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Chemo Wrap-Up

April 2015 Vol 1 No 2
Gail Mahar, RN, MSN, OCN, APRN-BC
Oncology Nurse Practitioner,
Covenant Health,
Knoxville, TN

Before you start chemo, there’re some things you should know
So, I’ll start at the top and go to the toe.
Cognitive dysfunction, that means memory lapse
Do your crossword puzzles and your brain-training apps.

Next is Alopecia, that’s a loss of your hair
Not just on your head, but everywhere!
A man can lose his mustache and even his beard
And places down below your belt might look kinda weird!

Your eyes might water and your nose might run
And the sores in your mouth are not much fun.
The mouth is mucositis, it can give you a fit,
Use Magic Mouthwash, swish, swallow or spit.

We know that your stomach can also be affected
Use your Nausea meds, and Take as Directed.
Bowel elimination can be a problem for you
Pay attention to your diet and water intake too.

If Constipation happens, and we all know it can
Or it could be Diarrhea that attention demands
Your nurses can help you if your needs be known
Don’t try to solve your problems all on your own.

Peripheral Neuropathy can be such a stinker
Numbness and tingling in your Toes and Fingers
It can be long-lasting, it can come and go
Notify your doctor so that he/she will know.

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