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Top tips to help get you through Chemotherapy
As requested here's the compilation of all the top tips for going through chemo! A big huge thanks to all the contributors who have added their tips and to Princess for starting it! Please do continue to add your own top tips to this thread.
For the Gums:
- Bonjela
- Cordsyl daily for x 3 and Cordsyl normal for 1 (dentist recommended)
- ultra soft bristle brush/baby toothpaste
- aloe vera based toothpaste, Beverley Hills gum strengthening toothpaste.
For the mouth:
- Gelclair, salt water wash, Oraldene, tonic water, Difflam mouthwash
- aloe dent lip balm with lysine (good for coldsores also)
Bad taste: - pineapple (fresh/chunks/drinks/lollies) - haribo (not tangtastic) - celery, mints, fresh fruit, pear drops, cola cubes, sherbert lemons.
Water tasting odd: - flavoured/sparkling water, lemon squash
Nausea:
- Ginger (beer, biscuits, sweets, fresh)
- smaller, regular meals
- V8 vegetable juice
- Manuka honey with hot water and peppermint oil
- Slippery elm powder mixed into natural yoghurt
- Banana for early morning with the anti-sickness tablet
- Flavoured/green tea if can’t face milk or dairy products in tea.
- Lite bites suggestions – cream cheese and bread sticks
- Nothing spicey
- Flat lemonade
- Plain biscuits
- Banana/peanut butter sandwiches
- Travel bands/anti sickness bands (Poundland cheaper than Boots).
General Wellbeing/During Chemo:
- Carry your card and thermometer with you all the time and keep bag packed
- Chemo Caddy – see below
- Pin up emergency numbers where everyone can see them – who to contact and when
- Check with your consultant who to phone at eves and weekends
- Store emergency numbers in your phone
- Digital thermometer if not given one by hospital (Poundland cheaper than Boots)
– take temperature under armpit as more accurate
- Lifemel honey to boost white blood cells
- Drink LOTS of fluid before and after chemo - Lucozade for energy - Light meal before chemo
- If having CMF and nose issues when Chemo being administered then sweets or lolly (mini callipo) to suck during (small cool bag also recommended to keep lollies frozen)
- Bath pillow (helps prevent cold bald head on cold bath)
- Don’t take 2nd steroid dose after 2pm (awake/energised at wrong times)
- Eat fruit when you need to eat whilst/before taking tablets
- Avoid alcohol for 2/3 days after chemo
- Keep out of direct sunlight
- Pregnancy type diet to avoid risk of infection – ie no un-pasturised dairy products, wash veggies, meat properly cooked
- Accept help wherever offered!
- Prepare/buy nice food in advance for bad days
- Smash! When you can’t eat but must and mouth is sore! (Needs ketchup though)
Sleep when you can - Fresh air - Exercise - Laughter - Ask for help if really sick! Docs etc for additional drugs! - Steripen to sterilise water of nasties (works through UV and no nasty chemicals and easy to use but £90)
- Runny nose through loss of nose hair – tissues!
- V-pillow
- Check and see if GP can refer you to local leisure centre for cheaper use of fitness suite and swimming pool.
- Constipation - breakfast of high fibre cereal/fruit smoothie/prune juice - “Go Cake” – see below for recipe.
Sore Eyes
- Boots hayfever relief drops
- Cooling/chill eye mask
Headaches - gel pads (stick on kind used for infants/migraine)
Dry skin/rashes/spots from Taxol - gentle moisturiser for hands and feet - drink lots of juice and water but leave spots on face alone as skin sensitive.
Hairloss/head coverings
- buffs from buffwear
- baseball cap
- headcovers website
– sleep caps, scarves, bangs, eyebrows, eyelashes, wigs etc
- don’t wash it too often, use baby shampoo
- Browzings by Benefit – good eyebrow make up - Boots
CHEMO BAG AND CHEMO CADDY
Chemo bag
(A bum bag has been suggested as keeps both hands free and no restrictions on your shoulders and particularly snugpak response pack (online) as “tested in war, never beaten” and big enough to take a tool kit/chemo caddy or chemo bag).
Keep a bag packed in case of emergency hospital visit and to take on chemo days. Pyjamas, warm socks, clean knickers, wash bag with spare toothpaste and brush, face wipes, mirror, tissues, bag of pineapple pieces, anti bacterial hand gel, book.
Chemo Caddy
A basket with a handle (previously from delivery of pot plants) with everything needed in it so that you can have it by the bed upstairs or carry it down to crash in front of TV.
- Edibles – ginger bics, minty chewing gum, root ginger to nibble.
- Treats – nice hand cream, chocolate, octopus shaped back massager, nail cream, buffer.
- Essentials – tissues, glasses, lipsalve, bottle of water, straw (in case can’t lift head from pillow), little bell (to summon family to fetch/make tea)
“GO CAKE"
4oz All Bran, 5oz sugar, 10oz mixed dried fruit (basically whatever is in the cupboard – use a nice mixture) – apricots, sultanas, cranberries etc, lots of chopped prunes for extra “GO”. ½ pint of milk 4 oz self raising flour. Put All Bran, sugar and fruit into a bowl, mix, add milk and allow to stand for at least half an hour (while you recover from the physical effort so far). Sieve in the flour, mix well and pour into well greased 2lb loaf tin. Bake in moderate oven (180 degree c) for about an hour, until a knife comes out dry. Cover with foil after 30 mins if its browning too much. Turn out of tin and cool. Serve in thin slices with butter as thick as you like it!
Once again, all credits to the ladies who have added to this thread making it an invaluable reference tool and thanks to Princess for starting it! Good luck and much love, xxxx
What a lovely, lovely thread. Thank you, Jo and Princess. Pity it wasn't available when I was going through chemo, but I'm sure it will be invaluable to anyone currently or about to go through it.
I was pleased to see tonic water included for the mouth. Personally, I found a good slug of gin with it helped enormously hehehe. Seriously, as a light snack I enjoyed a slice of Nimble bread spread with cream cheese and topped with sliced kiwi fruit.
Good luck to us all.
Maureen xx
Get to a dentist for any outstanding niggles before starting chemo - for some reasons it has a tendency to upset your gnashers/gums. With all the sweety sucking for sore mouth/gums be sure to floss, clean and moutwash with monotonous regularity!
My chemo nurse told me after my first FEC on Tuesday that me and my OH ought to use condoms for the first 3 or 4 days post chemo so that he didn't get any chemo drugs through my bodily fluids! Just thought I would add this for any of you ladies feeling up for a cuddle in the days just after chemo!!!
i found this thread really helpful thank yu although i have one query, i love cheese of any description however my nurse told me to avoid cream cheeses? take care ladies speak soon. x
I have been told to avoid cream cheese (my family looked at me gone out when I asked the question - like were the hell did that come from!! LOL) which is a bummer, but normal cheeses like cheddar are ok.
I was dx Oct 2007 am a cheeseaholic!! never been told to avoid to it and never have - love cream cheese on toasted crusty bread mmmm
I just wanted to add to , avoid grapefruit or juice as I used to have in the mornings fresh grapefruit juice and find out much later it is not good while you are on chemo.
Gul x
Excellent thread - brilliant idea.
I've recently moved to France, where we have cheese coming out of our ears and avoiding it (or any other food for that matter) has never been mentioned to me.
Also, a solution of bicarb makes a good mouthwash....
And I would recommend 'Crocs' (or a cheap imitation) for 'Taxotere feet' - sooooo comfortable, with those thick soles - you can even wear them in the shower, if you need to!
X
S
The French are so much more sensible about food than the Brits!
I'm afraid these earnest lists of chemo tips rather make this cynic laugh.
I know where my thermometer is, have ginger ale at the ready, a supply of anti emetics and movicol and thats about it....its seen me through 30 plus chemos...mind you I'm still looking for a solution to 'fatigue'...reading the chemo tips list makes me feel exhausted for starters but maybe that because I've never made a cake in my life and certainly ain't starting on go-cake now.
Jane
Jane you're one up on me..I did buy a thermometer but haven't a clue where it is now! Belinda..x
Ah but I bought a second one cause I lost the first one...
Jane
Just signed up to this site - it has helped enormously readings some of the comments and particularly the above tips about chemo.
I had my first FEC on 17th Oct and have never been so sick or felt so awful in my life. The anti-sickness drugs had no effect - not that I could keep them down!! By week two I felt much better and tried to make the most of these good days. I felt very anxious prior to my 2nd FEC on 7th Nov - but this was so different. I told the nurses about the sickness and asked if I could try suppositories in stead of anti-sickness tablets. They seemed to have helped coupled with the fact the FEC was delivered far more slowly and the lovely nurse let the saline drip continue to run whilst she was writing up my notes. Have felt very tired and weepy this time - had my last wisps of hair shaved off today so think that's made me emotional. I don't feel so alone now reading all your comments.
Does anyone else have a problem eating dairy products? I just can't seem to stomach milk so can't drink tea or coffee and herbal teas taste pretty foul too. Orange juice isn't pleasant either - but pineapple I love.
Ali
Hi Ali
I've had FEC in 2006/7 and was really sick for the first few cycles until I asked them to prescribe a newish antisickness drug called Emend. You take it 1 hr before your chemo, then 1 at the same time the next two days. It's been brilliant for me. I finished 8 sessions of Taxotare from Jan to June and had it with that and am now on another chemo regime 5FU over 72 hours and Navelbine. Again I've insisted on Emend and touch wood no problem with sickness at all. Ask or insist on it. You'll be much better I'm sure. It's bad enough going through it all without the dreadful sickness. makes the other effects easier to cope with I think if you can sort the sickness out.
Good luck. Hope this helps.
Carol
Taxotere Feet!
For sore feet whilst on taxotere, smother them with E45 (or cheaper acqueous cream, which is just the same as far as I know). Someone else recommended Crocs, which are great but not ideal in this weather. I have found the Ugg type boots fabulous - soft and warm, and still fit when your feet are sore and/or ankles are swollen. Mine are the cheapies from Primark (£6!), but I imagine the real ones would be even nicer.
Julie
x
You're absolutely right about Crocs not being so good for this weather, Julie!
However, I've just seen some new winter 'furry' lined ones, which might suit some people
X
S
The hospital bag is a very good idea, as if you're about to be admitted you certainly won't feel like packing one. I recommend taking some Dettox wipes for the hospital bed, mine has had someone else's blood on it the last 2 times I was in.
Hi all I was only diagnosed last thursday 27/th Nov 2008 , there was a lump I didn't know if it was a lump or not at first but as soon as I knew it was deffo a lump I got to Drs the next morning ! ( which was good ) the Dr said has it been hurting ? I said yes it has been like a stabbing in it ( not all the time ) he said that was a good sign ! . Got my appointment for hospital the next week ! . I thought it wouldnt be cancer as no body in our history ( as far back as 5 generations ) has never had it !
When the consultant exanined me she drew on me , then she drew on me again ( I knew this wasn't a good sign ), I said to my hubby " I think they have found another one " then went for a mamogram ( which wasn't as bad as I feared ) and that nurse said " you have a lump on your left breast I said "yes" then she said " you also have one in your arm pit " so I said " well I didn't know about that but I figured it out when consultant drew on me". so then I went for a scan and also a core biopsy ( which surprisingly was not as bad as I feared )! I had 3 from my breast and 4 from my armpit . Then I was taken to a quiet room with my hubby , the consultant came in and said " you actually have 3 lumps ( I thought oh my god ) then she said but 1 is a cist ( a small snippet of good news I suppose ) but we think the other 2 are cancer ( bombshell or what ). I asked might the other 2 be a cist she said deffo not.
But she did say I dont want to overwhelm you with too much information at the minute but she said I have chemo first to try and attack the small one in my arm pit as that is a enlarged lymph node !
Then surgery .
Do all people who have chemo loose their hair?????
It is sods law ( honest ) I have never had my hair long my mum wouldn't let me, So ths is the longest I have ever had it ( I am 41 now)
God why am I even bothered about my hair ( it should be the last thing on my mind )!!
I am going back to hospital on Monday to discuss treatment and such. so thats where I am now !
cheesed off to say the least my poor kids are deverstated as is my hubby.
Also I did want to make the point that a young girl who posted yesterday ( I couldnt log in ) said her dr said it was good if her lump hurt I don't want to frighten her if she reads this but mine was hurting well it was like stabbing every now and then and also tingling sensation.
The consultant told me it is a myth about it's nothing serious if it hurts.
I would like to say I'm sorry if I have posted on the wrong bit this is my first time here !!!
and may I say GOOD LUCK TO US ALL AND GOD BLESS !!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi everyone, the one thing that I remember worst about the chemo is the terrible CONSTIPATION i suffered the first time - so when i went through the second lot I made pretty dam sure that I took Senna tablets before I got the constipation and although I had it a bit - it seemed to work, so rather than wait till you get the constipation sort it out before the horse has bolted if you know what I mean!
Love Debx
I am so glad i found this list its saved me some work as i was just about to do a 'TIPS' list for my friend who starts chemo tomorrow. Will just copy and paste the tips from here instead.
Oh that constipation i remember it well. Infact i still suffer from piles as an after affect from it all.
Ayojoy1 let us know how you are and also how the hosp appt goes on Monday. its so AWFUL when you are first diagnosed infact its all AWFUL but heres hoping the chemo shrinks things. One of my friends had to have chemo first and is very well 10yrs on.
Take Care
Rx
Hi, could I add that keeping your chemo arm warm before treatment helps when trying to find veins, i used a heat pad on the way to the hospital. Essential oils for aromatherapy during treatment and after when visiting the loo are also really good for getting over the nausea. Relaxation tapes during treatment(on an MP3) and for going to slepp are great.
Hi Everyone.
I was diagnosed with IBC on fireworks night! a date i wont forget for a while.
A good tip i had for constipation was to start taking senacot the day before Chemo and you can get lactoluse from Boots if the senacot need extra help.
I've avoided to much hair loss by using the cold cap, it has thined a bit but hopefully it wont desert me completely.
My first Chemo wasn't to bad but my 2nd (yesterday) has pretty much wiped me out, listen to your body is the best thing to do, if you feel tired, go back to bed.
I've got plenty of meals prepared just in case and have found fruit jelly to be lovely when your mouth is feeling icky.
All the best to eveyone
Hi everyone
Sorry, I can't remember who it was who said she was very weepy at 2nd chemo and thought it was cos hair falling out - my breast care nurse said a lot of people have one really wobbly chemo emotionally - with some it's 2nd and some it's 3rd - just so you know what's causing it as well as hair-loss-distress! - with me was 2nd and I was all for finishing treatment, but the lovely breast care nurse was so gently caring that I did go back for the rest (in part, not to let her down!).
Advice I had from the team was also - soaked linseeds to help with constipation as well as the drugs - if you can manage to get 'em down - I'd soak em in juice and not always managed to get em eaten.
And the biggest advice, was to drink LOADS (2L/day) water (tonic water, flavoured water etc, ) to flush away the toxins - cells killed by the chemo. This also goes for radiotherapy, and makes a difference on how tired you feel going through that. Drink lots = less tired. Really worked for me. Drink less = feel c r a p.
The waterworks do adjust after a week or two, up to a point...
Great, useful thread, thanks all.
Hi
Just to add to the previous post about wobbles. I had mine after chemo No.3. I really had no idea how I was going to find the courage to walk back into the chemo suite but did and have coped better ever since.
Andie
Hi everyone,
I'm had my 5th chemo on Dec 1st (3 FEC + 3 TAX). Was dx back in August for BC.
The tips are great, thanks. Especially about taking senna before the constipation starts. I'll definately do that for the 6th and final one on Dec 22, which means I'll feel horrible for Christmas. This constipation is the most horrid thing ever! I took the maximum strength senna last night and it hasnt quite kicked in yet...I pray things will improve by 2moro.
Does anyone experience crippling and throbing pains in the lower spine when u try to sit or stand and legs feel like they are going to give way?
Take care
D
well, here I am in the chemotherpay suite...............................news yesterday was the cancer was in my sentinel node, so now facing chemo sometime in January.Will meet the oncologists soon, but probably after christmas now.I'm told i will have 6 cycles, once every three weeks, but does this mean one 'dose' every three weeks, or is every day of that third week? I see some of you have problems with constipation............senna never works for me, i could take several and nothing happens! So, when needs must, i use Dulolax,very efficient stuff. I'm also going to have radiotherpay, all prior to the node clearance, and then surgeon says he'll tidy up any wobbly bits of my scars while he's at it
Hi narnia, you'll have to confirm the treatment regime with your oncologist, but in my case, I have 6 cyles as well, every three weeks (21 days) and it's one dose given on the one day. There's no way my body could handle six or seven treatments in one week!! I'll be having surgery on Jan 8 and radiotherapy afterwards....I only hope the radiotherapy is not as horrid as the tax....
Hi Caro52
Agree linseeds are useful - I think the golden ones taste nicer.
You can smash them up a bit in a blender and then sprinkle them on cereal, if that makes them easier for you to take.
I also used to add them to the mixture when I was making fruity flapjacks, which are already high in fibre.
X
S
As we could not go on holiday I splashed out on a comfy sofa (our old one was second hand, small with wooden arms) It meant that I did not have to go to bed if i was tired. Overwise it was just to tempting to spend the day in bed. It is still great a year later.
Good luck to anyone about to start
Jacqui
I recommend a small glass of fizzy wine in the form of Cava or, even better, champagne after every chemo.
Reduces nausea and lifts the spirits.
A cold Guinness had the same effect on me, SuperS. Though I don't think it's recommended!
BUT also drank lots of water during/after chemo...and even now drink much more water than I used to, pre-chemo.