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Prepare Me

Prepare for chemotherapy

Set up the practical side so the hard days are easier.

One item at a time. Progress counts even when it is small.

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Overview

Chemotherapy is a schedule as much as a treatment. Preparing the calendar, the household, and the side-effect plan makes the cycles more manageable.

What to expect

  • A port or IV placement
  • Sessions lasting from under an hour to most of a day
  • Pre-medications to prevent nausea and reactions
  • Fatigue and side effects that follow a pattern you will learn
  • Blood counts checked between cycles

Questions to ask

  • What exactly am I receiving, and how many cycles are planned?

  • At what temperature should I call, and what number do I use at night?

  • What can I take for nausea, and when should I start it?

  • How will this affect fertility, work, and daily life?

  • In plain language, what is happening and why is it recommended now?

    Plain language is your right. Ask again if the answer is technical.

  • What are my options, including waiting or doing nothing?

  • How will this change what I can do day to day, and for how long?

  • What should I do to prepare?

  • Who do I call with questions, and what number do I use after hours?

  • What would make you want to see me sooner?

    This turns vague worry into a clear trigger for calling.

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For caregivers and family

What caregivers can expect

  • A repeating schedule that reshapes the week
  • Good days and hard days in the same cycle
  • Fatigue that is physical, not attitude

How caregivers can help

  • Share driving with others so it is sustainable
  • Track side effects in one place
  • Protect rest, fluids, and simple food

Questions caregivers should ask

  • Which side effects need a call today rather than at the next visit?
  • What is the plan for infection risk?
  • What support services are available to us?

Recovery and what happens next

  1. Before the first session

    Set up the practical side.

    • · Confirm schedule and coverage
    • · Ask about side-effect medicines
    • · Plan rides and rest days

  2. Each session

    A rhythm you will learn quickly.

    • · Bring water, snacks, layers, and something to do
    • · Report new symptoms before treatment starts
    • · Log how you felt afterward

  3. Between sessions

    Recovery happens here.

    • · Rest and hydrate
    • · Watch for fever
    • · Keep a symptom diary for your team

    Watch for: Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher — call immediately

  4. Long-term

    Survivorship and follow-up.

    • · Ask for a written survivorship or maintenance plan
    • · Schedule surveillance appointments
    • · Address fatigue, mood, and nutrition

Risks and warning signs

Possible risks to ask about

  • Every procedure and medicine carries some risk — ask for yours in numbers, not adjectives
  • Reactions to medicines, contrast, or anesthesia
  • Infection
  • Delays or the need for a repeat visit

Warning signs — call your clinician

  • · Temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher — call immediately, do not wait
  • · Mouth sores that stop you eating or drinking
  • · Uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • · Unusual bruising or bleeding
  • · Redness or pain at the port or IV site

Red flags — seek emergency care

  • · Trouble breathing or shortness of breath at rest
  • · Chest pain or pressure
  • · Heavy bleeding that will not stop
  • · Sudden weakness, facial droop, or trouble speaking
  • · Signs of sepsis — fever with fast heart rate, confusion, clammy skin, or a feeling that something is very wrong

In an emergency, call 911. Do not wait for a call back.

Follow-up care

  • Keep the schedule for labs and imaging between cycles
  • Report new symptoms between visits rather than saving them
  • Ask for a written summary of what has been given so far

Frequently asked questions

Helpful resources

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Prepare Me is educational preparation support from Phoenix Health Compass. It does not diagnose, recommend treatment, or replace the guidance of your clinician. Checklists and notes stay on this device unless you save or share them yourself.