Neuroendocrine cancer patients often have a variety of available treatment options. Since this cancer behaves differently from other types of cancers, it’s not universally treated with chemotherapy like other cancers. When chemotherapy is recommended, it may be a different type of chemotherapy than used with other cancers. Chemotherapy may be one of many possible treatments used for neuroendocrine cancer, including neuroendocrine tumor or NET and neuroendocrine carcinoma or NEC. (For more information about various treatments, check out the LACNETS video library or LACNETS podcasts.) Once the decision has been made to move forward with chemotherapy, the concern is usually on quality of life and how to mitigate side effects. If you or your loved one is preparing for chemotherapy, you may have questions about how to prepare to prevent or address potential side effects. We’ve included some tips and tricks based on first-hand patient and caregiver experiences.
Note: Discuss your questions and concerns with your provider. This information should not substitute for or replace instructions given to you by your medical team.
General Tips:
Eat a balanced diet of nutritious foods. This is not the time to start dieting! If you lose your appetite or struggle with weight loss, try eating small, frequent meals.
Hydrate. Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water.
Keep moving. Being physically active may help reduce side effects such as neuropathy. Get outside and walk on days when you are feeling well.
Inform your medical team about all the medications, vitamins, and supplements you take, as some might interfere with chemotherapy.
Communicate openly and honestly with your doctor. Tell your doctor right away about any side effects you are experiencing. Your doctor needs to know how you’re feeling to help you. There are things that can be done such as prescribing medications or adjusting the dose or frequency of the chemotherapy to make it more tolerable. It’s important that you be able to do the things you enjoy. Your quality of life matters!
NET caregiver Lisa Yen’s “show and tell” of tips, tricks, and items she and her husband found to be helpful when dealing with chemotherapy:
Useful items for undergoing chemotherapy:
For port access:
Chemo port access shirt with buttons along the shoulders or a button down shirt that allows easy access to the port - here is an example
Prescription EMLA (lidocaine and prilocaine) cream to be placed over the port before accessing it
For photosensitivity:
Sunscreen with at least 30 SPF
Lip balm with SPF 30 – Aquaphor lip protectant + sunscreen
Hat - example
Umbrella - example
To prevent hand/foot syndrome:
For dry mouth:
For nausea + metallic taste:
For comfort:
Worry stone such as this "One day at a time" rock
Blanket – example of a herpa throw blanket or inspirational blanket
Pillow – example of a “Rest” pillow
Supplements & Medications:
Prescription anti-nausea meds:
Ondansetron (Zofran) 8mg, 1 tablet every 8 hours as needed for nausea or vomiting
Prochlorperazine (Compazine) 10mg by mouth every 6 hours as needed for nausea or vomiting
Olanzapine (Zyprexa) 2.5mg, take 2 pills at bedtime for nausea; this is an antipsychotic medication used to treat depression and bipolar in people older than 13. It is used off-label for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Special thanks for Dusty who created most of this list.
For more information on chemotherapy, listen to the LACNETS Podcast Episode 35
This blog is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It does not provide a medical professional’s opinion or advice, nor is it an endorsement of particular treatments. You are advised to seek appropriate licensed medical/professional help and discuss your individual care and treatment plan with your medical team.
The content in this blogpost is the opinion of the author and the information is neither provided by nor endorsed by pharmaceutical companies.
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