How to Prepare for Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

Good self-care during chemotherapy (treatment with anti-cancer drugs) will help offset some of the side effects you may experience. Save your energy for healing by planning ahead for the basics, such as grocery shopping and getting to your appointments.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wigs
• Journals
• Breath Mints
• Toothbrushes

1. Research as much as you can about your condition. The more you know, the less you will fear the unknown.

2. Have any needed dental work done before you begin treatment. Buy a new toothbrush, and plan to buy one after each monthly cycle of chemotherapy to prevent buildup of bacterial or chemical residue.

3. Consider cutting your hair shorter if your physician has confirmed that you will lose your hair. This will ease you into having less hair.

4. Shop for a wig before your treatment begins, if you plan to wear one, taking your time to find a color and length that goes well with your personality and physical characteristics.

5. Organize your nutritional needs ahead of time and have your refrigerator and pantry stocked with low-fat, low-sugar snacks, plus lots of green leafy vegetables and fresh fruit. If you don't already, plan to eat three meals a day during treatment.

6. Buy or borrow books and tapes ahead of time to take with you for the waiting room and treatment.

7. Remember to stock up on water and other fluids to take with you to each treatment so you avoid dehydration. Also, carry mints or sugar-free hard candy with you.

8. Wear loose, comfortable clothing to each appointment.

Tips & Warnings

• Take notes at doctor's appointments, and keep a running list of questions for your health care provider.
• Keep a daily journal during treatment to better understand your feelings and the treatment process. This will also bring to the surface any questions you may need to ask your physician.
• Learn some muscle relaxation exercises ahead of time so you can practice them during your treatment. Try relaxing and tensing the muscles of one of your legs, starting with your toes and working your way up your leg. Hold your breath each time you tense up, breathing out as you relax. Next, work your way up your other leg. Finally, relax other muscle groups, working all the way up your body to the top of your head.
• Stay away from fatty foods, as weight gain is more common than most people expect with the new anti-nausea drugs available to patients undergoing chemotherapy.
• If you have any questions or concerns, contact a physician or other health care professional before engaging in any activity related to health and diet. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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on 1/9/2009 As a breast cancer survivor, stage four imflamatory breast cancer, I'd like to commend you for the advice in your article but there is a couple of things which I don't agree. Weight gain isn't uncommon, sudden weight gain is a symptom of cancer, when you're taking chemo but the weight gain isn't necessary from fatty foods but with the body's inability to function normally. While taking chemo if you can get a bowl of ice cream to stay down you should eat it. Some radilogist even recommended a high calorie diet while in treatment. The other thing is the green leafy vegetables. Some doctors recommended that you not eat dark leafy vegetables while taking chemo. This will depend the type of cancer and the type of chemo. The article had some very good advice. Diet and exercise is a good thing. It takes from three to five years for the body to heal from chemo and a healthy diet and exercise i

on 6/30/2006 I don't know many people in chemo treatment that could tolerate leafy greens and fresh foods (as their digestion is impaired). Acidophilous in yogurt is useful, as this is one of the things that is killed by the chemicals.

Bananas, applesauce, rice pudding and mashed potatoes are much more universal. Cooked vegetables, soups, chicken and scrambled or hard boiled eggs all go down easily. Even veggie burgers.