What to expect when having chemotherapy

Glossary

This information will apply in most cases, but you may find that things are done slightly differently depending on how you have chemotherapy and where you have treatment.

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Before chemotherapy During chemotherapy

To prepare for chemotherapy and between cycles, you will have a number of tests to help plan treatment:

  • weight and height checked to work out the right dose
  • blood and urine tests to check how well your kidneys and liver are working and the number of blood cells
  • x-rays and scans to check that you are fit for treatment and see how the tumour is responding to treatment
  • heart monitoring tests to record your heartbeat (ECG) or heart ultrasound (ECHO) to see if the drugs are affecting your heart
  • lung function tests to check the effect of some chemotherapy drugs on your lungs.

While receiving chemotherapy you will be:

  • seated in a padded chair in a room with other patients; you are usually able to walk around the ward (e.g. if you need to go to the toilet)
  • given anti-nausea or antiemetic medicine so you don’t feel sick
  • encouraged to drink several glasses of water to help ensure that the chemotherapy drugs don’t sit in the kidneys or bladder too long
  • monitored throughout the session – nurses will talk to you about ways to manage side effects
  • able to travel to and from chemo by yourself, though it’s recommended that someone is with you the first time in case you feel unwell.

Many people are given steroids with their chemotherapy to ease or prevent nausea. Steroids may also be used to manage allergic reactions, to make chemotherapy more effective, or to directly treat the cancer. Steroids may cause indigestion, increase in appetite, irritability or mood swings, difficulty sleeping or increase in blood glucose levels. Some people also experience muscle weakness.

Click on the icon below to download the booklet Understanding Chemotherapy as a PDF.

Printed copies are available for free - Call 13 11 20 to order

Instructions for downloading and reading EPUB files

Apple devices

The iBooks application must be installed on your Apple device before you can read the EPUB.
Different ways to download an EPUB file to your Apple device:

  • email EPUB files to yourself and transfer the attachment to iBooks.
  • copy EPUB files into DropBox (or a similar service) and use the DropBox app to send them to iBooks.
  • open EPUB files directly from Mobile Safari and open them in iBooks, where they are saved automatically by downloading the EPUB from the website.

Need more help? Visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4059

Kobo

To download an EPUB file to your Kobo from a Windows computer:

  • download and save the EPUB directly onto your desktop.
  • connect your Kobo to your computer using the USB cable and tap “Connect” on your eReader.
  • select “Open folder to view files” to view the contents of your Kobo.
  • navigate to where you have stored your EPUB file in “Finder”, in documents or downloads, and drag and drop it into the Kobo window. You can now disconnect your Kobo to read the eBook.

To download an EPUB to your Kobo from a Mac:

  • download and save the EPUB directly onto your desktop.
  • connect your Kobo to your computer using the USB cable and tap “Connect” on your eReader.
  • open your “Finder” application.
  • select “Kobo eReader” from the listed devices to view the contents of your Kobo.
  • navigate to where you have stored your EPUB file in “Finder”, probably in documents or downloads, and drag and drop it into the Kobo window. You can now disconnect your Kobo to read the eBook.

Turn on your Kobo and your EPUB will be located in “eBooks”, while a PDF will be located in “Documents”.
Need more information? Visit: http://www.kobo.com/help/koboaura/response/?id=3784&type=3

Sony Reader

To download an EPUB file on your Sony Reader™:

  • ensure you have already installed the Reader™ Library for PC/Mac software
  • select the eBook you want from our website and click the link to download it.
  • connect the Reader™ to your computer.
  • open the Reader™ Library software and click “Library” in the left-hand pane and select the eBook to view it.

Need more help? Visit: https://au.readerstore.sony.com/apps_and_devices/

Amazon Kindle 2nd Generation devices

EPUB files can’t be read on the Amazon Kindle™. However, like most eReaders, Kindle™ 2nd Generation devices are able to display PDFs. We recommend that you download the PDF version of this booklet if you would like to read it on a Kindle™.
To transfer a PDF to your Kindle™ via USB cable from your computer or Mac:

  • download the PDF directly onto your computer.
  • connect the USB cable to your computer’s USB port, and the micro USB end of the cable to your Kindle™. Note: the Kindle™ won’t be available as a reading device while it is connected to your computer until it has been disconnected.
  • open the Kindle™ drive and several folders will appear inside. The “Documents” folder is where you will need to copy or drag the PDF to.
  • safely eject your Kindle™ from your computer and unplug the USB cable. Your content will appear on the Home Screen.

Kindle also provides a Kindle Personal Documents Service that allows users to send documents as an attachment directly to your eReader. For more information on this service, visit http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=help_search_1-1?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200767340&qid=1395967989&sr=1-1
For more information on accessing a PDF on your Kindle™, visit www.amazon.com/manageyourkindle, log in to your account and click on Personal Document Settings.
Need more help? Visit https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200375630

Android and PC

You can also download and open eBooks on Android devices and PCs with appropriate apps or software installed. Suitable eReader apps for Android include Google Play Books, FBReader and Moon+ Reader. Suitable software for PCs include Calibre and Adobe Digital Editions.

This information was last reviewed in August 2018
View who reviewed this content
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Cancer information

Radiation therapy
Information about this common cancer treatment, which is sometimes used with chemotherapy or on its own

Making cancer treatment decisions
Decision-making steps, consent and second opinions

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