Lymphomalife.net

Although you may have been to the hospital many times before, your first visits to the hospital for treatment can be quite daunting. There are many things you can do to prepare yourself for these visits that will make the experience easier. Here on Lymphoma Life you can find tips for how to cope with this first round of treatment, as well as things to think about to help yourself prepare.

Concentrate on looking after yourself during your first treatment

Think about taking time off during treatment so you can concentrate on looking after yourself during your therapy schedule

The treatment schedule for induction therapy or radiotherapy can be intense and you are likely to feel quite tired. It may be a good idea to take a break from work and other activities, at least for a while.

You should therefore speak to your employer and make any necessary financial arrangements, ideally before you start treatment.

If you are unsure as to whether you are entitled to any benefits, or have any other concerns, talk to the doctor or nurse at your clinic, who will be able to help you find out more information.

Remember to eat a healthy balanced diet during your treatment

To feel at your best during treatment, it is crucial to try to eat healthily. This might not be easy if you are feeling tired or unwell due to the therapy, but it is important that you make sure you are getting all the nutrients you need to stay healthy.

Changing your eating habits to fit in better with your therapy schedule, such as eating several small meals rather than three large ones, is one thing that might help.
More tips for eating healthily if you have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL)

Recognise that having non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can sometimes be stressful, especially during treatment, and think about how you will cope with this

Being diagnosed with cancer such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, is an emotional and stressful experience for most people. This can be especially true during treatment, when you have to cope with the new experiences and the demanding treatment schedule.

So that you can concentrate on getting through the treatment and focus on the weeks and months ahead, it is important that you recognise and try to deal with these feeling of stress if they arise.

Relaxation techniques can be of great benefit, for example, as they can be performed in almost any situation and can help you feel a sense of control over your feelings. Benefits also include reductions in aches and pains as a result of muscular tension, better preparation for sleep, and lower levels of tiredness.

If you are thinking of using relaxation techniques, you should speak to your healthcare team, as they may be able to refer you to a local occupational therapy department, which can help you devise a routine of techniques.

The most important thing is to remember that you are not alone. There are many organisations and support groups for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in your local area – and nationally – who are there to help you deal with any issues and listen to your story.

[Link to Finding support page 2.5]
Think about what will happen during your treatment visit for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
 

If you are visiting the hospital for your first treatment, it is very likely that you might have to stay in overnight, and in some cases for longer. This will depend on your personal treatment plan.

If you’re not sure what to expect, you should check with your contact on the lymphoma team, such as the clinical nurse specialist or haematologist. They will be able to answer any questions about your visit before you arrive.

You may also have been asked to take things with you to the treatment visit, such as medical records, for example. It is important that you have thought about this in advance, so that you remember to take everything with you that’s been asked for.

If you’re staying overnight or longer, think about what you’ll wear while you’re in hospital and what you’ll do between treatments or tests. Books or games can help pass the time.

Remember to bring any medication that you’re currently taking with you, and make sure you’ll have enough for the length of your stay.

Think about your plans for getting there and back
 

Planning your transport to and from the hospital in advance will mean you won’t have to worry about it on the day of your appointment.

This can be particularly important if you are going to be having treatment that might make you feel tired or unwell afterwards.

Think carefully about how you expect to be feeling after treatment and whether you’ll need someone to pick you up after the visit. It is a good idea to speak to your healthcare team for advice about this, and they may even be able to recommend local hospital transport services.

Do you want to take someone with you?
 

• If you feel like you would like some support during the visit, you should consider asking your partner, a friend or family member to go with you.
• They may be able to keep you company during treatment or while you are waiting, and could help you remember and discuss any information that you receive. The healthcare team will understand if you want someone to be there, although bear in mind that it is probably not possible to have someone stay with you overnight.
   

Is there anything you want to know about your treatment before you begin?

It is important that you have a good understanding of what will happen to you at the clinic during your treatment. You should know what to expect from it, and how you will feel, for example.

Usually, you will have a consultation with the doctor at the beginning of a treatment visit, so this is an important opportunity to ask anything that you need or want to know about your treatment.

It can be difficult to remember all the questions that you want to ask the doctor in one go. Especially when you will be talking about many different things during the appointments that you have.

Writing down a list of questions before your visit will make this much easier and help make sure that you don’t forget anything.

Writing down the answers or other notes during the visit can also help you remember things you might need to know. With this in mind, you might like to think about having a notepad and pen with you.

You should also think about what the doctors might ask you when you’re there so that you can think about taking any relevant information with you.
Questions to ask the doctor about non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma