Chemotherapy & Side Effects

TIP: During chemotherapy, take your temperature at least two times a day, morning and night. Chemo can lower your neutrophils, which are a type of white blood cell that helps your body fight infection. Your medical team will give you the high temperature threshold where you would need to call or go to the Emergency hospital. They will need to know that you are receiving chemotherapy. My hospital gave us a card to show them if this happened. I kept it in my purse at all times.

My temperature rose only one day during chemo. It was very close to the threshold I was given, but I was able to get it down quickly by drinking fluids (water and juices).

TIP: It is critical that you stay clean and keep your house and bedding clean, as well as your kitchen counters during chemotherapy to thwart off infection. Washing your hands regularly is key.

I showered after every hospital visit. And if I wore my slippers at the hospital, which was rare, I wiped them down with cleaning wipes.

I also stayed out of the public as much as I could during chemo and  for a couple weeks to a month thereafter to be sure I had built back my immune system.

It was advised to stay away from raw foods, including eggs cooked with runny yolks, and also to avoid plants and cut flowers. It is simply best to play it safe for those few months.

I used food grade medical quality latex gloves when preparing and handling meat for meals. If you are allergic to latex, seek an alternative.

TIP: If you have a port (port-a-cath) surgically inserted in your chest, you will need to keep that area as clean as possible. If it becomes infected, you will have to be treated, and in some instances the port will be taken out (as was the case with a patient I met during chemo).  Also, a dear friend of mine had a port that was infected. I believe she mentioned that fighting the infection was very hard and took a long time, but I do not think she had her port removed. Make sure the nurse that administers your infusions follows protocol. You both should be wearing a mask, and the nurse should be wearing sterile gloves and using proper sterile techniques when putting the catheter into the port and when removing it. They clean the area on your chest thoroughly before and after port insertion and removal. I always turned my head away regardless of the fact that I was wearing a mask.

TIP: Record all of your side effects on a weekly basis. With the side effect of chemo brain, it’s hard to remember everything that has happened between each meeting with your doctor. Write it down as it happens and you won’t forget to go over it.

TIP: Use hand cream or lotion for your dry skin. Stop them from cracking or bleeding. Healing takes longer while under chemo and you are open to infection. Stop it before it happens. I used Neutrogena’s daily body moisturizer after trying different lotions and balms that were either too greasy, or too smelly/scented. I’m not advocating for products, just letting you know what worked for me. Find one that works best for you.

TIP: Use a humidifier at night. It will help with nosebleeds. I also used a moisturizing ointment in my nose during the day. It was cold and our heat was running, drying out the air. The cold (below freezing temperatures) made me bleed easily, even if I wandered outside for a few minutes. The ointment I used was called Secaris and it worked really well. I put it in about 3 times a day and at night before bed.

TIP: For my mouth care, a friend told me about a moisturizing mouth wash called Biotene. It is alcohol free (which is what you want) and it worked really well. You need to keep your mouth clean. I brushed it after each meal and then rinsed with the Biotene.

TIP: For the numbness in my fingers, it was suggested that I hold ice cubes or an ice pack in my hand to push the blood, hence chemo, away from the tips. I went further and turned the faucet to cold for the last few seconds every time I washed my hands. You wash them a lot during chemo. 

TIP: For my hair loss, I rinsed my hair and scalp with cold water before leaving the shower to push the blood away from my scalp. I stopped wearing my nightcap that had been recommended to keep your head warm at night and manage the hair falling out. I reasoned that all it did was draw the blood to my head.

I also used my migraine IceKap occasionally throughout the day to cool my scalp. I only used it for a minute or so a few times a day. I was a bit nervous about freezing or doing damage to my brain! 

There is a newer technique as described by the American Cancer Society that cools the head during chemo:

“Scalp hypothermia is cooling the scalp with ice packs or cooling caps (cold caps) for a period of time before, during, and after each chemotherapy (chemo) treatment to try to prevent or reduce hair loss.

Newer versions of these devices use a two-piece cooling cap system that is controlled by a computer, which helps circulate a cooled liquid through a cap a person wears during each chemotherapy treatment. A second cap, made from neoprene (a type of artificial rubber), covers the cooling cap to hold it in place and keep the cold from escaping.”

Cooling the Scalp to Reduce Hair Loss: Sienna Córdoba One woman’s personal story.

There is a slight risk of getting cancer in the scalp, so consult your Oncologist before attempting these techniques. See the links in Helpful Hints, below for more information.

TIP: Cut your hair short before it starts falling out. You won’t regret it. You can do it in two sessions to ease into the look, or one. Long hair is heavier so it will break and fall out easier. Some people will shave it completely. I did not do this. Also, be gentle with your hair to manage the breakage and fallout. I found an organic Biotin shampoo to use, too. Biotin is good for the hair. My B-complex vitamins I took every day also contained biotin. I did not lose all of my hair, only patches and some thinning.

TIP: There are a lot of pretty scarves and caps you can find to wear during hair loss. Also, some women opt for a wig. I did buy a wig, and wore it out to more public places. At the hospital during chemo, I did not want any artificial items around me, so I left the wig at home and wore a scarf most days. You can get information about buying wigs online, or from your hospital’s resource center. Also, check with the American Cancer Society or other charitable organizations. Often you can get a discount through certain shops that cater to those with cancer. I bought a wig band online to help with my wig’s fit. Do whatever makes you feel good about yourself during chemo!

TIP: I purchased a hair loss/thinning treatment after chemotherapy. A shampoo and a spray that you massage into your scalp after you shower and when your hair is still damp. I’m still using it as I write this. Mine is to be used for 6 weeks. I purchased it at my salon with the help of my stylist and I asked my Oncologist if it was okay to use after chemo. Always ask your doctors for their advice!

TIP: I wore compression socks during my long drive to the hospital and during chemo (which was 3+ hours of sitting with the exception of using the bathroom). I wanted to be sure my legs were invigorated. One of the premeds I was taking was known for restless legs symptoms. It only happened once to me throughout my 12 weeks of infusions.

TIP: My trips to chemo were an all day event, therefore I needed to bring my lunch or any snacks with me. I also brought a large (1.5 liter) jug of water that I drank during the chemo session. But the team encouraged patients to eat and drink during chemo. They wanted you to start flushing your body of the chemo as soon as possible. The requirements were 8 to 10 cups of fluids a day. The 1.5 liter jug was about 6 cups. The 10 cups included water, juice, soup, and other hot and cold beverages. I aimed for 12 cups of water per day, not counting other fluids. We were not allowed to bring smelly foods, such as tuna or egg salad (protein-rich foods) to the chemo units. And it was suggested that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were a good choice (high in protein and very little smell), so that is what I brought along each week. It was a treat. I also brought some saltine crackers for my stomach and a vegetable juice cocktail, and some nuts to snack on for the way home. Protein.

TIP: Relax during chemo sessions. Eat, socialize, sleep, read, listen to music. Keep yourself warm with blankets, slippers and/or gloves. Whatever gets you through the duration and keeps you calm. Take care of yourself.

 TIP:  Out of Town Lodging. In the United States “Facing cancer is hard. Having to travel out of town for treatment can make it even harder. Yet the American Cancer Society has a place where cancer patients and their caregivers can find help and hope when home is far away – an American Cancer Society Hope Lodge.”

For Canada, check with your hospital or cancer center for lodging information for the city where you are being treated or contact the Canadian Cancer Society for help. Examples below.

If being treated in Toronto, “Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Lodge is a unique place for out-of-town cancer patients who come to Toronto for treatment. It provides a “home away from home” for short-term stays.”

If being treated in Montreal, “The Jacques-Cantin Lodge offers accommodations in a calm and peaceful environment to autonomous persons who receive cancer treatments in Montreal. Special attention is paid to the needs of residents. The objective is to provide all the amenities necessary, with the warmth and comfort of home.”

In British Columbia, the multiple Lodges are listed here.