Chemotherapy affects everyone differently, but there are things you can do before you start treatment to help you cope with treatment and side effects.
 | Look after yourselfTry to stay as healthy as you can before and during treatment. Eat nourishing food, drink lots of water, get enough sleep, and balance rest and physical activity. Regular exercise and good nutrition can help reduce some of the side effects of chemotherapy. Try to reduce or give up drinking alcohol. If you smoke or vape, try to quit. |
 | Ask about fertilitySome types of chemotherapy can affect fertility. If you think you may want to have a child in the future, talk to your specialist about your options before chemotherapy begins. |
 | Pack a chemo bagA bag for your chemo sessions could include warm clothing, healthy snacks, lip balm, books, headphones for listening to music or podcasts, or a tablet or laptop. |
 | Organise helpIf you have children, arrange for someone to look after them during chemotherapy sessions. While you may be able to drive after treatment, it’s recommended that someone drive you on the first day. Ask a friend or family member to coordinate offers of help (e.g. with cooking, gardening), or use online tools such as gathermycrew.org.au. |
 | Check your medicinesLet your doctor and pharmacist know about any over-the-counter medicines (e.g. pain medicines, anti-inflammatories), alternative and home remedies, herbs and vitamins you’re taking. Some medicines can affect how chemotherapy works or make side effects worse. For more on this see Complementary therapies and chemotherapy. |
 | See your dentistIt is a good idea to visit your dentist before you start chemotherapy. Infection and bleeding are more likely during chemotherapy, so it is best to have any tooth decay treated before starting treatment. Having dental problems during treatment may also interrupt your treatment schedule. |
 | Prepare for side effectsTalk to your treatment team about possible side effects. Ask whether you can take medicine to prevent nausea and vomiting. Buy a thermometer so you can check your temperature. If hair loss is likely, think about having it cut or choosing a wig before treatment starts. Learn more about managing side effects. |
 | Freeze some mealsYou may not feel like cooking when having chemotherapy. Consider making some meals ahead of time and freezing them or have ready- to-eat food available (e.g. tinned fruit, yoghurt, soup). |
 | Think about your heartSome chemotherapy drugs can affect your heart. Talk to your cancer team about heart checks before starting treatment. Keep taking heart medicines unless your doctor tells you to stop. See Understanding Heart Health and Cancer. |
 | Talk to your employerIf you are working, talk to your employer about how you can manage work and chemotherapy. It is hard to predict how you will feel, so ask about flexible hours or time off when needed. See Cancer, Work and You. |
If you feel anxious or worried about having chemotherapy, talk to a family member or friend, your healthcare team or call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20.
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Prof Desmond Yip, Senior Staff Specialist, Department of Medical Oncology, The Canberra Hospital, ANU School of Medicine and Psychology, ANU College of Health & Medicine, The Australian National University, ACT; Gillian Blanchard, Nurse Practitioner, Calvary Mater, Newcastle, NSW; Ken Colbert, Consumer; Laura Collins, Clinical Dietitian, GenesisCare, WA; Karen Gray, Consumer; Kate Lucking, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Louise Moodie, Director of Dietetics, Mackay Hospital and Health Service, QLD; Dr Shivanshan Pathmanathan, Medical Oncologist, Townsville Cancer Centre, Townsville University Hospital, QLD; Dr Marissa Ryan, Acting Consultant Pharmacist (Cancer), Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD; Jayne Watson, Clinic Nurse Consultant, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC; Stephanie Webster, Consumer.
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