You can expect lots of different things at your chemo treatment appointment (itchiness, boredom, nausea, waiting, discomfort, anxiety). Below, we’ve gathered some Jadey-vetted recommendations to keep you as comfortable, nourished, distracted, and nausea-free as possible.
First, Your Actual Bag
We recommend a larger tote bag with a zipper; generally something roomy, lightweight, with lots of pockets (especially a good outside pocket to hold your water bottle). Think personal-item-on-the-airplane size.
The Jadey team likes the well-structured SCOUT bags which have some great external pockets and a sturdy shoulder strap (and are really easy to wipe-down if you like to give your bag a quick clean after being in the hospital all day).
We also like the lightweight, well-pocketed CALPAK Luka Mini Duffel. It’s also easy to wipe down, and has a soft feel to carry.
In general, you may find that you’ll want to keep your chemo items separate from the rest of your life, not for health or safety reasons, but because mental associations can be really powerful.
Madeline*, who went through treatment sessions last year, says, “I had so many negative mental associations with the nausea and other side effects from chemo that even just looking at the water bottle I brought to treatment made me feel sick on the weeks I didn't have treatment.” She kept a chemo treatment bag that was always packed with essentials. “I really never used it otherwise,” she says, “I would throw in the items I needed before I left for treatment, and otherwise it sat, laying in wait, until my next round.”
Wear Comfy, Loose-Fitting Layers …
Hospitals are famously frigid, but some medications might make you feel warm or flushed. Other times, you may be sitting in a very cold treatment room, or you might be cold-capping (more about cold-capping here). In other words: pack layers. Wear clothing that is comfortable for hours of sitting (or napping), and items that are easy to remove, like extra sweaters or slip-on-shoes.
Also, because we’re all about maximum comfort on treatment days, opt for soft, looser-fitting bras. Some Jadey favorites are Skims, Commando, and Negative Underwear.
Marcella Kelson– a licensed social worker who also underwent radiation, chemo, and cold-capping for breast cancer– loves Negative Underwear. “These super-soft layers retain heat.” She recommends their turtleneck, v-necks, and long johns which are comfy enough to sleep in. “You sort of want to be in them all day, especially when your skin is so sensitive from chemo. It’s a very soft experience.”
…and, if You Have a Port, PICC Line, or Other Implanted IV line – Wear a Loose Shirt For Easy Access
A v-neck, a button-down shirt, or zip-up jacket will make it easier to access your port, PICC line, or IV line. For the basics, we love Primary’s v-neck tees, which come in a rainbow of colors to match your mood, and Splendid's v-neck tees which are ultrasoft and have a deep v neckline that make port access a breeze. There are also specially designed garments for accessing implanted IV lines. Molly McDermott, who was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma at 24, recommends The Port Studio, which makes crewnecks with zippers on both sleeves and on the chest area, providing easy access to ports or IV lines.
Pack Mints or Candy to Reduce Unpleasant Tastes…
Some medications or the flushing of your IV line may cause an unpleasant, saline, or metallic taste in your mouth. For this, we recommend sucking candies like minty Life Savers or citrusy Lemonheads. Dr. Annie Su, a medical oncologist in Houston, particularly recommends anything citrusy, as it can help counteract these bad tastes.
… and a Flavor Packed Drink Like Lemonade or Chai
Chemo can cause even the most plain foods and drinks (e.g. water) to have a strange or metallic taste, which is not very convenient as a side effect, because now more than ever you need to make sure you stay well hydrated. To stay hydrated while masking bad tastes and battling nausea, Dr. Su recommends “lemonade because it's tart and sweet at the same time.” Madeline recommends mixing up a quick iced chai in an insulated cup before leaving home, which not only can help mask bad tastes, but with a spice blend that includes ginger, can help ease your nausea.
Pack a Very Big Water Bottle + Electrolyte Packets
Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do for your body during cancer treatment. You also might find that metal water bottles and utensils are particularly objectionable; Molly used plastic and glass reusable water bottles instead of the stainless steel ones. “They didn’t stay cold,” she says, but at least it didn’t add any more metallic taste to her mouth.
Adding some electrolyte powder (which could help with hydration and salt replenishment in your body) can also distract from any unwanted taste sensitivities. The Jadey team likes Nuun tablets; Molly also used LMNT electrolyte packets in her water to add a more pleasant flavor and to replenish her salts (some electrolytes have added supplements, so make sure this is okay with your doctor).
Snacks for Waiting…
Because you never know how long you might wait (or exactly how you’ll be feeling once treatment begins), bring some actually filling food like a sandwich, some crackers, granola bars, and fresh fruit.
… and Anti-Nausea Snacks (and Accessories)
Chemotherapy can make you feel nauseous; and there isn’t one solution for that. There are medications you can request, but you may still want some extra tricks. Jadey readers recommend: ginger chews, Sour Patch watermelon, and fresh fruit.
Additionally, Dr. Su recommends Sea-Bands, which are typically used for motion sickness or sea sickness, and hit “pressure points that help with nausea. They have a little button that applies this constant pressure to [your] wrists,” Dr. Su says.
Good Time-Wasters to Distract You
Chemo treatments, and the time it takes to receive your infusions, vary widely. Your chemo meds might be manually pushed by a nurse and so you may not actually have a lot of down time once your treatment begins, or you may be sitting for hydration infusions for hours before or after you receive treatment. And of course, there’s always the waiting room. No matter what your treatment routine looks like, it's always good to have some time-wasters on deck.
We recommend loading an iPad with shows and movies; download something old, something new, something funny, something else funny. The Jadey team and readers recommend Curb Your Enthusiasm, Sirens, Hacks, and Somebody Somewhere.
Buy some fun magazines; we love Real Simple, Town & Country, and New York Magazine. And bring a book that promises to fully absorb you. Jadey readers recommend: Romantic Comedy (a secretly deeply feeling and jokey romance), The Safekeep (an intellectual, subtle thriller), Disappoint Me (social critique but propulsive and twisty). And Kayla Alexander, who was 26 when she was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, recommends Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand. “[This] book has always stuck with me,” Kayla says. “It gave me peace.”
Something that helps you feel a little busy and productive is also great. There are all sorts of crafty things you can do: coloring books, knitting projects, sketchbooks. Lucy, who was diagnosed with primary mediastinal large B cell lymphoma at 22, received a bracelet making kit while she was going through chemotherapy. She also made bracelets for her care team once she was done with treatment.
Noise Cancelling Headphones (or Ear Plugs)
Depending on where you're having treatment, you may be in a private room or you may be sharing a space with others. Sometimes, chatting with the patients around you might help to pass time during treatment, but having noise-cancelling headphones is a must for when you want to listen to music, watch a television show, or try to get some rest, all while blocking out the noises from your treatment center.
“Some treatment facilities are large, some are small, and you might be sitting so close to somebody,” says Noell Caldwell, who was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at 27. “I could not live without my headphones.”
For fully tuning out the world, Jadey Editorial Director Maggie Lange likes the easy feel of Loop ear plugs (reusable) which almost look like earrings, and Mack’s (not reusable and definitely not jewelry-esque, but very effective and comfy to sleep in).
Bring “The Longest Phone Charger You Can Possibly Find”
You should get “the longest phone charger you can possibly find,” Molly recommends. You don’t know how far the nearest outlet will be to where you are sitting, and you want to make sure you have enough juice in your devices for as long as you need. And don’t forget to bring it home when you’re done for the day.
Bring Some Restful Comfort Objects (Blanket, Pillow)
Most hospitals will provide blankets for your treatment days, but your own blanket is likely to be softer, warmer, and more comforting. “I always brought a soft blanket because it gets so cold,” says Lauren McDermott, who received her breast cancer diagnosis at 22. Her hospital in Toronto provided heated blankets for her, but “they’re hospital blankets,” Lauren says. “They’re just not it.” Bring one that washes nicely like this cotton weave option from the Company Store.
And Include All Your Moisturizers (Lip Balm, Lotion, Face Cream)
Dehydration can dry out your skin as well. Dara, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 39, says, “Bringing your creature comfort is the best. All the things that you think are going to be silly. Bring a nice lip gloss, something that smells good. I had a girlfriend bring hand lotion to one of my chemo sessions, and rub my hands, and it just felt human and civilized and really, really amazing.”
Jadey team likes Summer Friday lip gloss for a delicately luxe feeling, and Salt & Stone cream, which is really moisturizing and so well scented (we like Bergamot & Hinoki), if scented items are palatable to you right now.
Aquaphor is consistently recommended by doctors and patients alike, and it can be applied across your entire body. Dr. Su recommends urea-based lotions and creams because they absorb deep into the skin to keep it hydrated. Many brands sell urea-based lotions, like Eucerin, La Roche-Posay, and CeraVe. Jadey readers also recommend Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream and Keihl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve for effective moisturizers that feel a little more luxe.
And Finally, Pack Some Extra Things That Make You Feel Extremely Like Yourself
Wear your favorite delicate necklace you usually save for nice dinners out, or a good luck bracelet your friends gave you. Pick something that just makes you feel strong, supported, and becomes part of your 'chemo uniform.’
Madeline wore a little beaded bracelet that said 'Badass' to all her treatments. “I had a handful of these bracelets, and by the end of chemo, I had a full sleeve of them that people made or gave to me,” she says, “I only wore them on chemo days but it was kind of a fun pump-up part of my treatment day routine to put them on.”
*Names and some identifying details have been changed at the speaker's request.
