No one forgets their first chemo infusion.
The sounds of beeping pumps, the weight of the recliner, the cold snap of the alcohol swab on your skin. It can feel like stepping into a different life in a single day.
You may know the date and time on your calendar, but your heart still asks, “How am I supposed to walk into that room?” This is where quiet courage begins, in the small, shaky choice to show up.
What follows is the checklist I wish I had, not just for bags and paperwork, but for my mind, my body, and my spirit as Cancer walked into my story.
Facing Your First Chemo Infusion With Honest Expectations
Fear grows in the dark. The more you understand the day, the smaller fear becomes.
On your first visit, the team usually checks your weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and recent blood work. A nurse reviews your medications and allergies, then explains each step. If you like more detail, you can read the American Cancer Society’s guide on what to expect on your first day of chemo.
You might receive chemo through a vein in your arm or through a port in your chest. The needle stick often feels brief. You should not feel the medicine itself moving through you, though your body may react later with fatigue, nausea, or other side effects that your team will address.
The room may surprise you. Some people chat. Some sleep. Some cry. All of them carry their own kind of strength, even if they look fragile. You belong there too, not as a victim, but as a person doing something fiercely hard for the chance to heal.
Before You Go: A Practical Patient Checklist
A little planning turns a terrifying day into something you can hold in your hands. Think of this as your “before” checklist.
Body prep
- Drink water the day before and that morning, unless your doctor limits fluids. Hydration helps your veins and your energy.
- Eat a light meal before you go. An empty stomach can make nausea worse, but a heavy meal can feel rough too.
- Ask your team which medicines you should take or skip that morning, including vitamins and supplements.
Logistics
- Arrange a ride, especially for your first chemo infusion. Many people feel tired, woozy, or emotional afterward.
- Pack your insurance card, ID, and a written list of your medications and allergies.
- Bring a list of questions. In the chair, your mind often goes blank.
Comfort bag
You do not need a giant suitcase. A simple tote or backpack works well:
- Warm socks and a soft sweater or hoodie
- Lip balm and hand cream
- Snacks that sit well, like crackers, nuts, or ginger candies
- Water bottle
- Headphones, a book, or a simple craft
Cancer centers often share extra ideas. Michigan Medicine offers helpful tips for your first infusion treatment from nurses and survivors.
When you zip your bag, notice what you just did. You did not run from this day. You got ready for it. That is resilience, even if you do not feel brave yet.
During Infusion: Comfort, Control, And Small Acts Of Strength
Once you sit in the chair, time slows down. This part often feels the most unreal.
Your nurse usually gives you “pre-meds” first, like nausea medicine, steroids, or allergy medicine. These drugs help your body handle the chemo. The nurse starts the infusion, sets the pump, and checks on you often.
During this time, your job becomes simple: speak up.
- Tell your nurse if you feel pain, burning, shortness of breath, or sudden chills.
- Ask what each drug does, if that helps you feel safer.
- Request a blanket, a snack, or a bathroom break without apology.
For a step-by-step overview from oncology nurses, OncoLink has a clear guide on preparing for your first day of infusion.
You may cry. You may joke. You may sit in silence and stare at the ceiling tiles. All of these responses carry strength. Strength does not always look like a smile. Sometimes it looks like staying in the chair when every cell wants to run.
After The Chair: Caring For Your Body And Mind
Leaving the infusion center does not mean the hard part ends. A different kind of work begins at home.
Side effects often build over hours or days. Follow the instructions your team gives you about anti-nausea pills, steroids, pain medicine, and mouth care. Set alarms on your phone so you stay on track.
A few simple habits help many people:
- Keep drinking water or clear fluids, in small sips if needed.
- Eat gentle foods when your stomach complains, like toast, rice, bananas, or soup.
- Rest when your body asks. Fatigue from chemo can feel heavy and strange.
Keep a small notebook or notes app where you record symptoms, times, and triggers. Bring this to your next visit. That record gives your team a clearer picture, and you gain a sense of control over a wild process.
If you want more practical ideas about side effects and preparation, Living Beyond Breast Cancer offers a short guide to preparing for chemotherapy that many people with different cancers still find helpful.
Just as important, watch your emotional weather. Sadness, anger, fear, and guilt often move in like fast storms. Talking with a counselor, chaplain, trusted friend, or support group does not mean you failed. It means you chose connection over isolation, which is its own quiet act of courage.
A Simple Courage-Focused Checklist You Can Print Or Save
Facts matter, but your heart needs its own checklist too. Here is one you can keep on your phone or bedside table.
- Name the truth. Say to yourself, “I am receiving chemo for Cancer. I did not choose this, but I choose to show up.”
- Pick one anchor. A prayer, a word, a song lyric, a photo. Carry it with you into the infusion room.
- Decide how you will ask for help. A ride, meals, childcare, or someone to sit beside you. Help is not pity, it is shared humanity.
- Choose one small comfort. A favorite sweater, a soft blanket, a mug you love. Let your senses feel cared for.
- Set a tiny goal for the day. Read three pages. Send one text. Take a short walk to the mailbox.
- End the day with kindness toward yourself. Thank your body for what it endured, even if it feels sick and shaky.
You do not have to feel brave to act bravely. Every checked box whispers, “I stayed. I tried. I am still here.”
Conclusion: You Carry More Courage Than You Feel
When you picture your first chemo infusion, fear probably stands in the center of the frame. Look again. Behind the fear sits courage, quiet but present, every time you sign a form, drink another glass of water, or ask a hard question.
This day will not define all of you, but it will reveal a part of you that Cancer cannot own: your stubborn will to keep going. Let your checklist hold what your heart cannot carry alone.
As you prepare, ask yourself one simple question: “What would it look like to treat myself gently today?” Then take one small step toward that answer. Your body fights on a cellular level. Your spirit can answer with tenderness, strength, and steady resilience.
