Hi, Barbara. I was diagnosed with primary peritoneal carcinoma in March 2024. It’s a sister to ovarian cancer and is treated the same way. Take things one day at a time and you will be fine. Right now your job is to get through the chemo in the best way possible. If you are lucky, that will put you into remission for some time. My best advice is as follows. 1. Ice, ice, ice during chemo, as others have suggested. There are many who have discussed this issue regarding many of the gynecological cancers, so you can find guidance there. As they indicated, it will help you to avoid neuropathy, which can be limiting and painful. I used Sussi gloves and booties (several pairs), which I got off Amazon. They have inserts you can freeze. I would put them in their covers and into a cooler, which I brought to chemo. Each lasted 30 to 45 minutes. Some places allow you to use their inserts, but I found it easier to bring my own already assembled. I was diligent with icing and have virtually no neuropathy. Also buy some thin cotton glove and socks (I got the gloves on Amazon and the socks at Publix). When the gloves and booties come out of the freezer, they are almost too cold to put against your skin and that little layer of protection helps. You can take them off as your ice warms. 2. Eat a high quality, plant-based diet with lots of fruit. Everyone reacts differently, but I found that the better I ate, the less nausea I had. Fruits and vegetables just made me feel better. Moreover, the fruit helped with constipation/consistency. If you eat lots of watermelon, pears, canned peaches, and mixed fruits of all kind, you will probably have no need for laxatives. 3). Exercise if you are able. It is good for body and mind. 4) Figure out what to do with your hair, as hair loss can be sudden. I did not want to ice and never found a wig I was willing to wear. Instead, I bought some bandanas with elastic in the back off of ebay, which I could slip on without tying. They were kind of cute and came in a variety of colors. I never shaved off my hair, as I heard that could itch, but I cut it very short as it thinned. One day it was time for the bandana. It was really the least of my worries.
In the end, I lived a fairly normal life during chemo and I had seven rounds before cyto-reductive surgery and then three after. I went to the grocery, saw friends, and did not mask, as my numbers remained fairly high, but I kept my distance from others, especially when inside. You will have to do what feels right for you, but you may be able to live a fairly normal life during chemo. Good luck and all the best. We are rooting for you!