Advice for Undergoing Chemotherapy
1. POSITIVE - Don't expect it to be a given that you are going to be sick, tired, depressed... you might also feel positive, go for walks, take up new hobbies during this time if you can. Live.
2. GET UP AND BE ACTIVE IF YOU CAN - If you wake up feeling sick, tired, can’t be bothered. Ignore those feelings, get your backside out of bed and in the shower and move! It’s surprising how often simply having a shower led me to a more productive day. If after that by all means sit down and rest up. As many will say listen to your body (but give the day a go first). You might want to consider some exercise, something that your used to and have done before.
3. HYDRATE - Drink as much as you can around chemo, it will help you feel better and better quicker. Water, hydration tablets (I used the SIS ones), tea etc. Also try to eat veg and fruit as this will hydrate you. Cucumber is particularly good.
4. KEEP A CHEMO DIARY - For a few reasons. Basically, over the 14 days of chemo (That’s how long my cycle was) I found I would feel certain ways on certain days, certain days I’d feel sick etc. For instance, on chemo day Id also get a shot of steroids which would keep me awake at night and Id also feel very "enthusiastic". (I sent some very weird emails at 2am in the morning - One to the British shellfish association asking them how I could support them!!!!). On day 2-4 I’d feel very teary. It was great to recognise this as although we shouldn't hold things in and its ok to cry, I think if it’s the steroids putting you on a downer then maybe I should take this emotion with a pinch of salt. I then began to think "yeah I’m upset, I’m crying but actually this is all being exacerbated by them bloody steroids and tiredness and I’ll feel better soon. With that acceptance, the down times were shorter. That’s just one example and my best reason for keeping that chemo diary, but it also helped me plan how I would eat, pre preparing meals to try and stay healthy.
5. PLAN – Try and make things easy when you need them to be. If you know you’re going to be tired at a certain time, prepare you food or get jobs that need to be done in advance. Plan when you’re going to enjoy yourself too. Don’t fail to plan in good times during chemo just because you “might” have to cancel. Give yourself the opportunity to live why you’re doing this. If you have to let people down, they will understand. I found arranging to meet friends for a walk worked really well and if I wasn’t up to it, we could change it to a coffee. Plan holidays/weekends away at times when you’re feeling better (towards the end of the chemo cycle).
6. BEFORE CHEMO (FASTING) – Do your research, don’t just believe what I think. I believe a good 72 Hour fast is great for side effects and efficacy of chemo. Have a google of Valter Longos research on this.
Refences
Nasha Winters – The metabolic approach to cancer
Radical Remission – Kelly Turner
Valter Longo – The Longevity diet.
