Helpful Hints For Patients In Treatment

Try to plan ahead

Keep a handy list of caregivers.

Have your medications ready so you don’t need to go pick them up when you aren’t feeling well.

Make sure to have food stocked in the house. Even better if it’s pre-prepared so all you need to do is warm it up or put into a bowl. You may not feel up to cooking.

Get some beverages to drink in case water doesn’t taste good. Perhaps buy powdered flavors or teas to add to water.

Consider asking someone to walk your dog, water your yard, or other chores that you may not feel up to during your treatment. If you’re feeling good, you can always let them know that you’ve got it covered!

Remember to write down questions when they come to you, and bring all of your lists to the doctor appointment.

Nausea

Do you have an anti-nausea prescription from your doctor? If not, request one. Get it filled before you start your treatments. Take per directions when you feel you might be getting nauseous. It’s better to take it sooner than later. You can take anti-nausea medications every day, not just on those days when you’re getting treatment.

Constipation/Diarrhea

There is a difference between stool softeners and laxatives. There are even stool softeners with laxative (“stimulant”) in them. Plan ahead – take a stool softener the morning of your treatment if you have found that treatment causes constipation. (Frequently Benadryl causes constipation as well as some of the meds given via IV to prevent nausea.) Same with anti-diarrheal medications. Make sure to follow the instructions on the bottle.
OTC constipation suggestions: Senakot tablets, Milk of Magnesia, magnesium tablets, generic stool softeners (Colace), Miralax.
OTC diarrhea suggestions: Imodium AD

Drink water

Try to drink at least 64 oz of water/day. It will help flush the chemo drugs from your body, will help keep constipation at bay, and will help with flushing out your kidneys.

Eat protein

You need to eat protein to help rebuild your cells from chemo treatments. Try to eat 80 grams of protein each day. If you read the labels on food, you will be amazed to see which items have protein in them. Be forewarned that some protein sources don’t have much fiber, so you may need to counter that by eating more fiber or taking fiber tabs.

Hemp seeds: ¼ cup = 11 grams protein
Quinoa: 1 cup cooked = 8 grams protein
Edamame: 1 cup = 17 grams protein
Tofu: 3 ounces = 9 grams protein
Lentils: 1 cup = 18 grams protein
Kidney beans: 1 cup = 13 grams protein
Low-fat plain Greek yogurt: 6 ounces = 18 grams protein
Eggs: 2 large = 12 grams protein

Vision changes

Don’t plan to get your eyes tested for a new prescription while you are in treatment. Your vision may change during treatment, but it should return to what it was after you’ve completed your treatment.