Preparing for chemotherapy

Some 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 bag

A 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.

Look after yourself

Try 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.

Organise help

If 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 Gather My Crew.

Check your medicines

Let your doctor and pharmacist know about any over-the-counter medicines (e.g. pain medicines, antiinflammatories), alternative and home remedies, herbs and vitamins you’re taking. Some medicines can affect how chemotherapy works or make side effects worse.

See your dentist

It’s a good idea to visit your dentist before you start chemotherapy. Infection and bleeding are more likely during chemotherapy, so it’s best to have any tooth decay treated before starting treatment. Having dental problems during treatment may also interrupt your treatment schedule.

Think about your heart

Some 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. For more information, see Heart health and cancer.

Prepare for side effects

Talk 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 your hair cut or choosing a wig before treatment starts.

Freeze some meals

You may not feel like cooking when having chemotherapy. Consider making some meals ahead of time and freezing them, or have readyto-eat food available (e.g. tinned fruit, yoghurt, soup).

Talk to your employer

If 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. For more information, see Cancer, Work and You.