How to Deal With Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a term for chemicals used to kill cancer cells. Drugs used for treatment depend on the stage and type of cancer present. Chemotherapy drugs work by hampering the ability of cancer cells to reproduce and multiply. Side effects of chemotherapy may include fatigue, hair loss, change in bowel habits, bleeding, infection, anemia and changes in appetite. You may experience some or none of these side effects depending on how your body reacts to the drugs. Your doctor or nurse may be able to tell you what side effects you can expect from your chemotherapy and what you can do to help deal with the process.

Instructions

• 1

  Rest often and try to get eight hours of sleep every night. Short naps during the day can be helpful to help you keep your energy level up.

• 2

  Accept help from friends when they offer and try not to worry about all the things you can't manage to do. Your friends wouldn't offer to help if they didn't want to. Have them do your grocery shopping or drive you to your scheduled appointments. Let a friend clean your house while you are not well.

• 3

  Eat several smaller meals each day instead of three large meals if you have lost your appetite. Choose foods and liquids that are high in nutrition and protein, and don't wait until you are hungry to eat. Taking a short walk before a meal may help to increase your appetite. A well-balanced diet is very important while undergoing chemotherapy.

• 4

  Join a cancer support group if one is available. Others can share their experiences with you and offer advice and guidance. It's nice to be able to talk to someone who understands what you are going through.

• 5

  Don't try to accomplish too much on days that you are feeling better. Overdoing it could cause you to feel worse for the next few days.

• 6

  Switch to a soft tooth brush and wet it first before brushing your teeth if you have experienced bleeding when brushing. Chemotherapy can reduce the number of platelets in your blood causing bruising and bleeding from your mouth and nose.

• 7

  Wash your hands often and don't walk around in bare feet. Other ways to reduce the risk of infection include staying away from people who are sick or large crowds; and sanitizing surfaces such as ATM's, public restrooms doorknobs and computer keyboards before you touch them.