Preparing for Your First Day of Infusion

Treatment days can be long. Being prepared for this can help with any stress and anxiety you may have. Below are some ways to make your treatment days as stress-free as possible.

This article focuses on infusion therapy. Learn more about the radiation therapy treatment process at OncoLink.org.

How can I get ready for my treatment day?

During your first visit, your providers will ask you many questions about your health history, home life, symptoms, prior treatments, and more. Before your first appointment, sit with a loved one or caretaker and talk about these things. Think about:

• Your diagnosis and treatment plan.
• Symptoms that you have been having and their effect on your life.
• The people and providers involved in your treatment and care.
• Scans and labs you have had done.
• Your insurance information.
• Your emergency contact information.
• Your goals for care and treatment. If you have an advanced directive (living will, durable power of attorney), bring copies of these to your appointment.

You can use Oncopilot to download and print forms to keep your information in one place. Keep these forms in a binder and bring them with you to each visit.

Getting to Treatment

Make sure you know where to park and where to check in when you get to the treatment center. Call and ask these questions before you go.

Your providers may not know exactly how your treatment will affect you, so it is a good idea to have someone drive you to treatment and back home again, at least for your first treatment. If you are taking public transit or ride-sharing, you may also want to have someone ride along with you to make sure you get there and home safely.

If you need help with getting to and from the treatment center, call your treatment center’s social worker or navigator for help BEFORE your scheduled treatment day.

When You Arrive

Try to be early or on time for your appointment. You will most likely have blood work drawn on the day before or the day of your treatment. The results of these tests may affect your treatment plan for the day. There may be some time to wait time between getting your labs taken and when your treatment starts. Your care team, including your oncologist, nurse, and pharmacist take the time to make sure your treatment is safe for you. Once your labs are reviewed and given the okay, the pharmacist in the infusion center will then get your medications ready.

There may be times when your blood work results come back and your provider will decide that you should not get treatment that day. This is to keep you safe during treatment. Your provider will tell you why you won’t be getting treatment and the plan for your next treatment. Remember, this is normal throughout the course of your treatment.

What Should I Wear?

It is important to feel comfortable. In general:

• If you have a PICC line in your arm, wear a top with short sleeves or that has sleeves that are loose enough to be pulled up past your PICC line.
• If you have a port-a-cath in your chest, wear a top with a loose-fitting neckline. You can also pull your shirt up while it is being accessed and then put your shirt back down once you are attached to your treatment.
• It may feel hot or cold in the treatment center. Think about wearing layers that are easy to take on and off with an IV (intravenous) line. Bring a cozy blanket if you get cold. A portable, rechargeable fan can be great if you get hot. It can also be dry, so pack lip balm and some lotion to keep your skin and lips hydrated.
• Some treatment centers are open, with shared spaces. Try to not wear perfume or cologne. Treatment can affect the sense of smell, and you or others around you may be sensitive to smells.

Bring Snacks and Drinks

Unless your provider tells you otherwise, you can often have a snack or drink during your treatment. It is important to keep up with your nutrition and stay hydrated. You may want to pick a snack that is high in nutritional value and somewhat bland in smell and taste. Some good snack ideas are nuts, whole grain crackers, hard cheese, hummus, granola bars, and fruit. Pack a water bottle and refill it while you are at the treatment center.

Since some infusion suites are open, try not to bring foods with strong odors that others may be sensitive to.

Keep Busy

Ask your treatment center BEFORE you come if you can have family/friends stay with you (and how many are allowed). Having someone to talk to, play a game with, and have as support can be a big help. They can also take notes for you about the treatment you are receiving and any instructions your provider gives you for when you are home.

Bring things to keep you busy---maybe a book, tablet, knitting, drawing, listening to podcasts, or binge-watching a new show. These can all help pass the time and distract you.

Your treatment center may also have services like pet therapy, art therapy, music therapy, reiki, massage, aromatherapy, and other integrative treatments. Ask your nurse or social worker if these services are offered at your treatment center.

Ask Questions

There is no such thing as a stupid question! Every person on your care team is there to answer your questions and help. Ask your nurse or pharmacist for handouts about each medication you will be given. You can also find medication teaching sheets for all cancer medications at OncoLink.org. You can use OncoLink's "Build My Treatment Binder" to build a personalized treatment guide about your own diagnosis, treatment, side effects, psychosocial concerns, and more. 

Heading Home

You may be feeling tired, relieved, anxious, and happy all at the same time after your first treatment. Once you are home, follow all instructions that your provider gave you. Take your medications on time, rest, drink enough fluids, and eat when you can. Keep track of any side effects or new feelings you have, and report these to your provider. Keep a list of questions to bring with you on your next visit.

If you have nausea, diarrhea, or other side effects, call your provider. There are many tips and medications to help with the side effects of cancer treatment. Your provider can help you figure out what works best for you.

This is also a good time to think about how the day went and what you might do differently next time:

• Did you pick a snack that you wanted to eat? 
• Did you have enough to do to keep busy? 
• Did you have all the information you needed with you? 
• Maybe you brought too much with you?
• Do you feel like your providers took the time to talk with you and explain your treatment plan? Did you take notes? 

These are some things to think about for future treatments. And don’t forget to take a moment to recognize---you did it! Your first treatment is over and now you know how to make future treatments more comfortable for you.