Navigating Chemotherapy

As with many areas of cancer treatment, chemotherapy can make you feel powerless.

This month, I want to share my top tips for empowering yourself during treatment. 

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The Routine 

Having a routine helps the time pass. This doesn’t mean you have to stick to it!

Treatment can be up and down but if you can aim to fit in good food and fresh air in any form, you’ll feel better for it.

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Keep an eye on your dates and you’ll usually begin to see a pattern of which days you will feel well enough to do something and which days you’ll need to rest. I booked in walks with friends on days I knew I was likely to be okay. On rest days, I watched films I'd already seen and reread books; old favourites were a comfort.

The Kit   

I had a small bag that I carried around the house with me. It meant I didn’t need to try and locate the things I needed or forget about them. 

Digital thermometer - essential

Note book - I drew a rough grid in this and wrote down my temperature 3 times a day. Having it written down alerted me to changes very quickly. 

Polybalm - I used this on my finger nails and toe nails twice a day and my nails survived! Incredible product.

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  Florihana Organic coconut oil and Rosemary water

Florihana Coconut Oil and Rosemary water -  I allowed myself time to get used to how my body had changed. I needed to be familiar with my scalp without hair. Beginning each day with an application of refreshing rosemary water was a positive start to my day and massaging coconut oil in at the end of the day became my night time routine. I still use both on my skin.

Cold coffee - I drank this in the morning with a spoonful of chia seeds. Chemo can mess with your digestion and this helped me. 

Tissues - if you lose your hair, your nose runs as there are no hairs in your nostrils.

A huge drinking cup with a straw - drink, drink, drink!

A squash you like - I don’t drink squash but during chemo it helped get my fluids in as my tastebuds were off. I drank Robinson's Lime and Mint as it made me feel less sick. 

A second notebook - to tick off your daily drugs. 

Mints - great if you’re feeling sick.

The crossword - chemo takes a long time. My husband and I took an easy crossword to every chemo session as it helped to pass the time and wasn’t too challenging. 

A blanket - I had a cotton Yinka Ilori blanket that my sister bought for me. It was bright and uplifting and with me every day. 

Katie during Chemotherapy wearing the 'Katie' Wig

The Mindset

At the start of treatment my sisters told me I was mentally strong. I hadn’t really considered it but decided to believe it. 

If I found something that made me feel good I did it more and more. If I did something for myself I told myself I deserved it. Throughout chemo I held myself in a safe space and found patience.

I told myself I could do it and I did. 

Katie