Here is What You Must Know before Your First Chemotherapy – Your oncologist may already gave you all the necessary information from drugs to side effects and your possible frequency of chemotherapy. However, you may still find that you are restless, afraid, and you may have many questions but don’t know how to ask. Here are some tips to make your first chemotherapy experience more comfortable.
• Eat Light First
As it happens on many patients, chemo can lead to digestion problem. The best way to keep you fit and to make sure this treatment works ultimately, eat nutritious meal first. It is best to eat around three or four hours before the treatment, and eat a lot of fiber to help your digestion.
• There Will be Blood Test
Every time before the treatment, you will need to take a blood test. Your white blood cells, your red blood cells, and your hemoglobin need to be counted to prevent complication. After the result comes out, you may or may not continue to chemo.
• You Can Ask Question
There will be several drugs included in the treatment. For this, you are allowed to ask questions about it. Most patients will wonder what drug they will take in and how it will feel, if there is any side effect and how you deal with it, and will it cure your cancer.
• There Will be Post Medication
After the chemotherapy, you will need to take some medication. Commonly, this medication is supposed to help with vomiting and nausea. You need to make sure you know how often and when you need to take this medication.
• You Need to Drink a Lot of Water after
The drug used in chemotherapy will dry the entire tissues of your body. To make it work, you need to stay hydrated. Unless you also have kidney problem, you need to drink around eight ounces of water per hour until your bed time.
There are actually more on this, but these should help you experience the first chemotherapy in most comfortable way. You need to stay hopeful and optimistic as it elevates your mood. With positive attitude, this treatment is proven to help so many patients.