How to Get Through Chemo

Anyone who's been stricken with cancer knows too well the importance of undergoing chemotherapy to kill cancer cells and keep them from spreading. While chemotherapy is an effective treatment for most cancers, it won't work unless a strict schedule is followed. Chemo treatments have common side effects such as nausea, vomiting, hair loss, infections and depression, so it's important to learn how to get through treatment. Follow these steps to make your chemo experience as comfortable as possible.

Things You'll Need

• Skin and antibiotic creams
• Rubber gloves
• Water
• Fruit juices
• Warm hat or cap
• Electric mustache trimmer
• Antiseptic wipes
• Journal or diary

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Instructions

• 1

  Treat painful, cracked hands and feet by having plenty of skin and antibiotic creams in the medicine chest. Some drugs commonly used in chemo treatments can cause skin to become dry and irritated, and patients are also prone to infection from even the tiniest of cuts. Because a lower white blood cell count is one side effect of chemotherapy, be cautious of all skin reactions and irritations, and treat them before they develop into something more serious.

• 2

  Use rubber gloves when cleaning, washing dishes or cooking. Chemo treatments may cause your hands to become numb, and you may not feel the effects of a burn or other wounds from doing domestic chores until it's too late.

• 3

  Drink at least 12 glasses of water and juices throughout the day to keep nausea from ruining your day. If you're vomiting from the nausea, it's important to keep hydrated. Nausea is a common side effect of some chemotherapy drugs, so be sure to ask your doctor if the type of chemo you're undergoing is likely to cause nausea and plan accordingly. Some doctors will prescribe an anti-nausea drug if it gets too bad. Eating dry foods such as cereal, crackers or toast may help.

• 4

  Cover your head with a warm, soft hat or cap in bed to keep it from getting cold. Hair loss is a common side effect of chemo, and your bald head should be treated with tender loving care. Shave your soft and wispy chemo hair with an electric mustache trimmer instead of a razor to keep from breaking out in pimples.

• 5

  Avoid crowds or people who have colds or flu, as your immune system will be weakened as you try to get through chemo. If you work in an office and there are sick people around, keep a jug of antiseptic wipes nearby to sanitize surfaces that everyone touches. Be sure to exercise as much as you're able to and eat well-balanced meals. Even light exercise, such as walking or swimming, keeps oxygen flowing in your lungs and blood and helps to strengthen your immune system.

• 6

  Keep phone numbers of friends and family nearby in case you need help while you try to get through chemo, and find a drugstore that will deliver your prescriptions and other comfort items.

• 7

  Call your doctor's office at the first sign that you're feeling blue or even suicidal. Some chemotherapy drugs carry many risks, including chemo-induced depression, so you may want to discuss this possibility with your doctor before undergoing certain treatments. He may be able to prescribe other medications, such as Celexa or Prozac, to counter the chemo drug's effects. Talk to family and friends and clue them in on your state of mind. Consider making an appointment to talk to a therapist to get you through this phase of chemo. Keeping a diary or a journal may also help to work out your feelings.