemotherapy

Meeting with your oncologist. Before you start chemotherapy, you will meet with your medical oncologist. He or she will review your medical records...

Questions to Ask Before Chemotherapy Starts

Before chemotherapy starts is a good time to ask questions. These may include: 1. Learning more about the schedule and side effects of your specifi...

Planning For Your Chemotherapy Treatments

Preparing for side effects. Depending on the most common side effects of your chemotherapy, your doctor may recommend planning for nausea and vomit...

What Happens on Your First Day of IV Chemotherapy

You may want to bring a friend or family member on your first day of treatment. This person can support you and help you remember information. You...

Giving Chemotherapy With A Port

Before your first appointment, you might have minor surgery to put in a port. This is a round metal or plastic disk that the IV goes in during trea...

How Long Does IV Chemotherapy take?

Your IV chemotherapy can take minutes, hours, or several days if you have continuous infusion chemotherapy. You do not need to stay at the hospital...

After Your IV Chemotherapy

After your treatment is finished, the nurse or another team member will take out your IV. If you have a port, it will stay until you finish all of...

Can you relax during chemotherapy?

It all depends on the chemotherapy. Throughout the chemotherapy, your nurse will come in and check your vitals and make sure you aren't reacting to the medications. In the meantime, use your infusion time to relax, visit, eat, work, whatever you want to do.

How long after chemo can you go home?

They may have you wait 30 minutes after the chemotherapy is done to make sure you don't have any reactions to the medications. At that point, you can go home. Again, depending on your pre-medications and chemotherapy, you may have lots of energy or may feel very sleepy later in the day.

Is chemotherapy a word?

Chemotherapy. It's not a word people want to hear and certainly not something they want to go through. But, for those of us with cancer, we often don't have a choice. I remember how terrified I was of getting my first chemotherapy treatment. Would I be sick?

How early can you get blood work done for chemo?

First, you may be told to show up a couple of hours early to get blood work drawn. This is to make sure you're able to get your chemotherapy treatment.#N#It can be a pain, but, believe me, it's in your best interest.#N#Use the extra time to relax before you go to your chemotherapy appointment.#N#When you arrive at the infusion floor and they have your lab results and a room available, you'll be called back to have your vital signs taken.#N#Once you are cleared at the vitals station, you will be taken to your chemotherapy room for your infusion.#N#At MD Anderson, you will have a TV, Internet access, a bed or a recliner and best of all warm blankets.#N#They also have food service at lunch and dinner if you're hungry.#N#At MD Anderson, you're allowed to have one caregiver with you in the infusion room.

How long does it take for chemo to arrive?

It usually takes at least 30 minutes for the drugs to arrive. Some of the pre-medications may be steroids, anti- nausea medications and/or anxiety medications.

Can steroids make you sleepy?

The steroids may give you energy; the allergy drugs and anti-anxiety drugs may make you sleepy. It's important that you have a caregiver with you to get you to and from chemotherapy the first time, as you don't know how you'll feel after you're done.

How to help someone with chemotherapy?

Make a caregiving plan. People receiving chemotherapy may need extra help during treatment with transportation, household chores, and other tasks. Family and friends can provide valuable support during this time, called caregiving. Ask your team what type of caregiving at home you may need during and after treatment.

What to do before chemo?

Before chemotherapy starts, talk with your team about the financial considerations of your treatment, including specific insurance coverage. You may want to contact organizations that can provide financial support. This could be important if your health insurance does not cover the whole cost of treatment.

What is the role of a medical oncologist?

Your medical oncologist works closely with other team members to create your overall cancer treatment plan. They also lead your chemotherapy treatments. Advanced providers, like oncology nurse practitioners (NPs) and oncology physician assistants (PAs).

How long does chemo last?

Most chemotherapy treatments are given in repeating cycles. The length of a cycle depends on the drug (s) you receive. Most cycles range from 2 to 6 weeks. The number of treatment doses scheduled within each cycle also depends on the prescribed chemotherapy.

Is chemotherapy a maintenance therapy?

Sometimes, chemotherapy treatment is ongoing as a maintenance therapy. Give permission for chemotherapy. Your doctor will talk with you about the possible risks and benefits of chemotherapy. This discussion will include potential short-term side effects and late effects of the chemotherapy.

What is the best treatment for cancer?

Relieving physical and emotional side effects is an important part of your overall cancer treatment. This type of care is called palliative care or supportive care . Talk with your health care team about the side effects you experience and ways to manage and treat them. Learn more about the side effects of chemotherapy.

Is chemotherapy expensive?

Cancer treatment can be costly. Before chemotherapy starts, talk with your team about the financial considerations of your treatment, including specific insurance coverage. You may want to contact organizations that can provide financial support.

Organize your Information

On your first day of treatment you will encounter a lot of new, possibly overwhelming, experiences. It's a good idea to have information prepared for the questions you may be asked. You can use the OncoPilot section to print out logs to organize your information.

Plan how you will get there

Because you don't know how your body will react to the different medications, it is a good idea to have someone drive you to and from treatment, at least the first time. You may find that you tolerate it well and can come alone for future visits if you prefer.

What to expect upon arrival

Arrive on time for your appointment. You may need to fill out paperwork and you will likely have blood work drawn prior to your treatment. The results of this blood work may influence your treatment, so there will likely be a delay after the blood is drawn while the team awaits the results.

Dress comfortably

You may be sitting in the treatment area for an extended period of time, so it is important to be comfortable. Ensure that there is easy access to your central line, if you have one. A PICC in your arm will require the nurse to have access to your upper arm.

Bring a snack

Unless indicated by your provider or nurse, there is no reason why you can't have a snack or drink during your treatment. It is important to maintain proper nutrition and to stay hydrated. You may want to pick a snack that is high in nutritional value and somewhat bland in smell and taste.

Entertainment

Most infusion suites allow for a visitor to stay with you during your treatment. A family member or friend can be a great distraction and it is also helpful to have someone else with you who can take in the information given to you. You can also bring a book, electronic device, craft, etc. Some infusion suites have a television.

Ask questions

No question is a bad question! Medical staff are there to answer your questions. You can ask your nurse for handouts about each medication you are being given. If you brought a support person with you, make sure they are there when you are asking questions so that you have a second set of ears to absorb the information.

How to get back to normal after chemo?

1. Get some rest. Fatigue is the most common side effect experienced by cancer patients, especially those undergoing chemotherapy. So, get plenty of rest and avoid pushing yourself too hard, even if you feel good. Be patient with yourself and others since it may take some time to get back to your regular energy levels.

Is chemotherapy hard?

Going through chemotherapy is tough, so look to your family, friends and your care team for support. The doctors and nurses will do everything they can to make you comfortable. But it’s important that you ask questions and voice concerns, so they can help.

How to get rid of cancer in your mind?

Stick to your normal routine as much as possible. That could be something as small as getting dressed up every day, or having a meal with your family. These rituals can help take your mind off cancer.

Can chemotherapy cause fatigue?

Fatigue is the most common side effect experienced by cancer patients, especially those undergoing chemotherapy. So, get plenty of rest and avoid pushing yourself too hard, even if you feel good. Be patient with yourself and others since it may take some time to get back to your regular energy levels.

Can you drink water while on chemo?

Not only can this cause you to have low energy, but it can also cause other health issues. So, be sure to drink plenty of water during your treatment. Decaffeinated tea, juices and milk can also help.

Can you eat after chemotherapy?

Keep in mind that many foods may taste different as you go through treatment. For some patients, food may have a metallic aftertaste during and after chemotherapy.

Can you take a nauseous pill before chemotherapy?

Many patients experience nausea during and after chemotherapy. So, get your nausea prescriptions filled before you start chemotherapy, and take them before treatments so they kick in before the nausea does. If your nausea medications don’t work, ask your doctor to try a different prescription.

How to stop chemotherapy?

Avoid gyms. Since chemotherapy can weaken your immune system, it’s a good idea to avoid crowded gyms during your treatment. Know when to stop. If you experience symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pain during your workout, stop the workout and speak with your doctor about other ways to stay active.

Why is it important to keep up with your body during chemotherapy?

Because of this, you’ll need to have extra calories and protein in your diet.

Is chemotherapy good for cancer?

Resources and support. Bottom line. Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment. It works by using strong drugs to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide more quickly than many healthy cell types. However, it’s still possible for chemotherapy to target healthy cells that also divide quickly.

How does chemotherapy work?

It works by using strong drugs to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide more quickly than many healthy cell types. However, it’s still possible for chemotherapy to target healthy cells that also divide quickly. Some examples include cells in the digestive tract, immune system, ...

What are the side effects of chemotherapy?

When this happens, it can lead to side effects like lowered immunity, hair loss, and nausea or vomiting. There are certain precautions that you can take to limit your side effects and help make treatment safer. We’ll explore nine things to avoid during chemotherapy treatment.

Does chemotherapy cause weight loss?

Chemotherapy can sometimes lead to a loss of appetite. This can happen due to side effects like nausea, mouth sores, or feeling fatigued. It’s still important to eat, even if you don’t feel like you’re very hungry. Not eating enough can lead to weight loss and can make fatigue worse.

Does smoking affect chemotherapy?

As such, smoking during chemotherapy can negatively impact your treatment. One way that it can do this is by making side effects worse.

What are the side effects of chemo?

It’s also common to have other side effects that people don’t talk about as much, such as trouble with memory and concentration, feeling dizzy, or having pain and numbness during or after chemo. 4. “I don’t want to think about cancer all the time.”. You’re much more than a patient. You’re a person with a full life.

Is chemo hard on dogs?

Yes, it will probably be hard and have side effects. But you might be surprised by some of the things people who have been through chemo would want you to keep in mind. 1. “I don’t want to hear about your friend, sister, or dog walker’s chemo experience.”.

Does chemo cause hair loss?

The side effects you have depend on what kind of chemo you get and how your body reacts to it. Hair loss and nausea are common, but they don’t happen to everyone. It’s also common to have other side effects that people don’t talk about as much, such as trouble with memory and concentration, feeling dizzy, or having pain ...