Look out for prehab before cancer treatment near you. My charitable run local cancer care centre offer prehab assessments prior to starting treatments. Some NHS trusts/ hospitals also provide such.
TBH I am glad l managed to pick up fitness before starting chemo as in my case chemo side effects kind of wiped the floor with me. Still using some of the prehab excercises to maintain muscle strength and mobility at home as l have not dared be far from a clean loo. hoping I can restart some light walking once the heatwave gives up.
Do what you can and not what you cannot, remember the aim of prehab is to improve fitnesss and health before treatment starts. IT is not meant to turn you into an Olympian before you start. (Unless you already are)
TBH linking in early or charities offering cancer prehab will also give you early access to other forms of support on offer that might be helpful to you as time goes on. In my case it has given me access to both immediate trauma counselling and therapy in a chemo friendly place which has been a Godsend as the NHS waiting list for hospital trauma is over two years where I live.
Go at the speed you need to, some days you may feel like sorting things out so you are as ready as you can be and other days will be a hide under the duvet day. try not to bed rot and if you think you might be do call the BCN helpline, your hospitals BCN team or speak with your GP and oncologist bout how your feeling. It is okay to reach out for help and support beyond family and friends if you think you might not be okay.
Get advice on nutrition, be honest with your oncologist Ifyou have any struggles around food ie vegan, allergies, ND texture issues etc as that will help them to help you as you may need extra blood screenings to make sure your body has all Ìt needs to cope .
only buy in small amounts of possible foods unless you have storage space as every single chemo round seems to change what you can face. my Dh did a heap of batch cooking all of which contained tomato’s. Guess what tasted of battery acid between rounds 1-4 yep anything with tomato’s. Now it’s cheese and sugar in anything.
Remember it’s okay not to know or be aware of every little possible thing , it’s okay to ask questions of others further ahead on this forum or call the BCN helpline.
Lack of knowledge is just that, you do not know about something in this strange place you are having to find your way through. TBH I have found people on this forum to be encouraging and supportive and willing to share what they have found to be helpful in case it might help someone else.
Try and keep up with protein and foliate and iron intake up as that helps your bone marrow make platelets, blood cells and support white blood cell production. It can also help if your treatment plan is surgery after chemo.
Get used to drinking 2+ litres of none alcoholic drinks a day as it will help your body cope with chemo. Expect nothing to taste like you remember it tasting when on chemo and be willing to retry something after each round of chemo.
Sort out a choice of hats, wraps and wig way before you think you might need them. Be aware that many on chemo find it easier to wear natural fabrics such as silk, cotton, linen, bamboo as hair loss can make your scalp super sensitive even if it has not been before.
link to Manchester’s Prehab website to give you an idea of what to look out for regarding prehab that may be near you. https://www.prehab4cancer.co.uk/