A Chemotherapy Fashion Show (Chemo Survival Guide Part 6)
Chemotherapy can be uncomfortable enough already, so anything that aids in making the experience more comfortable is a big plus. As a new chemotherapy patient soon finds out, dressing correctly for chemotherapy is an important part of getting ready for treatment. Sure, some patients dress how they do in their everyday lives, but I noticed after a few months of my own chemotherapy treatments that individual patients developed their own set of chemotherapy dress code. Some patients even looked like they never even changed (and maybe they didn’t!).
There are many things that go on in chemo, but here are a few to consider when getting dressed… Cancer treatment centers tend to be cold, so warm clothing becomes a little bit important. Your nurse needs easy access to chemo-ports (portacath or medports). For those of you who will be getting large amounts of fluids and spending quite a bit of the day in treatment, anything that helps the process of going to the restroom should be considered. Also, consider what clothes make it easier for you to sleep on. Let’s look at individual pieces of clothing and how they can help:
1) Head gear… in chemo?: Most chemo patients wear hats or wigs to hide the loss of hair, but you should also consider wearing something like a beanie on your head to keep your head a bit warmer. As with anything cold room related, this becomes especially more important for patients who will be spending almost the entire day in therapy. It doesn’t matter if it is 90°F in some Sahara Desert chemo center, if you’re going to be cold during therapy, wear the beanie. I’ve also seen chemo patients wearing cold-weather gloves in the middle of a Caribbean summer.
2) Solar shields (a.k.a. Old-people’s Sunglasses): Whether you call them solar shields or old people’s sunglasses, a pair of these will not only help you in treatment, but also getting there. Some chemotherapy patients (such as me) develop extreme sensitivity to light and these glasses do an awesome job of protecting you from the sun or strong light sources. They also do an awesome job of making you look ridiculous, but… hey… you’re allowed stuff like that when you have serious illnesses. You can get these in various designs at places like Wal-Mart or Walgreens for dirt cheap. You can also order them online in various colors and styles from online retailers such as Amazon.com. You can see Amazon’s lowest cost ones (at press time) by going to their website HERE (Please note that Helpoon.com is an Amazon affiliate).
3) Comfortable, warm, and Button-down: Your shirt is probably one of the most important items to consider when getting dressed for chemo. Do you have a chemo-port, medport, portacath, or otherwise similar device implanted? If you don’t have any implants, shirt selection just goes down to being comfortable and warm, but if you do have implants (and I’m talking about implanted medical devices here lady, not those other ones you got to keep the husband happy) you may want to consider your implant when picking a shirt. If you are carrying a temporary port in your arm, consider using a short-sleeved shirt so that it does not interfere with the port. For those of you whose ports are in your chest, a button-down shirt will ensure easy access for treatment (you can do long-sleeves in this case). Wear something that you’re comfortable with and that will keep you warm. Some chemo patients report being bothered by anything that reminds them of chemo years after they finish treatment, so don’t use a favorite shirt as it may be not-so-favorite afterwards (you may find your favorite shirt comforting however). Consider going to Kmart, Target, or Wal-Mart, getting a bunch of cheap shirts, and getting rid of them down the road when your cancer ordeal is over.
4) Loose fitting or easy to put on and off: For pants, the primary consideration is comfort. Wear something loose and comfortable. Again, consider warmth. A considerable amount of chemo patients opt for sweat pants, but a slightly loose-fit pair of jeans worked for me. For those of you that are going to be making frequent peeing trips, you may want to consider not wearing a belt or removing it during your chemo session. This makes going to the bathroom an easy process… you’d be surprised how chemo brain can make something as easy as taking a belt off a bit more difficult. Some patients also get increased sensitivity in their finger-tips, which can make doing anything harder. A nurse may also need to access your behind for an injection, so make sure you aren’t wearing pants that are next to impossible to remove and put back-on.
5) Sock it to warmth: Again, consider warmth when wearing socks. Wear something warm and comfortable.
6) Shoes… easy on and easy off: Wearing slip on shoes with no shoelaces or buckles is something that will definitely improve your chemo experience. In most chemotherapy rooms you will have either a bed or a lazy-boy style chair to sit on. Either way, you’re going to want your shoes coming off. Maybe you need to go to the restroom, so the shoes need to go on and then back off. For those of you spending six or seven hours in chemo, that means quite a few times of taking shoes on and off. You may be nauseous or dizzy from chemo, so shoes that can come on and off easy are important, especially if you don’t have to bend over to put them on.
So there you have it, the latest in chemotherapy fashions. Tell a little kid to pick their own clothing and you’ll get some interesting and VERY colorful results. Chemotherapy gives you a chance to dress like a little kid picked your clothing. It is OK if you look a bit ridiculous; nobody is going to say anything (at least to your face). I saw every possible combination of things at my cancer treatment center, including people showing up in their pajamas. If you do need to look fashionable or if you’re in some Beverly Hills clinic, I’m sure you’ll find something that works and is comfortable.
The previous post in the Chemotherapy Survival Guide Series:
