Common questions / 11/06/2021

What should be on hand during chemo?

9 Must-Have Items to Pack in Your Chemo Bag

Journal and electronics. Chemotherapy treatment days can be long and emotional.
Headphones.
Water bottle.
Coloring book, crossword, or mind challenges.
Cozy blanket or scarf.
Nausea relief.
Healthy meals or snacks.
Lipstick.

Is it safe to be around someone receiving chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy drugs are considered to be hazardous to people who handle them or come into contact with them. For patients, this means the drugs are strong enough to damage or kill cancer cells.

Can I be around children while having chemo?

You may worry about the safety of family and friends while you are having chemotherapy. There is little risk to visitors, including children, babies and pregnant women, because they aren’t likely to come into contact with any chemotherapy drugs or body fluids.

What did my mom do when she got breast cancer?

At the time, chemotherapy wasn’t mentioned as an option. But ultimately, my mom ended up completing four rounds of chemo, six weeks of radiation, and was prescribed a five-year regimen of hormone-inhibiting pills to reduce cancer recurrence. Fortunately, my stepdad was able to become her primary caregiver.

How did my mom feel when she was on chemo?

When Mom was on chemo, we held our breath for her white blood cell counts, as the chemo made her immunodeficient. When it got too low, she had to be hospitalized. There were full-body PET scans to see if the cancer had popped up somewhere else. Her hair fell out, and she was nauseous, and she had “chemo brain” forgetfulness.

Can you avoid chemotherapy if you have breast cancer?

For some women under 50 in this group, chemotherapy could also be spared. This means that several thousand women a year could avoid having chemotherapy, which can cause a range of often unpleasant side effects. You can read a more detailed analysis of the study on the NHS Choices website. Why are people offered chemotherapy?

What to give a friend who has breast cancer?

If your friend or family member has something big on the calendar that they still want to see through, offer to help lighten the load by taking on some of the planning or other odds and ends that need to get done. For example, “one of my closest friends planned a half birthday party for my 2 1/2-year-old son during my chemo,” Inverso says.

What happens to your body when you get chemo for breast cancer?

Many women who are treated with chemotherapy for breast cancer report a slight decrease in mental functioning. They may have some problems with concentration and memory, which may last a long time. Although many women have linked this to chemo, it also has been seen in women who did not get chemo as part of their treatment.

How long do you have to take chemo for breast cancer?

Adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemo is often given for a total of 3 to 6 months, depending on the drugs used. The length of treatment for advanced breast cancer is based on how well it is working and what side effects you have.