Despite, or maybe because of, its efficacy in the fight against cancer, chemotherapy can be physically and emotionally demanding on patients. With this in mind, it’s important to prepare yourself as much as possible to make this great undertaking more manageable. But preparation is about more than medical appointments; it’s about equipping your mind, body, and support system to handle the challenges to come, as well.
Let’s explore some practical strategies for physically and mentally approaching your cancer journey with resilience and hope.
Key Takeaways:
- Mental and physical preparation for chemo can make a major difference in managing your treatment.
- Start preparing for chemo by gathering your support system, letting them know what to expect, and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine.
- Your home routine is going to change. Take practical steps to organize your home and work life, make financial adjustments, and be prepared to cope with or combat side effects.
How Do You Prepare for Chemotherapy? Building a Foundation for Success
By mentally preparing for what’s to come, you can mitigate stress on your mind and body before, during, and after chemotherapy. Emotional preparation and having a support system you can lean on can help you feel comforted and stay positive.
Stress Management
If you don’t practice mindfulness, meditation, or breathing techniques, now is an excellent time to start! These exercises can help reduce anxiety and mental stress. Another effective way to mentally prepare is by working with a therapist or counselor. They can give you useful coping strategies for when you’re feeling overwhelmed or discouraged during treatment.
Building Support
As a social species, we need community and friendship simply for everyday life, even more so when going through treatment for a life-changing illness. Relationships with family, friends, and a support group can completely change your outlook on treatment and provide much-needed encouragement.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help or tell people you can trust how you’re feeling. Letting loved ones know about your treatment schedule and how they can help with meal planning, childcare, transportation, or just being there for you on challenging days can help minimize your mental load and uplift your spirits.
Setting Realistic Expectations
Everyone’s experience with chemotherapy and cancer treatment is different. Keep an open mind to what your journey may entail instead of getting wrapped up in generalizations. You’ll have good days and bad days, days where you feel strong and like your pre-cancer self, and days where you can’t bring yourself to get out of bed. All of this is okay, so be gentle with yourself and take things one step at a time.
Physical Preparations to Feel Your Best
Equipped with a strong mental foundation leads the way to feeling as physically healthy as possible. Keep a practical, balanced approach to your nutrition and exercise, knowing you won’t always feel up for eating well or being active. Try taking the following steps to support your body before you begin chemotherapy:
Nutrition
We all know the importance of a balanced diet to maintaining a strong, healthy body. Eating a nutritious diet is one of the most important steps to adequately preparing for cancer treatment, as it gives your body the strength it needs to handle the strong drugs that chemotherapy contains. Eating foods high in protein, healthy fats, and vitamins is essential.
In addition, you may need to stock up on non-perishable, healthy foods in case grocery shopping becomes too much to manage and you can’t rely on outside help at the time. Your oncologist here at RMC will also work with you to create a “chemo diet” tailored to your needs during treatment.
Physical Activities
Staying active has a lot of benefits! It strengthens your body, boosts your immune system, and helps relieve stress, just to name a few. Whether you prefer a light walk, practicing yoga, or getting as vigorous as your body will allow, it will all support your physical and mental well-being as you prepare for chemo.
Managing Potential Side Effects
It’s hard to think about chemotherapy without thinking about the side effects that usually come along with it: hair loss, nausea, fatigue, neuropathy. They can often be one of the most challenging aspects of treatment. Here are some steps you can take to prepare for them and reduce their impact on your daily life:
Hair Loss
Many chemotherapy drugs cause patients to lose their hair; however, not everyone experiences hair loss. Talk with your doctor about the specific chemotherapy drugs you’ll be using to know if this is something you should anticipate. Some people choose to cut or shave their heads before treatment even begins so they don’t go through their hair falling out or shedding. Others prefer covering their head with a wig or scarf to feel more comfortable with the gradual transition.
Nausea
Staying proactive is the best way to manage chemotherapy-related nausea. If you have an anti-nausea prescription, ensure it’s filled ahead of your treatments so you can take it in a timely manner. Even if you don’t think you’ll be nauseated or aren’t experiencing it all the time, taking your medication ahead of time will help you feel better than having to wait for it to kick in later.
Neuropathy Awareness
Neuropathy is a tingling sensation, pain, or numbness that can sometimes accompany cancer treatment drugs. If you start to experience neuropathy, tell your care team right away so they can adjust your medication accordingly.
Practical Preparations: Work, Finances, and Home Life
In addition to mentally and physically preparing for chemotherapy, it’s a good idea to assess your finances and work and home life. Consider the following adjustments to smooth the transition.
Work and Finances
Make sure you communicate with your employer about your treatment schedule and any adjustments you’ll need to your hours or accommodations at the office. Ensure you’re prepared for treatment costs by talking with your insurance company and assessing your financial situation. This will help you stay ahead of any unexpected health expenses and stay prepared financially.
Home Organization
Once you’re at home, you don’t want to worry about setting up a comfy place to rest. Prepare in advance by designating a rest area and keeping comfort items like blankets, entertainment, and snacks within reach. Also, make a plan for household chores to get done, childcare to be taken care of, and arrange for grocery shopping.
Prepare for Your Chemotherapy Journey with RMC
How do you prepare for chemotherapy? There are a lot of answers to that question, but the good news is that you don’t have to do it alone! Our compassionate oncologists are here to prepare, support, and guide you through each step of your journey with chemotherapy. Contact us today for help navigating your cancer treatment with strength and hope.