Chemotherapy is a type of treatment given to cure various cancers. Chemotherapy drugs are given to eradicate cancerous cells present in the patient’s body. Though chemotherapy is effective in treating cancer, it is also associated with some side effects which include nausea, vomiting, sickness, hair loss, memory loss and many more.

Here we have given certain chemotherapy guidelines that you need to follow before and during chemotherapy. Following these guidelines would help make your treatment more effective and also prevent you from suffering from a lot of side effects of chemotherapy

Guidelines to Follow During Chemotherapy Treatment

• Before starting chemotherapy, collect as much information as possible regarding chemotherapy treatment and drugs your doctor is recommending. Also, discuss and  clear your doubts about the treatment goals. Ask your doctor about chemotherapy success rates  and why he is recommending the particular chemotherapy regimen out of the other available options.
• Chemotherapy treatment is associated with side effects. Ask your doctor about the possible side effects and risks associated with the treatment. Discuss  about using herbal and natural methods  that will relieve you from the possible  side effects, and would support your immune system during chemotherapy. Also, ask him the different methods to tackle fatigue associated with chemotherapy.
• Ask your doctor whether the chemotherapy treatment will affect fertility. If it affects, ask him about the ways for harvesting eggs/freezing sperm. As chemotherapy affects your fertility, it is essential that you should talk with your doctor about chemotherapy fertility and find a way out that would help you lead a good life ahead.
• Prepare your body for the chemical onslaught during chemotherapy by taking a good quality vitamins and mineral supplements at least a month before, during, and after the chemotherapy treatment. Follow a healthy diet, cuff it up with sodium and animal fats, also include dairy food and increase the intake of potassium and magnesium. Eat small amounts of nourishing food rather than one or two large meals a day. Try to avoid saturated and spicy food.
• Before commencing chemotherapy, consult a holistic practitioner/ medical herbalist to have a settled regime
• During chemotherapy, drink up to three liters of filtered water a day. Take your anti-sickness medication regularly to prevent nausea. Avoid alcohol consumption during chemotherapy.
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. However, at the same time, antioxidant supplements will protect the cancer cells during the treatment. Try to protect your white immune cells. A good multivitamin and mineral supplement is advisable and should be continued till the treatment is over.
• During the chemotherapy treatment, do walk around and do simple exercises, even though you probably will not want to. Do deep breathing exercises every day for at least 20 minutes. Yoga and Tai Chi have great benefits even when it is the first time you do them. Do go out in the fresh air every day
• Take a simple detox after chemotherapy  treatment for at least three days to clean up your system. However keep in mind that the chemical effects of the chemotherapy treatment will be expected to go on for 6 to 8 weeks after the last dose.
• During the chemotherapy treatment, try to stimulate both your body and mind. You can take the help of light massage, reflexology or other methods that relax the body and mind during the treatment. It is proved that visualization, yoga and meditation help to boost the immune system and have a significant impact on long-term survival.

The above given chemotherapy guidelines are the best guide to help people in knowing what to follow before, during, and after chemotherapy. Through these guidelines, people will know about which things should be done and avoided during the chemotherapy treatment.