Things To Remember After Chemotherapy
After chemotherapy there are a few important things to remember and rules to follow.
Print this reminder list and place it in an area that can be easily seen by you and your family.
When To Call The Office:
- Fever of 100.4F or above
- Redness, swelling or drainage around skin sores or IV site
- Sweating or shaking chills
- Difficulty or burning with urination or urine that appears dark or cloudy in appearance
Maintaining your appetite and dealing with nausea:
- Take nausea meds as prescribed by your doctor.
- Avoid spicy, sweet, fried, or fatty foods. Avoid alcohol and fluids that are acidic (orange, grapefruit,tomato, etc.).
- Eat 5 or 6 small meals each day instead of 3 large meals.
- Choose foods that are high in calories or protein.
- Drink 2-3 liters of non-caffeinated fluid each day.
- Drink milkshakes or soups that are easy to swallow.
Prevention and treatment of diarrhea may include the following:
- Avoid milk and dairy, spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine-containing foods and drinks, and high-fiber and high-fat foods.
- Drink plenty of clear liquids (water, Gatorade, and apple juice). It is often helpful to limit your diet to clear liquids for 12-24 hours, or until the diarrhea stops, and then gradually add clear soups, bread, and crackers.
- For mild diarrhea, a diet of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (the BRAT diet) may decrease the frequency of stools.
- For severe diarrhea (3+ bowel movements per day), take Imodium 2 tablets after the first BM, then 1 tablet with any other loose bowel movements up to 8 tablets per day.
- Stop taking stool softeners if you are taking them.
- Call if diarrhea does not resolve within 24 hours.
Prevention and treatment of constipation may include the following:
- Increase fluid intake by drinking eight (8-ounce) glasses of fluid each day. This can include any food that melts into a liquid.
- Increase your dietary fiber by eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grain cereals, breads, and bran.
- Exercise as tolerated to increase gastric motility.
- If no BM within two days, start a stool softener such as Senokot or Colace. Start with two pills daily, then gradually increase or decrease your dose until you have a good BM every 1-2 days. If bowels become loose, stop taking the pills until bowels become firmer and then start again at a lower dose.
