Helping yourself when you're having chemotherapy

There are ways in which you can try to smooth the course of your chemotherapy treatment.

Try to keep a positive attitude. This does not mean being cheerful and happy all the time. Everyone feels down and worried now and again, and accepting that you will have these feelings is part of being positive. It can help to know what your treatment involves; what is expected to happen; what side effects, if any, to expect; what can be done about them; and what should be reported to your doctor or chemotherapy nurse.

• Finding information
• Keeping a journal
• Planning

Finding information

If you gather as much information as possible about your disease and treatment, you can play an active part in tackling it. You may need to ask questions over and over again, or ask new questions every time you see your doctor or nurse. This is fine. It is your illness and you need to work with your healthcare staff to find ways of overcoming this very difficult time.

Find out how you are getting on by asking your doctor or nurse to tell you regularly about your progress. This will give an opportunity for them to reassure you if progress is slower than expected, and to discuss changing your treatment if necessary.

Keeping a journal

Some people find it helpful to keep a diary or journal of their treatment. This can have a practical use, as well as letting you express your feelings. For example, you can record each time you felt sick and look back over your treatment to see how this fits in with your drugs. Changes to reduce side effects can often be made by using information of this kind.

As your journal develops, you may find it encouraging to look back at how you coped during early low patches. Many people draw strength from realising that they came through before and can do so again.

A private diary also allows you to put in writing anything that may be difficult for you to talk about to someone else. Sometimes this can be used to prepare you to speak to a person about a problem or it can be used as a safety valve for anger or sadness that you feel you cannot express in any other way.

Planning

Try to plan your time so that you can still do the things that are most important to you. Although it is helpful to try to keep up with your social life, don't be afraid to rest if you need to; even if it means missing out on some social events. Taking some exercise, as long as it is not too strenuous, can raise your spirits and help get rid of tension. However, it is best to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise programme.