Content Overview 
- Summary
- You can travel safely during treatment if your doctor permits travel.
- Don't let emotions bottle up inside.
- How To Live With Chemotherapy
- Cancer Surgery 101
- Radiation 101
- Bone Marrow Transplants
- Other Cancer Treatments
- Keep track of your symptoms. If symptoms are more severe than expected, or if unexpected symptoms appear, call your doctor.
- Consider the practical aspects of being in treatment.
- Reduce your risk of infection while in treatment
- Consider adding non-Western treatments ("complementary" or "alternative" treatments) such as massage therapy to your treatment schedule.
- Emotions may run rampant during treatment. Use time tested techniques to help. Take one day at a time. It's not unusual to see life with a different sense of perspective.
- Share your emotions. Watch for depression. Consider seeking counseling. You may also want to consider getting a pet if you don't have one (yes, a pet).
- Think of family and friends as part of your support team. Ask for help when you need it. Your needs are first, but also consider theirs.
- Work issues: If you are an employee, ask for the accommodations which make it possible to juggle treatment and work. If you need time off, negotiate for it. People who are business owners or are self employed should avoid making important decisions if pos
- Start looking at your insurance and financial situation to determine how you will pay for medical care. Even with health insurance, medical care can be costly. Free or low cost care is available if you are Uninsured or Underinsured
- Do finance basics. Pay your rent or mortgage and mniimums on your credit card. Start keeping track of all medical services you receive and expenses you pay. Don't pay a medical bill just because you receive one.
- Financial assistance is available.
- Drugs and treatments do not work in a vacuum. Think of the food you eat, the exercise you get, rest/sleep and even proper care of your mouth as steps you can take to make treatments and drugs most effective.
- Modify your (hopefully)healthy diet to make up for nutrients your treatment uses up. Get dietary counseling.
- Speak with other people who are going through what you are.
- If you have a spouse or significant other, you will both face challenges from the treatment and side effects. There is no right or wrong way to handle the situation. Cooperative problem solving and mutual support is key.
- If you have underage children, tell them about what is going on in an age appropriate manner. Monitor their behavior. Arrange for their care in case something happens to you.
- Schedule a dental check up.
- When treatment ends, celebrate. Read Survivorship A to Z Post Treatment.
In Treatment For Cancer
Reduce your risk of infection while in treatment
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While undergoing cancer therapy, your immune system is lower than normal, which means that you are more prone to getting infections and that you have less resistance with which to fight an infection.
Simple steps help avoid unnecessary infection. For example:
- Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly with soap and warm water.
- Wash for at least 20 seconds.
- An aide to keeping track of time is to sing Happy Birthday at regular tempo. It takes about 20 seconds.
- Keep your hands away from your mouth, nose and eyes at all times. They are the entry point for germs into your system.
- Use caution when buying, storing and cooking foods.
- Eat out wisely.
- Only eat in places you believe follow food safety guidelines.
- The need to eat nutritiously doesn't go away because you are eating out instead of at home.
- Wash your hands when you are about to leave a public places such as a gym, or as soon after leaving as you can.
- Take appropriate precautions in a hospital. For instance, do not let anyone touch you who does not wash his or her hands first.
- Avoid:
- Crowds
- People who have diseases you can catch
- People evidencing symptoms of diseases you can catch
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