CHEMO TO-DO LIST

This goes without saying, always get another opinion or 2 from trained, well-reviewed medical professionals. Especially with something that affects your life so greatly! Be prepared with lots of questions. You're your own advocate!

There are a lot of different tests you can request from your doctor, but do not expect them to suggest it on their own! See the 'tests' page for more information on the tests I took. Many offer financial aid.

You will need a support group to lean on throughout this process. Identify early on who will be there for you and cut out the people who cause you too much stress. You don't have time for that now. 

Even the healthiest person can make improvements with their diet to reduce the spread of cancer and improve their overall well-being. Doctors get <25 hours of nutritional training, yet a healthy diet will prevent/ resolve ~80% of autoimmune diseases! Instead, we only treat it once it becomes a problem with more drugs. Read more on the 'Diet' page.

If you want children in the future, now is the time to freeze your eggs since after chemo is too late to harvest them. Chemo can cause early menopause that could end up being permanent. There are plenty of foundations who assist with this financially. 

Optional but helpful if insurance covers it! A good therapist will help you navigate this disease, stay calm, and give you an outlet to discuss your most private thoughts. Plus it gives your closest friends and family a healthy break.

When you have a healthy gut, you have a stronger immune system that will help you fight diseases (not just cancer). Jump start a repair on your gut microbiome with a cleanse, and heal it with proper supplements.

Your body is about to go through some sh!t so make it easier on your liver and kidneys and cut out the alcohol, tobacco, narcotics, processed crap, etc. While you're at it, cut out any other things that have a negative impact on your life!

So simple but so effective! Have a playlist of feel-good, pump-yourself-up music ready to blast for the shitty moments. 

If you're going on a chemotherapy that causes hair loss, start using Rodanthe + Fields Lash Boost asap to strengthen them! It can't hurt and the first-hand results I've seen are amazing. Apply to eyebrows too. I still lost most of mine but am excited for them to grow back thicker with this magic mix.

Be cautious when researching online to avoid the negative spiral before you meet with your doctor/s. If researching medical journals, keep in mind that what might work en vitro (in the lab) may not translate to en vivo (in your body). 

From my Dr: "Less than 10% of basic science studies like these translate into effective, data-proven treatments for patients with cancer as very often what happens in a petri dish in a controlled setting does not predict the effects when administered into the human body (toxicity, off treatment effects, etc). Also important that these studies are for your specific type of cancer. Cancers of differing parts of the body have varied representation in terms of cell-signaling pathways, so you can't really compare apples and oranges. Remember that when we give people oncologic-based therapies, they are based on large Phase II or Phase III clinical trials that document efficacy and tolerability."

I heard about the Oura ring from my HBOT Doctor and love that it's like a fitbit but better, and easier to wear. I get detailed reports on activity/ sleep levels, heart rate, pulse ox, body temp, respiratory rate, predictive ovulation/ period timing, a daily 'readiness' score, and more. This can predict if you're about to get sick before you may even show symptoms, which is super helpful when going through chemo as your immune system is wiped out. I recommend getting it sooner than later because it takes a few weeks to develop your baseline for what your 'normal' is.  It also guided meditations, breathing exercises, and sleep sounds that you can play through the app. For the super health-conscious and diabetics, it connects with the Levels glucose monitoring device too! GCMs are becoming a popular way to manage your blood sugar and weight, not just for diabetics.

I heard too many stories of ruined veins and decided to get the chemo port. The operation was a breeze but the recovery the following 4-5 days was very painful for me. The more time between the surgery and your first round, the better if you decide to get it. Some say you can use it after 2 days but that would be brutal IMO. It is far better and more comfortable to have 8-10 hour treatments through the port than in my arm. Look at me, I am 'Ironwoman' now, haha! 

It is possible to experience hearing loss (the hairs in your ears fall out), so having a hearing test prior to starting chemo gives you a baseline to compare against later on. I developed tinnitus after round 2, which has slightly worsened after round 3. The white noise podcasts of ocean waves and storms have been magic to drown out the ringing in my ears at night (techno during the day of course).

I waited until my hair was falling out in clumps (traumatic) but luckily found a great wig shop that made my whole day better. Start shopping beforehand to find one that matches your current color and style best. Also begin the insurance authorization beforehand to decrease the lag time in reimbursement, as human hair wigs are pricey. But a great wig will brighten your whole day - it's like my real hair but better looking with no prep time!

These will help prevent neuropathy in your hands and feet during chemo, as does a good B-

 complex. A cold eye mask will also help you keep eyebrows/ eyelashes. Grab extra ice packs and a sterile container to store everything at the hospital freezer on the day of.  

If you're concerned about hair loss, consider micro-blading your eyebrows 2 weeks before chemo starts. This gives them time to heal naturally before your immune system is reduced. Techs won't take chemo patients for liability reasons.

The point of this, if you have the time, is to relax and do something you enjoy, with people you love and make you feel good. Clear your mind and calm down! You'll be happy you did so down the road. 

I came across multiple studies that proved fasting 2 days before and the day of chemo greatly reduces side effects and improves efficacy of the drug. The logic being that cancer will hog anything you give it before regular cells can so it can reproduce and spread. If you're starving and feed it an atom bomb, then its more likely to cause apoptosis (cell death). I can personally say my side effects are very minimal!

The day or so after chemo, I've had some intense lower back pain as a result of the drug. As it turns out, most of our white blood cells are made in the bone marrow in our hip/ pelvis area. Therefore, because the bone marrow activity is higher with these drugs, bone pain occurs. Claritin helps with this, as does Aleve, which is the least harmful pain reliever for your organs during chemo.

There are so many alternative therapies that integrated and functional medicine doctors can recommend to help you kick cancer's butt! Read more on the 'Alternative Therapy' page, as it ranges from something as simple as daily meditation to complex methods such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This is really important as conventional oncologists generally will not speak on many of these, if any.

I came across a great article about hair care extending your time before the buzzcut. Here are the cliff notes: once you start chemo, wash your hair as little as possible using a pH balanced shampoo. Sleep on satin pillowcases and use microfiber hair towels (both of these are great life-long tips for everyone!). Minimize brushing and styling. When you decide it's time for the buzz, request a #2 clipper to prevent ingrowns. Use a lint roller on your head thereafter!

Chemo will dry out your mouth the first few days and cause mouth sores. I stopped brushing at night and flossing because of the excess bleeding. However, my dentist informed me not to do this and to instead, switch to a softer brush. Saliva is your mouth's way of staying clean, and a lack thereof can increase your chances of infections/ cavities. They recommended Biotene Dry Mouth wash (Listerine, etc have sugar in them).

This is great to keep track of your mood and energy levels, how you slept, what side effects you're experiencing, how you ate, how well was your digestion, and overall how your day went. You'll recognize patterns over time. In addition, I love to use my 6-Minute Diary every day. This journal prompts you to focus on the positive things in your life and is a game changer for creating a happy mindset!

If finances start piling up faster than you can pay off, call your bank to see if they can reduce your credit card interest rates or increase balance limits. You can also apply for a new card with 0% APR and transfer your balance if it gets to that point. There are many that offer that promo rate for 18-21 months. Also look into filing for disability and foundations that give financial assistance for your specific cancer - there are tons. Links to come.

Take time for yourself everyday to do something small that you love, even if it's as simple as a 10 minute meditation. Once a week, try to do a relaxing massage or brunch with close friends. You still have a life and don't need to be vegging out like a hermit throughout this process. Maybe even have a normal dessert or glass of wine, but beware - if its been a while since you cut them out of your diet then your digestive system will rebel, so portion down!

It's great to have something to look forward to! This also really helps with visualizing your future as cancer-free. I'm a big believer in manifestation... the more detailed you imagine something, the easier it is to manifest it coming to life. Create it, visualize it, affirm it regularly. If you're worried about committing to travel plans, get trip insurance or book refundable hotels/ airfare. I'm a travel agent and would be happy to assist!