The week before first chemo: confirm you can drive to/from, learn what to expect from this specific regimen, prep the home for nausea + fatigue (anti-nausea snacks, comfortable clothes, blackout for sleep), pack a chemo-day bag with their input, build a meal plan for the 5-7 days after the first infusion, and set up the family group communication so they don’t have to. Below: the 11-item checklist.
Driving
Your patient cannot drive home after first chemo (sometimes after subsequent ones too). Confirm transportation. If multiple drivers are rotating, share the schedule with the patient and family.
Know the regimen
Chemo regimens have different side-effect profiles. AC-T causes hair loss + fatigue + nausea around days 3-7. Carboplatin causes peripheral neuropathy. CAR-T cell therapy has different rules entirely. Read the patient education sheet from oncology together. Note:
- What side effects to expect, and when
- What’s a ‘call the team’ symptom
- What’s a ‘go to the ER’ symptom (fever above 100.4°F neutropenic — this is urgent)
- When the next session is
Home prep — the post-chemo zone
Set up a comfortable place where they can land for 24-48 hours after infusion:
- Recliner or couch with blanket nearby
- Side table with water, ginger ale, anti-nausea snacks (saltines, plain rice, applesauce)
- Bucket lined with bag (just in case)
- Phone charger
- Easy entertainment — they likely won’t focus, so put on familiar comfort shows
The chemo-day bag (with their input)
- Front-zip or button-front top (easy port access)
- Loose pants, slip-on shoes
- Soft blanket (cold infusion rooms)
- Headphones + something downloaded
- Phone + long charger cable
- Snack they actually want (nothing they associate with chemo nausea)
- Lip balm + lotion
- Notebook for any questions that come up
5-7 day meal plan
Days 1-3: nausea is common. Bland, cold, low-smell foods. Toast, applesauce, smoothies, plain rice. Avoid strong smells (fish, garlic, onion in cooking).
Days 4-7: appetite returns gradually. Smaller portions. Whatever sounds good. Don’t push their normal favorites if they don’t want them.
Stock the freezer with: smoothie ingredients, plain rice or pasta, broth, bread for toast, ginger ale, popsicles, applesauce, plain crackers.
The family communication firewall
Patients consistently report exhaustion from the “how are you feeling” texts. Volunteer to be the firewall:
- One weekly group text update from you (not them)
- Specific people get specific tasks (don’t broadcast personal details to everyone)
- They control what’s shared with whom
Anti-nausea: stay ahead, not behind
The oncology team will prescribe anti-nausea meds. Take them on schedule, NOT when nausea hits. Once nausea kicks in, it’s hard to catch up. Set phone alarms for the first 5-7 days post-infusion.
Conversations to have BEFORE day 1
The 11-item caregiver before-chemo checklist
- Driver confirmed for first 3 sessions
- Read patient education sheet for this regimen
- Anti-nausea meds + Tylenol picked up
- Recliner / post-chemo zone set up
- Pantry stocked with bland foods
- Chemo-day bag packed with their input
- Family group text plan agreed
- Phone alarms set for first 5 days of meds
- FMLA paperwork started if either of you is taking time
- Boundaries on visitors agreed (probably none for first 3 days)
- Number for the oncology after-hours line saved in your phone
Frequently Asked Questions
From the Inspired Comforts collection.
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Sources
- American Cancer Society — Chemotherapy basics
- ASCO Cancer.Net — cancer.net
