Other questions about chemotherapy

• Most patients do not feel anything unusual while they are receiving chemotherapy.
• Everyone is different and if you begin to feel uncomfortable, tell your chemotherapy nurse immediately.

• Before each treatment, your nurse will check your blood work and ask you about any side effects you had after your last treatment. These two factors will help your team decide whether it is safe for you to receive further treatment.
• If your blood counts are low or you are having side effects from the chemotherapy, your treatment may be delayed or the dose of the drug reduced. You may be given another medication to improve your blood counts throughout your treatment.

• Chemotherapy can be given with other types of treatment such as radiation or surgery.
• Alternative, complimentary or herbal therapies must be discussed with your medical oncologist, primary nurse, and the pharmacist. These therapies could interfere with the way chemotherapy works and/or cause harmful side effects.

• Clinical trials are also called cancer treatment studies or research studies and they test how well new treatments work in people with cancer.
• These treatments can include new drugs, new approaches to surgery and radiation therapy, new combinations of treatments, or new methods such as gene therapy.
• The goal of this research is to find better ways to treat cancer and to help cancer patients.
• If there is a trial that could help treat your cancer, your medical oncologist will discuss this with you.
• Ask your healthcare team about specific trials that might be helpful in treating your cancer.

• You are encouraged to continue doing your usual daily activities as much as possible.
• Continue to do things that you enjoy.
• Mild or moderate exercise can be helpful during treatment.
• If you wish to take a holiday during your treatment, please discuss this with your medical oncologist.
• If you need to change your chemotherapy schedule, please discuss it with your primary nurse.

• A well-balanced diet can ease some side effects. It will also give you energy.
• You should eat a light meal just before your treatment. For example whole grain toast or English muffin with egg, cheese or peanut butter, oatmeal with milk/soy beverage, yogurt and fruit sprinkled with granola.
• Add to that a glass of milk/soy beverage, fruit juice or hot tea.
• You may find that it is more comfortable to eat smaller meals more often.
• Remember to pack a lunch and some snacks if you will be here for a few hours.
• You will be told to drink plenty of fluids.
• When you get home it is important to have a meal or snack even if you feel tired.

Quitting smoking after a diagnosis of cancer can have many benefits. It is important to remember that smoking during chemotherapy can make some of the chemotherapy medicines less effective. If you would like to talk to someone about quitting, please speak to your health care team. Your chemotherapy nurse can arrange for you to receive nicotine replacement therapy (lozenges) for you to use while you receive chemotherapy. This is available from the Odette Cancer Centre pharmacy. Your team can also arrange for you to speak with a smoking cessation counselor. Quitting smoking can be hard but it is never too late to quit. Getting help from a counselor and using nicotine replacement therapy can help your chances of quitting. Talk to one of our pharmacists about tips and strategies to help you quit smoking. Call 416-480-4671 to book an appointment.

• Yes, if you feel well enough to work, you may do so.
• If you are unable to work, take any disability forms you have to the health record department at the Odette Cancer Centre. You will be asked to sign a release form and your forms will be given to your doctor for completion.
• If you have questions about your disability forms, please contact the health records department (416-480-4638).
• If you have any difficulties accessing or completing forms you can contact the Patient and Family Support Program (416-480-4623).
• Meeting with an occupational therapist can be helpful to discuss strategies on how best to manage returning back to work.
• Wellspring offers an eight-week educational support program for members who are back at their jobs. For more information please contact Wellspring Westerkirk House at 416-480-4440.

It is normal to have many different feelings during chemotherapy including fear, worry, anger or a feeling of relief that you are moving forward with treating your cancer.

• This can be a very emotional time and many people need help dealing with these feelings.
• Share how you feel with people you can talk to such as friends, family, your treatment team, a social worker, a psychologist, a spiritual and religious caregiver, or a support group.
• Ask for help if you need it.
• For more information, contact the Patient and Family Support Program (416-480-4623), or Wellspring, a network of centres for cancer patients and families providing emotional and educational support (416-480-4440).

• Chemotherapy treatments are given Monday through Friday. The unit coordinators (receptionists) will book your treatments.
• Any requests to change to change your appointments must go through your site nurse. Chemotherapy appointments cannot be changed in the chemo unit.