5 Things You Should Know to Prep for Chemo

For the millions of individuals who face the harrowing diagnosis of cancer each year, chemotherapy often becomes a vital component in their battle against the disease.

However, the anticipation and unknowns surrounding this treatment can be just as daunting as the diagnosis itself.

If you or a loved one is preparing for the onset of chemotherapy, there are several important considerations that can help you not only brace for the oncoming treatment but also manage it with resilience and confidence.

1. Understand Your Treatment Options

Before beginning chemotherapy, it's crucial to have clear and detailed discussions with your oncologist about the different drug regimens available to you. Chemotherapy is not a one-size-fits-all treatment. 

There are various drugs, delivery methods, and schedules your doctor may consider, depending on the type and stage of cancer you have. 

Some crucial questions to ask include:

• What is the goal of the chemotherapy – cure, control, palliation, or adjuvant therapy?
• Which drugs will be used and why?
• What are the side effects of these drugs?
• How long will the treatment last?
• Will the drugs be administered intravenously or orally?

Understanding your treatment options empowers you to be an active participant in your care and make informed decisions that are best for you.

2. Prepare for the Potential Side Effects

Chemotherapy is renowned for its side effects, which can vary widely depending on the specific drugs used and each patient's individual response. From hair loss and fatigue to nausea and increased risk of infections, preparing for these side effects can help you manage them more effectively. Here's how you can prepare:

• Research common side effects of the drugs you'll be taking.
• Learn about preventive measures or coping strategies, such as anti-nausea medications, dietary changes, and self-care.
• Discuss with your healthcare team the best ways to manage each potential side effect.

Having an action plan for each possibility can bring you peace of mind and a sense of control as you transition into treatment.

3. Learn About Support Services

Cancer treatment can be a long and difficult road, and it's essential to have a robust support system in place. Many hospitals offer a variety of services to help patients and their families cope with the challenges of cancer treatment. These may include:

• Counseling and support groups for mental and emotional well-being
• Nutritional guidance tailored to your individual needs
• Financial counselors who can help you understand your insurance coverage and out-of-pocket expenses
• Specialty clinics for managing symptoms and side effects

Reach out to these resources before starting chemotherapy to familiarize yourself with the services available to you.

4. Organize Your Personal Affairs

The physical and emotional demands of chemotherapy can be all-consuming, which is why getting your personal affairs such as chemo wigs for sale in order beforehand is a wise step. This can involve:

• Creating or updating your will and advance directives.
• Designating a durable power of attorney for healthcare decisions.
• Ensuring you have a clear understanding of your financial situation and have made necessary arrangements.
• Preparing childcare or pet care plans for when you are at your healthcare appointments or need rest at home.

By addressing these matters proactively, you can focus more fully on your health and treatment.

5. Foster a Nurturing Environment

Your physical environment can have a significant impact on your well-being during chemotherapy. With a weakened immune system and potential need for rest, it's important to create a home environment that is conducive to healing. Consider the following:

• Sanitize and declutter your living space to reduce the risk of infections.
• Rearrange your home to make necessary items more accessible and your living space comfortable.
• Surround yourself with a supportive and understanding community who can step in to help with daily tasks if needed.

By preparing your environment, you can have a safe haven to retreat to when you are recovering from chemotherapy sessions.

Final Thoughts

Navigating chemotherapy is an incredibly personal and complex process. By addressing these five checkpoints, you can enter into treatment with greater knowledge, support, and preparation. 

Remember, while there may be many factors beyond your control, taking these steps empowers you to take charge of your cancer care experience.

Unsustainable Cost of Cancer Drugs

This year, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved several cancer treatment drugs such as Afatinib, Denosumab, Trametinib, Dabrafenib and Lenalidomide capsules among many others. This may be a breakthrough development in the field of medicine, considering the fact that more and more drugs each day are being developed in order to treat cancer. 
Unfortunately, all things come with a price. And when it comes to Cancer drugs, nothing comes cheap.

Why Cancer Drugs are so expensive

The high cost of cancer drugs is among the major issues in the healthcare industry. However, there are several factors related to the development of a single drug which makes it expensive. 

• The cost developing the drug itself, from preclinical research to generation of data and testing, is very high.
• Since most cancers are incurable, each patient is treated with an approved agent either sequentially or in combination, thereby creating a virtual monopoly.
• Because of the development of new drugs, the ‘older’ drugs are viewed as a substandard treatment.
• The very nature of cancer makes patients and physicians more willing to pay the price of treatment.
• There is an incentive or reimbursement when chemotherapy and more expensive drugs are resorted to even if there are cheaper alternatives available.
• Certain agencies are prevented from taking economic and cost-effective considerations when approving new cancer drugs. 

Cancer medication and expenses

Cancer drugs can hurt a lot of people’s pockets. A treatment for Kidney cancer called Afinitor cost $3,995.00 – and that’s just one drug! According to a paper signed by 120 leukemia experts from all over the world, there has been a dramatic increase in the price of cancer medications. In Sweden alone, drug therapy is supplied to patients at no cost resulting to 80% survival rate in 10 years. This is opposed to the United States or any other countries where patients will shoulder the expenses. 

Because of the costs involved, around 10% of the patients fail to take their prescribed drugs simply because they cannot afford it. As a result, their chances of survival are greatly reduced.

What can we do about it?

There are many ways that can help alleviate this situation. It is important to maintain a balance between autonomy on physicians prescribing a treatment and costs incurred by the society. This can be done by improving national guidelines that allows both patients and physicians to choose the most cost-effective methods available to them. By providing transparency on the cost-effective options available, people can make better treatment decisions.

Also, price regulation is necessary. In terms of funding the development of a new drug, a lot of money is also spent on marketing the product. Why should the public shoulder these costs when it won’t benefit them at all?

Another solution would be the creation of nonprofit generic companies. As long as companies for profit exist, expect cancer drugs to be at a higher cost. By having philanthropic foundations fund the manufacture and distribution of life-saving drugs, expenses for medications will be greatly reduced. At the end of the day, harmonizing health care affordability and profits will provide greater benefits in the long run.