Chemo and radiation can cause a flurry of annoying and distressing side effects. From metallic tastes in your mouth to itchy radiation reactions, we know what it’s like to have to deal with these uncomfortable sensations. We put together our list of Jadey’s favorite gets-the-job-done, practical products–helpful, relaxing, and soothing–to help manage these symptoms.
Whether you're treating yourself or a loved one, these are some tried-and-true picks that will hopefully make those unpleasant side effects less noticeable.
1. Tangy and Refreshing Lemon Drops, Gums, Mints, and Electrolytes to Keep Metallic Tastes and Nausea at Bay
It’s the rare instance that you’ll hear a doctor actually recommend candy, and cancer is one of them. Sucking on hard candies with appealing flavors like lemon or mint can actually help produce more saliva and readjust your taste from chemo’s signature metallic tinge. And sour tastes are also good for nausea.
Some of our favorite options include the classically sour Lemonheads. And physician-founded company (un)cancer provides many cancer-friendly oral care products, including their fruit-flavored dry mouth candies.
For a more refreshing option, Grace, who had colon cancer, says her go-to tastebud neutralizer during chemo was Pedialyte, saying it simply “just really tasted good.” It’s also refreshingly hydrating, full of electrolytes, and recommended by doctors.
2. Acupressure Wristbands to Mitigate Nausea Symptoms
To keep nausea at bay, some doctors recommend using a trick commonly advised for sea sickness. Dr. Annie Su, a medical oncologist in Houston, recommends anti-nausea wristbands. These are typically used for sea sickness, but they may also help with nausea as a result of your chemo. The bands, which have plastic buttons on them, are designed to press on an acupressure point on your wrists associated with feelings of nausea and vomiting.
3. A Mouth Rinse to Refresh and Alleviate Mouth Sores
Mouth sores can be irritating, and sometimes are so painful that they affect your eating habits–and dry mouth can make them even more unbearable. These typically occur because cancer treatments cause damage to the cells in your mouth. To help prevent mouth sores, or to ease the pain when they appear, experts recommend rinsing throughout the day (and especially after eating) with non-alcoholic mouthwashes to soothe and keep the area clean without dehydrating it.
Biotene is a favorite for a reason; it’s an artificial saliva mouthwash that helps restore your oral microenvironment and leaves you feeling sufficiently refreshed (and salivated, sorry) after your meals.
Another one of our favorites is CloSYS mouth rinse, which is like a refreshing water with mint, and not so much like intense mouthwash (they also have an unflavored option). And for the ultimate no-frills option, baking soda and water will also do the trick. A recipe we like: one quart (four cups) of water mixed with one teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of baking soda, rinse with this three times a day. The taste can be unbearable for some, but if you like a baking soda toothpaste, you might not mind it.
4. Tried-and-True, We’re Ever Loyal to: Aquaphor
Aquaphor moisturizers are a consistent recommendation from experts and people with cancer alike. They’re also helpful for all sorts of skin irritations from treatment and for calming skin reactions from radiation treatment. Dr. Jonathan Leventhal, the Director of the Onco-Dermatology Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale, recommends looking for “things that are more bland in their base vehicle…things like Vaseline or Aquaphor are very, very moisturizing.”
5. Calming Soaking Powders, Cleansers, and Lotions to Alleviate Radiation Skin Reactions
Dr. Laila Gharzai, a radiologist at Northwestern Medicine, says that healthy skin is especially important for avoiding and treating radiation skin reactions. “The biggest thing for patients is to keep their skin well hydrated–we tell patients lotion twice a day starting when radiation starts–and to not put anything on the skin that would irritate it.”
Dr. Gharzai recommends astringent soaks like this powder from Domeboro, gentle cleansers, and emollient lotions to calm the skin like this one from Cetaphil (as well as Aquaphor). Paula Ruska, who had throat cancer, says the Domeboro powder was a true help in soothing discomfort from radiation sensitivities and itches. When she started getting a burning feeling in her neck, she added the powder to lukewarm water, soaked a cloth in it, and wrapped it around her neck. “It really took care of that rather quickly and efficiently,” Paula says.
6. Copper Recovery Sleeves to Keep That Lymphatic Fluid Flowing
Lymphedema is a common side effect from certain cancer treatments, causing uncomfortable swelling from a build up of lymphatic fluid in your body. Physical therapist and oncology rehabilitation expert Lisa Massa says she typically recommends medical-grade compression garments, and many of her patients have also found relief using copper recovery sleeves, which are woven at a lighter compression.
“Some of my patients tell me that recovery sleeves support them and they don’t need anything tighter, and if it’s working, whatever works. I’m happy for them to do that,” she says. There are several copper compression recovery sleeves available online, like this one for your arm and these colorful socks for your feet and calves.
7. A Glass Water Bottle
Some people will have an aversion to the taste of metal; some people will have an aversion to the taste of everything and so the metal doesn’t even matter. It might be time to switch to a glass bottle. The thing about glass is it’s pretty heavy, so we recommend going small and refilling on the go. We like these eight ounce bkr bottles; but also frequently reuse kombucha bottles, which are (1) free, (2) easy to ditch, recycle, and replace if you suddenly don’t feel like carrying 1 pound of glass with you halfway through your day.
8. Resistance Bands to Relieve Tightness
Paula says that getting active and moving her body again after treatment was instrumental in alleviating side effects. “Exercise is the biggest thing to changing your outlook, your personality, getting out of that depression, getting rid of that fatigue,” she says. She recommends resistance bands as a way to get your body moving again with some light resistance exercises and stretching to manage fatigue. (Always talk to your doctor before starting any new exercises to make sure you don’t overexert or injure yourself.)
9. Light Weights to Help Retone Your Muscles
In addition to resistance bands, light weights are another option to regain strength. Weighted bracelets are a seamless way to add some light strength training to walks or errands. We love Bala Bangles and their sleek look (their velcro grip lasts for ages), but there are plenty of good dupes on Amazon.
10. A Nifty Crossbody to Stay Hydrated On The Move
It’s so important to drink as much water as you can right now; and that can mean lugging that water bottle around. A Jadey editor favorite, this cute and sleek crossbody from Lululemon is your ideal partner for your walks. In addition to a water bottle pouch, the bag includes a zipper pocket to fit any other essentials like keys, pill cases, phone, or ear buds.
