Support
Fall 2003, Issue 001

So, your doctor told you that you have to start chemotherapy. You’ve heard the rumors about losing your hair, losing your appetite, and losing your lunch, and so you may be wondering what chemo will mean for you. If this is how you are feeling, then you may want to consider attending a session of “Chemotherapy…What You Should Know,” a workshop offered by the Cancer Center’s HOPES Program.

Oncology pharmacists and nurses lead this workshop, in which patients and families learn about the basics of chemotherapy, get tips for dealing with some of its side effects, and hear answers to many common questions about chemo, such as “How does chemo work?” and “Why have chemo?” The workshop leaders go over every aspect of chemo treatment, including how to get ready for chemo, why blood needs to be drawn prior to chemo, and ways to help your body stay strong while undergoing chemotherapy. Stefanie Perguidi, an oncology nurse, believes that patients who attend the workshop do better than those who don’t: “The chemo workshop takes some of the anxiety away from the first treatment so that patients who go to the workshop sleep a little better the night before, know they can eat before they come, and know they should be drinking lots of water. They’re more relaxed when they’re getting chemo and so they can take in the specifics of their treatment. I understand that it can be hard to make it to a workshop but I think it’s worth the time, and people can try to schedule a doctor’s appointment around the time of a workshop to fit more into a day.”

The workshop setting is informal and comfortable. The small size of the group means that patients and families can have all of their questions and concerns addressed by knowledgeable staff.