Bumping this up for JanJam
Hi,
I, sadly, printed off all the tips I could find on this thread and then put them into a list and categories (too much time on my hands) to help me with my forthcoming chemo.
I haven’t however printed off or typed up the name of the original poster.
I was wondering what the general feeling was if I posted the version of “Chemo tips” I have created here so that they were all in one spot (or on a new thread perhaps?) or whether people preferred it in this format or would be offended/upset if they weren’t credited with their idea?
xxx
hi i think that would be great i have just had first epi and have had sickness acid and in the middle a blessed period so feel like a few good tips would be greatly
appretiated
Poppet x
Top idea, Ostrich!
bumping this up for janjam.
Hi everyone.
Thanks for all these tips.
I am starting my chemo on Thursday 3 lots of FEC followed bu 3 of T.
I am a bit apprehensive, but reading your tips and advice has given me strength.
Thanks all.
A friend of mine has mentioned a herbal remedy called thistle milk.
It is supposed to help your kidneys when having chemo.
Has anybody ever tried it.
Also I read an article in Saturdays papers about jeni Murray the Radio 4 presenter who has had to have 2 new hips after Chemo, does anybody know how this can be avoided.
Janjam
Okay girls going for it, will put it on top tips for chemo (the original) and here’s a huge thanks to the girls/ladies who have contributed to it to assist in our survival!!!
Its on my hard drive so if people want to add further posts with new tips I can produce an updated list in the future, xxxx Good luck to us all.
As requested here’s my compliation of all the top tips on this thread! A big huge thanks to all the contributors who have added their tips and to Princess for starting it!!!
TOP TIPS FOR CHEMO
MOUTH
Gums
- Bonjela
- Cordsyl daily for x 3 and Cordsyl normal for 1 (dentist
recommended) - ultra soft bristle brush/baby toothpaste
- aloe vera based toothpaste, Beverley Hills gum strengthening
toothpaste
Sore mouth
- Gelclair, salt water wash, Oraldene, tonic water, Difflam mouthwash
- aloe dent lip balm with lysine (good for coldsores also)
Bad taste
- pineapple (fresh/chunks/drinks/lollies)
- haribo (not tangtastic)
- celery, mints, fresh fruit, pear drops, cola cubes, sherbert lemons
Water tasting odd
- flavoured/sparkling water, lemon squash
Nausea
- ginger (beer, biscuits, sweets, fresh)
- smaller, regular meals
- V8 vegetable juice
- Manuka honey with hot water and peppermint oil
- Slippery elm powder mixed into natural yoghurt
- Banana for early morning with the anti-sickness tablet
- Flavoured/green tea if can’t face milk or dairy products in tea
- Lite bites suggestions – cream cheese and bread sticks
- Nothing spicey
- Flat lemonade
- Plain biscuits
- Banana/peanut butter sandwiches
- Travel bands/anti sickness bands (Poundland cheaper than Boots)
General Wellbeing/During Chemo
- Carry your card and thermometer with you all the time and keep bag packed – see below
- Chemo Caddy – see below
- Pin up emergency numbers whre everyone can see them – who to contact and when
- Check with your consultant who to phone at eves and weekends
- Store emergency numbers in your phone
- Digital thermometer if not given one by hospital (Poundland cheaper than Boots) – take temperature under armpit as more accurate
- Lifemel honey to boost white blood cells
- Drink LOTS of fluid before and after chemo
- Lucozade for energy
- Light meal before chemo
- If having CMF and nose issues when Chemo being administered then sweets or lolly (mini callipo) to suck during (small cool bag also recommended to keep lollies frozen)
- Bath pillow (helps prevent cold bald head on cold bath)
- Don’t take 2nd steroid dose after 2pm (awake/energised at wrong times)
- Eat fruit when you need to eat whilst/before taking tablets
- Avoid alcohol for 2/3 days after chemo
- Keep out of direct sunlight
- Pregnancy type diet to avoid risk of infection – ie no unpasturised dairy products, wash veggies, meat properly cooked
- Accept help wherever offered!
- Prepare/buy nice food in advance for bad days
- Smash! When you can’t eat but must and mouth is sore! (Needs ketchup though)
- Sleep when you can
- Fresh air
- Exercise
- Laughter
- Ask for help if really sick! Docs etc for additional drugs!
- Steripen to sterilise water of nasties (works through UV and no nasty chemicals and easy to use but £90)
- Runny nose through loss of nose hair – tissues! Sorry no other tips at present!
- V-pillow
- Check and see if GP can refer you to local leisure centre for cheaper use of fitness suite and swimming pool
Constipation
- breakfast of high fibre cereal/fruit smoothie/prune juice
- “Go Cake” – see below for recipe
Sore Eyes
- Boots hayfever relief drops
- Cooling/chill eye mask
Headaches
- gel pads (stick on kind used for infants/migraine)
Dry skin/rashes/spots from Taxol
- gentle moisturiser for hands and feet
- drink lots of juice and water but leave spots on face alone as skin sensitive
Hairloss/headcoverings
- buffs from buffwear
- baseball cap
- headcovers website – sleep caps, scarves, bangs, eyebrows, eyelashes, wigs etc
- don’t it wash too often, use baby shampoo
- Browzings by Benefit – good eyebrow make up - Boots
CHEMO BAG AND CHEMO CADDY
Chemo bag
(A bum bag has been suggested as keeps both hands free and no restrictions on your shoulders and particularly snugpak response pack (online) as “tested in war, never beaten” and big enough to take a tool kit/chemo caddy or chemo bag)
Keep a bag packed in case of emergency hospital visit and to take on chemo days.
Pyjamas, warm socks, clean knickers, wash bag with spare toothpaste and brush, face wipes, mirror, tissues, bag of pineapple pieces, anti bacterial hand gel, book.
Chemo Caddy
A basket with a handle (previously from delivery of pot plants) with everything needed in it so that you can have it by the bed upstairs or carry it down to crash in front of TV.
Edibles – ginger bics, minty chewing gum, root ginger to nibble.
Treats – nice hand cream, chocolate, octopus shaped back massager, nail cream, buffer
Essentials – tissues, glasses, lipsalve, bottle of water, straw (in case can’t lift head from pillow), little bell (to summon family to fetch/make tea)
“GO CAKE"
4oz All Bran
5oz sugar
10oz mixed dried fruit (basically whatever is in the cupboard – use a nice mixture) – apricots, sultanas, cranberries etc, lots of chopped prunes for extra “GO”.
½ pint of milk
4 oz self raising flour
Put All Bran, sugar and fruit into a bowl, mix, add milk and allow to stand for at least half an hour (while you recover from the physical effort so far).
Sieve in the flour, mix well and pour into well greased 2lb loaf tin.
Bake in moderate oven (180 degree c) for about an hour, until a knife comes out dry.
Cover with foil after 30 mins if its browning too much.
Turn out of tin and cool. Serve in thin slices with butter as thick as you like it!
Once again, all credits to the ladies who have added to this thread making it an invaluable reference tool and thanks to Princess for starting it!
Good luck and much love, xxxx
If anyone thinks we should make this a new thread to save people going through the 15 pages then let me know, x
Thanks for this
Am making up my shopping list today.
Janjam
Oh by the…way a chemo nurse has told me to wear warm gloves prior to the appointment to make your hands warm and also for your veins to be nice and proud!!
janjam
New thread please Ostrich!
Hi everyone
And thanks to ostrich for this great list. If you want I can start a new thread and make it ‘sticky’ so it will stay at the top of the category for everyone to find easily.
Let me know
Ann
Hi Ann
That would be fabulous! Great idea and i for one would really welcome it. How would we go about keeping it updated if it was made a sticky - would it just be a case of contacting the Mods?
Thanks!
Jane
No Jane you can add to it when you want
You can update a sitcky by adding to the thread just as with any other thread.
Ann
Sounds a great idea Ann!
Thanks ostrich for that list i have just had first epi and had some bad reaction to my sickness tablets so i think i will be of to pound land for a sea band and the things to eat at moment living on salt and shake crisps without the salt.
poppet
Thanks Ostrich. Well done for your hard work!
Hi all
Great threat it has helped me plan my chemo and feel much more relaxed going into it prepared for all possibilities.
Friend told me that frozen pineapple chunks helped through through it.
Anne
Hi Ostrich
thanks a lot!! I found the tips very helpful- i 've perpaed beofre my first chemo and it does make me feel much better. But though I am suffering from various side effects…
Wonder any tips for sore/uncomfortable skull?? My hair start to fall off from day 12 after my first chemo- now I am on day 17- skull is sore, like someone has been pulling my hair for 2 hours…
Also lips got dry then now it is with cracks and a bit swelling…
Got period 9days after chemo - very heavy and painful…
thanks…xxx
AFTER CHEMO your immune system is compromised. You are ENTITLED to a flu jab. Contact GP for info.