Patient care guide

A practical guide to getting through chemotherapy

What to do before your session, how to manage common side effects at home, and when to call us. Print it, share it with your family, keep it on the fridge.

Call us immediately if you have

Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
Shivering or chills
Bleeding or bruising that won't stop
Breathlessness or chest pain
Vomiting more than 3 times in 24 hours
Severe diarrhoea or unable to drink fluids

Call +880 1540-129969

Before your session

A little preparation the day before makes the treatment day calmer for everyone.

Complete your blood tests (CBC, liver and kidney function) within 48 hours
Sleep well and drink 8–10 glasses of water
Eat a light, home-cooked meal 1–2 hours before
Wear loose clothing with sleeves that roll up easily
Pack: reports file, current medicines, water, a shawl and a light snack
Arrange one adult to accompany you and take you home

On the treatment day

Here is what usually happens in the day care unit.

1
Check-in
Weight, blood pressure and your reports are checked by the nurse.
2
Doctor review
The doctor confirms the dose based on today's reports and how you felt after the last cycle.
3
Pre-medication
Anti-sickness and other medicines are given to prevent reactions.
4
Infusion
The chemotherapy drip runs for 1–4 hours. You can rest, read or talk with family.
5
Going home
You receive written instructions and the medicines to take at home.

Managing side effects at home

Most side effects are temporary and manageable. Note them down daily — it helps the doctor adjust your treatment.

Side effect	What helps	Call us if
Nausea	Small frequent meals, dry crackers, ginger tea, take anti-sickness medicine on time	Vomiting more than 3 times a day
Tiredness	Short rests, gentle walks, accept help with chores	You can't get out of bed or feel faint
Mouth sores	Soft food, rinse with salt water or prescribed mouthwash, soft toothbrush	You can't eat or drink
Diarrhoea	ORS, rice water, bananas; avoid oily and spicy food	More than 4–6 times a day or with fever
Low blood counts	Wash hands often, avoid crowds and people with colds, eat well-cooked food	Any fever or bleeding
Hair loss	Gentle shampoo, soft scarf or cap; it usually grows back after treatment	—

Nausea
What helps
Small frequent meals, dry crackers, ginger tea, take anti-sickness medicine on time
Call us if
Vomiting more than 3 times a day
Side effect
Tiredness
What helps
Short rests, gentle walks, accept help with chores
Call us if
You can't get out of bed or feel faint
Side effect
Mouth sores
What helps
Soft food, rinse with salt water or prescribed mouthwash, soft toothbrush
Call us if
You can't eat or drink
Side effect
Diarrhoea
What helps
ORS, rice water, bananas; avoid oily and spicy food
Call us if
More than 4–6 times a day or with fever
Side effect
Low blood counts
What helps
Wash hands often, avoid crowds and people with colds, eat well-cooked food
Call us if
Any fever or bleeding
Side effect
Hair loss
What helps
Gentle shampoo, soft scarf or cap; it usually grows back after treatment
Call us if
—
Side effect

Nutrition for recovery

You don't need special foods — you need enough protein, enough fluid and food that is safely cooked.

Protein at every meal: Egg, dal, fish, chicken, milk or doi help your body repair.
Small and often: 5–6 small meals are easier than 3 large ones when appetite is low.
Soft when sore: Khichuri, suji, mashed potato and soups are gentle on a sore mouth.
Safe food: Avoid raw salads, street food and unboiled water while counts are low.
Fluids: Water, ORS, coconut water and thin soups — aim for 2–3 litres a day.

After treatment

Recovery continues after the last cycle. Follow-up visits help us catch problems early.

Keep every follow-up appointment, even if you feel well
Return to light activity gradually; walking is the best start
Report any new lump, pain or weight loss without waiting for your next visit
Ask about emotional support — recovery is also about how you feel

This guide is general information. Your own treatment plan may be different — always follow the instructions your oncologist gives you.

Have a question about your treatment?

Registered patients can call or WhatsApp us at any time.

Book a follow-up +880 1540-129969

Before your session

A little preparation the day before makes the treatment day calmer for everyone.

Complete your blood tests (CBC, liver and kidney function) within 48 hours

Sleep well and drink 8–10 glasses of water

Eat a light, home-cooked meal 1–2 hours before

Wear loose clothing with sleeves that roll up easily

Pack: reports file, current medicines, water, a shawl and a light snack

Arrange one adult to accompany you and take you home

On the treatment day

Here is what usually happens in the day care unit.

Check-in

Weight, blood pressure and your reports are checked by the nurse.

Doctor review

The doctor confirms the dose based on today's reports and how you felt after the last cycle.

Pre-medication

Anti-sickness and other medicines are given to prevent reactions.

Infusion

The chemotherapy drip runs for 1–4 hours. You can rest, read or talk with family.

Going home

You receive written instructions and the medicines to take at home.

Managing side effects at home

Most side effects are temporary and manageable. Note them down daily — it helps the doctor adjust your treatment.

Side effect	What helps	Call us if
Nausea	Small frequent meals, dry crackers, ginger tea, take anti-sickness medicine on time	Vomiting more than 3 times a day
Tiredness	Short rests, gentle walks, accept help with chores	You can't get out of bed or feel faint
Mouth sores	Soft food, rinse with salt water or prescribed mouthwash, soft toothbrush	You can't eat or drink
Diarrhoea	ORS, rice water, bananas; avoid oily and spicy food	More than 4–6 times a day or with fever
Low blood counts	Wash hands often, avoid crowds and people with colds, eat well-cooked food	Any fever or bleeding
Hair loss	Gentle shampoo, soft scarf or cap; it usually grows back after treatment	—

Nausea

What helps

Small frequent meals, dry crackers, ginger tea, take anti-sickness medicine on time

Call us if

Vomiting more than 3 times a day

Tiredness

What helps

Short rests, gentle walks, accept help with chores

Call us if

You can't get out of bed or feel faint

Mouth sores

What helps

Soft food, rinse with salt water or prescribed mouthwash, soft toothbrush

Call us if

You can't eat or drink

Diarrhoea

What helps

ORS, rice water, bananas; avoid oily and spicy food

Call us if

More than 4–6 times a day or with fever

Low blood counts

What helps

Wash hands often, avoid crowds and people with colds, eat well-cooked food

Call us if

Any fever or bleeding

Hair loss

What helps

Gentle shampoo, soft scarf or cap; it usually grows back after treatment

Call us if

—

Nutrition for recovery

You don't need special foods — you need enough protein, enough fluid and food that is safely cooked.

Protein at every meal: Egg, dal, fish, chicken, milk or doi help your body repair.
Small and often: 5–6 small meals are easier than 3 large ones when appetite is low.
Soft when sore: Khichuri, suji, mashed potato and soups are gentle on a sore mouth.
Safe food: Avoid raw salads, street food and unboiled water while counts are low.
Fluids: Water, ORS, coconut water and thin soups — aim for 2–3 litres a day.

After treatment

Recovery continues after the last cycle. Follow-up visits help us catch problems early.

Keep every follow-up appointment, even if you feel well

Return to light activity gradually; walking is the best start

Report any new lump, pain or weight loss without waiting for your next visit

Ask about emotional support — recovery is also about how you feel