***What to bring to chemo***

RhondaH · 01-15-2007, 05:02 PM

Hazel Joyce asked the question above as she will be starting chemo soon and I thought this was a valid question and that everyone could provide input. I had chemo on Thur pm. The below was my "checklist"

1. I would wear a long sleeve button down shirt so the nurse could easily access my port.

2. I would bring a HUGE 64 oz bottle of water to drink during chemo (the iv ALREADY made you have to go to the bathroom constantly and this made it worse, but I heard it helps to flush the chemo, BUT I also found out from my onc nurse AND the hard way that water can cause nausea so BE CAREFUL).

3. I slept during mine or visited with the other patients.

Take care and God bless.

Rhonda

doh2pa · 01-15-2007, 05:17 PM

I agree with Rhonda - an easy access shirt and lots of water. I also bring a blanket (unless one is provided) and some snack food. They premeds can make you hungry - so I bring raisins, granola bar and lunch if needed. A good book and maybe some music to listen too. But the best thing to bring is a good friend, if you can! I hated chemo day but cherished my girl friend time. I had 3 friends that rotated taking me to 18 chemo treatments and they loved taking time from their busy schedules to be with me - we talked, laughed and caught up on our busy lives. It makes the time much easier.

Good luck!
Donna

Sandy H · 01-15-2007, 06:09 PM

I wore a long sleeve button down blouse, and I was provided with plenty of water or anything I wanted to drink. I would bring my crocheting with me, I made scarves and sold them at the church Christmas fair. We have laptops in the oncology department so would do my daily computer e-mail. It saved me from doing it when I got home. There were plenty of warm blankets so no need to take anything to keep warm. Lunch was always available so didn't have to worry about food except on certain days. I don't care to eat lots of fried foods so would bring a sandwich but that was my choice. I would spend lots of time walking around talking to other patients. I made lots of new friends that way. We all try to get together from time to time for lunch which I also include my other breast cancer survivor friends. We never know how many of us there will be for lunch. I just call them all and invite them. Even though I hated those chemo treatments I made the best of what time I was there. Many people did sleep but where I drank so much water that also kept me from sleeping. I got my benadryl orally and so it didn't hit me hard. I had it just once by IV and never want it that way again. It hit me so fast my head pounded for two days. I was in the bathroom when it kicked in and thought I was going to land on the floor. I asked the nurse why I was feeling that way and she told me it was the IV benadryl. The doctor said he never ordered it to be given to me that way. So back on the oral I went. It was the third day following chemo I didn't like so would plan on a lazy of not doing much. That's my story and I wish you well. hugs, Sandy

Becky · 01-15-2007, 08:10 PM

I didn't have a port so I wore a short sleave shirt or one that I could push the sleeve up on. I always brought a book, my blackberry and an electronic Yahtzee. I usually also brought magazines I wanted to catch up on. But, most importantly for my chemos, first 3 Herceptins and last Herceptin, I brought my best friend Janet. She missed a chemo (the first Taxol) because she had a bad cold but otherwise, she was my chemosabe. (I also brought a water bottle but we made lots of different teas there). My husband brought us a nice lunch from a good deli on the taxols (as you are there so long - longer now that most get Herceptin too - I got it after chemo).

I met a lot of great people in the infusion suite. During Herceptin treatments (most without Janet), I talked to many (women) and learned a lot about life and love.

Bev · 01-15-2007, 10:06 PM

Brought a portable DVD player. As I don't watch many movies, watching them was a treat and took my mind off the chemo. Lots of people sleep but the benadryl made me wired. BB

RhondaH · 01-16-2007, 02:43 AM

Ironic that you mentioned your friend as your "chemosabe" as my fathers lady friend who is a 3 time bc survivor has a group of bc friends that she gets together with called the "Chemosabe's". Take care and God bless.

Rhonda

janet11 · 01-18-2007, 09:11 AM

I bring audio books in my CD player and listen. I like to read, but this let me bring a favorite book to listen to and I didn't have to keep my eyes open. Half the time, I'd fall asleep during the premeds anyway, so I tended to bring books I've read so I know the basic story.