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Welcome back to Twins4wellness! When I was diagnosed with cancer I was terrified. In this blog post, I will answer the question many breast cancer patients ask, “How do I survive through a chemo Infusion without being terrified and anxious the entire time?” I heard the word chemotherapy and I was filled with fear and anxiety. It was the last thing I thought would happen to me as a busy mom with a full-time challenging job.
Immediately after getting my diagnosis of stage IIB Invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer, I was sent to meet with my oncologist who recommended that I do Chemotherapy before surgery. Chemotherapy would shrink my large tumor and stop the spread of the cancer. It had already spread to one lymph node.
Top 10 Best Things to Bring to Survive Through Your Chemo Infusions
1. Bring a supportive person
I was very lucky that my mom was around to bring me to my first session of chemotherapy. I was very scared and nervous but with her by my side, I knew I could get through it.
For the first 4 cycles of Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide (click here to learn about the different types of chemotherapy: Understanding the Unique Types of Chemotherapy)
I did not drive because my chemo drugs made my vision blurry. My mom would pick me up and bring me to chemo once a week.
After I started the last drug, Paclitaxel, I was able to drive. Since my sister was four hours away I asked my sister-in-law to come with me when my mom could not. It was less stressful to have someone there each time. She was a wonderful support person. She is a nurse so her knowledge and warmth really helped me get through my infusions.
I did end up falling asleep during the infusion sometimes so remind your support person to bring a book or be ready to run errands if you are too tired to talk.
2. Bring a water bottle
During chemo, it is recommended to drink plenty of water to flush the drugs/cancer out of your body. I got a nice water bottle from Amazon that has times and measurements on it so that I drank enough water during and after chemo. It also has a straw and I found that it was easier to drink out of when I had my IV in. This is the one I got.
Being hydrated was very important to stay healthy during infusions and feel better after them. They also check your blood during every infusion to ensure that you are healthy enough to receive each dose of cancer-killing drug.
3. Bring a healthy snack
It seems weird to eat during the infusion but my nurses wanted me to eat something before and during the infusion. I always had breakfast before the infusions as well. Honestly during chemo eat whatever you can. Eating something is the most important thing. We always brought string cheese and protein bars. My cancer center also had a refrigerator with snacks.
4. Bring entertainment
I was gifted a few adult coloring books that were fun to use during infusions. You can also bring a book but I always found it hard to concentrate during chemo infusions. I brought playing cards too and enjoyed playing solitaire. Crossword puzzles and word searches were also nice to have during the boring parts of the infusion.
5. Bring a neck pillow and a light blanket
At my cancer center, they had someone who made these and they were very nice. It is so much easier to nap with a nice neck pillow. One of the pre-drugs that I had was Benadryl and it made me very sleepy.
6. Comfortable Clothing
I always wore comfortable pants and a V-neck shirt to accommodate my port. It is easier for the nurses to access your port if you have a V-neck shirt on. I also wore comfortable pants because I would be sitting for four to six hours at a time and wanted to be comfortable. Also, bring a sweatshirt because the cancer center may be cold.
7. Fuzzy socks
I always wore fuzzy comfortable socks because it was cold and to prevent neuropathy in my feet. I was given fuzzy socks by my wonderful co-workers that were perfect to wear during chemo.
8. Notepad and a pen
I always brought a notepad and pen to write down any questions I had or any new symptoms. So that I would remember to ask my oncologist or the nurses about it.
9. Personal hygiene products
I also always had lip balm, tissues, and unscented lotion in my purse just in case I needed them.
10. A Supportive item
I usually wore a shirt or sweatshirt that was given to me by my mom or something that I felt super comfortable in.
This was a list of the best things to bring to survive through your chemo infusion. I hope this information will help your infusion go much smoother. Chemo was not as bad as I imagined and it went so much better when I brought these 10 things.
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