Going chemo shopping, need your help with a list!

BioAdoptMom3

OK, you experienced ladies please share with me some practical ideas of what I might need and want to get through the experience (T/Cx4).  I have my new iPod and will download songs this week. I will do some hat and scarf shopping as well, but what else do I need?  What will help me get through the actual treatment?  What will I probably need or want afterwards, like what types of foods, etc. are generally good?  I know everyone is different, but some general ideas of what was helpful for YOU would be really appreciated!

Thanks!

Nancy

suzieq60

Get some Biotene mouthwash and toothpaste and a special soft toothbrush and use them every day - they really help as some people get mouth ulcers.

Also, the Nioxin hair products are good to care for your scalp - I didn't start using them until after chemo, but a lot of ladies use them throughout.

I was told to paint my nails black but never succeeded as I hadn't painted them for years and made a mess. Icing your hands during treatment helps protect your nails. In Australia we are given special cold gloves to wear on our hands but a lot of ladies on here used packs of frozen veg or other devices.

Last hint - tell your onc of ANY SE's so he can prescribe something for you. I had bad stomach cramps the first time and was prescribed Somac which worked really well.

Last Last hint - don't get constipated, so stock up on some Sennacot or the like and make sure you take it after each treatment for several days. I made the really big mistake of not doing it once and it was not nice.

((((HUGS))))

Sue

Faith316

The first thread in the chemo forum is called Tips for Getting through chemotherapy (or something like that.)  Lots of good ideas in there that will be helpful.  Good luck.  Chemo is much more doable than most people anticipate.

bdavis

I started the taxotere toolbox... with a list of some helpful items..

Also you will lose taste for a few days each cycle, and I find bland foods are just awful... I normally eat yogurt for breakfast, but that first week of chemo it is just not appealing.

And buy lots of fluids!!! Drink drink drink.

mdg

I stocked up on Aleve, Claritin, Biotene mouthwash, chemical free lotion/cream (dry skin from chemo).   The other stuff I stocked up on were supplies for doing cold caps to keep my hair.  I am also on TCX4 and have done great.   I have not had to eat bland food or had any nausea..in fact I have not taken one pill for nausea yet (I have completed 3 of 4 treatments so far).  I hope the 4th one goes just as good.  I also hope you are equally lucky!  Good luck!  It will be done before you know it.  My last treatment is May 4th...it went by fast (thank God!). 

Oh - I did use the aleve and claritin for the bone pain and aches.  The first round I did not use any and had aches and bone pain bad.  For rounds 2 and 3 I took it and had no issues. 

Bonnygg

I took my own fuzzy blanket. The smell in the treatment room just drove me crazy. So I bought one of those polar fleece cheapie blankes ($10) and washed it before going so that it would have my own fabic softner smell.

I had my own water bottle because I wasn't crazy about the taste of commercially bottled water.

I took some gum becasue I would get bored and that helps.

I took an *easy to look at* magazine. It was too hard to concentrate on reading a really good book.

I also had my iPod with me. My iPod can play video so I had some video podcasts to watch. I'm a techie so I had some of the CNet computer stuff to watch.

Dress in layers that way if you get hot or cold you can easily adjust.

Take sunglasses. If you want to nap through, wear the sunglasses to cut the lights.

Take some hand sanitizer with you. Chemo drops your immune system and should you need to stop before or after treatment, you have it handy.

Be sure to be well hydrated before treatment. The more water the better it is for your kidneys.

I didn't wear my perfurme on treatment days. Something about smells was always *off* and perfume didn't help.

On treatment day, after treatment, eat a little on the light side.

Gentle hugs & good luck.

bonny

GramE

I found cold food much more appealing than hot ones.   Popsicles and frozen juice bars were the best.   In case of diarrhea Immodium extra strength and some baby wipes.   I wore pull on elastic waist pants (sweat pants).    Hugs and good luck, Nancy 

mdg

oh...also laxatives and stool softeners....needed both every time!

citykitty

I started going to my weekly chemo (Taxol + Herceptin) treatments with a bag loaded with enough stuff to keep me occupied for weeks -- laptop, magazines, books, iPod, work stuff.  Week by week I gradually decreased what I would bring. By the last treatment I finally learned my lesson and took only my purse -- which is probably all I needed to begin with!  Except for the first and last treatments, mine were two hours -- not really long enough to undertake any major projects.

 Like Bonny, I had a hard time concentrating on any meaningful reading, and the Benadryl would knock me out.  (Eventually I got them to cut the dose in half.)

I did bring my favorite hard candies.  They had some at the hospital, but I liked having my favorites with me.

NannaBaby

Here are some ideas... brainstorm

Aleve is a blood thinner and should not be taken during chemo.  Use Tylenol, but you must check your temperature before you do, because it can mask a fever.  I had taste issues so eating and drinking were kind of tricky... you must drink a lot! It helps flush out the chemo metabolites and keeps your bowels working.  I started to drink lots of herbal teas and water with fresh lemon.  Fresh fruit was ok to eat, just not acidic foods. My favorite was ice cold melon. My skin also got really dry, get some good organic cream without parabens or fragrance. Alcohol can be irritating, so hand sanitizers are good for on the go, but try and wash your hands with a good hydrating soap when you can instead.  And get some disinfecting cleaner to use at home... I regularly wiped my handles and door knobs with lysol wipes.

While getting the infusion... If C stands for cyclophosfamide (cytoxan) then you should bring some mints, because the chemo gives an awful taste while it's being administered.  And drinking cold or sucking on ice or popsicles will help decrease the blood flow in the mouth, thus reducing mouth the possability of getting mouth sores.

I hope that helps! Good Luck!

dawn31337

I got all that stuff but honestly never used any of it.  It is all good to have on hand though; you never know how this crap's gonna hit you.  I think I did use the stool softeners once, and Tums once maybe.  The Emend and Compazine are better.  I didn't even finish my prescription for Compazine.  I did have small mouth sores on occasion, but I didn't care for the taste/feeling of the Biotene mouthwash.  They went away after a day or two.  I did get tiny styes in one eye when on Taxol, and used Visene and warm washcloths on my eye.  Chocolate always tasted good, but not everyone agrees on that point.

During chemo, I just relaxed in the recliner, napped, and listened to my iPod.  They had afghans at my treatment center, but no food or drink like some people report.  They even stressed that they washed the afghans  good to know, right?  I usually stopped by for an Egg McMuffin on my way.  Eggs always tasted good to me as well.  I am a breakfast lover.

I didn't paint my nails black but I always kept them painted, not from advice about chemo, but because I always do.  When I went to the LGFB class, the cosmetologist said keeping your nails painted helps keep them moisturized.  One pinkie toenail darkened, and my thumbs and one big toenail lifted slightly but never came off.  I could probably pull them off if I tried though!

Best of luck!!  I think the hardest part was the anticipation.  I was certainly tired on chemo, but not sick.  If you do get sick, call your oncologist.  I found the side effects to be quite manageable.  I wouldn't want to go through it again, of course, but it probably isn't as bad as you think it will be. 

Sign up for the Look Good Feel Better class.  It is fun and they give you nice cosmetics, a wig if you need one, and they show you how to tie scarves.  It is free.  I thought losing my hair was traumatic, and I really didn't feel pretty.  I really thought that class helped.  Half of getting through this is attitude and a positive outlook. 

BioAdoptMom3

You guys are just a wealth of great information!  I will also check the Taxotere Toolbox.  The nurse who did my chemo class mentioned "Look good, Feel better" so I am thinking I'll check that out too.  I feel so support on this board and thank you all from the bottom of my heart for helping me get through this.  I start on Friday.

Nancy

Letlet

Oooh i loved the freebies that i got from that. I think since i went to manhattan i was able to score chanel lipgloss...no way in my life would I buy that. I got eyeliner, foundation, concealer, blush, mascara, lipstick, aquaphor...and a nice wig.

dawn31337

Letlet, I got high end stuff too, and some drugstore stuff.  I'm sold on Lancome now.

Letlet

You know dawn, i want to buy buckets of that cleanser they gave me! I guess aside from donating their goods , its good marketing too.

MistyinPR

You have gotten some very good advice from the others. I just want to add that after Taxotere, I could not eat most things for many days. The one exception was ice cream. It was cold and was one of the few things that did not taste like cardboard to my damaged ttaste buds. Also as someone mentioned chocolate tastted better than usual. I think it is better to eat ice cream rather than nothing at all (which was my other option). Really cold milk also tasted good.

 I also want to reiterate what the others said about being hydrated. If you can't drink regular water, club soda with no sodium is easy to drink. I think I had about 6 liters a day for the first few days after taxotere.

Chemotherapy is not easy, but you can do it.

 Good luck.

Misty

BioAdoptMom3

Thank you for your additional advice. I had my first treatment yesterday and last night was into everything, courtesy of the infused steriods.  However today is a different story.  This is so ironic bcause I am reading this after just returning home.  I went with DH to workout at the gym and on the way home asked him to stop and get me a milkshake from McDonald's.  Just the idea sounded so good.  Unlike the juice, which already tasted a little bland to me this morning, that milkshake was delightful!  Guess I too may be living on milkshakes and ice-cream for awhile.

Nancy