Chemo, Radiation, and HURRICANES?!? Oh My!!

Recently I've had the pleasure of going through yet another hurricane in my lifetime. I was raised mainly in Florida, so hurricanes are a normal occurrence. But since moving to Texas I found the aftermath has been more unusual.

Recently we went through Hurricane Beryl and lost electricity for about 8 days. I don't know about you but being without air conditioning (AC) in Texas in the middle of summer for over a week was horrible. Even as a now mostly healthy person, I found myself getting sick after eating anything at a restaurant that happened to be open and coming home and sitting in the heat. I can't imagine doing that and having cancer at the same time.

Hurricanes must be awful when in treatment

As a lot of us know here on blood-cancer.com, when you go through treatment for blood cancer, you usually don't feel great. Some people, thankfully, don't get a lot of side effects. But a lot of us have or do. Nausea, insomnia, irritability, emotional mood swings, etc.

I was driving home today thinking about this past hurricane and thinking about how awful it must have been for people who are going through treatment or who are sick right now. So I thought about what maybe we could do as survivors, patients, and caregivers to prepare for a natural disaster for someone who is sick with cancer.

Keeping cool

Battery operated fans were a huge help when our AC wasn't working. Having extra batteries is a good idea as well. I believe you can also get a portable AC unit if you have access to a generator. Having a cooler or two is great to keep food or ice packs cold if you have access to ice.

Keeping warm 

Sometimes a natural disaster can hit during the winter. It's important to keep your internal body temperature up so you don't freeze. Extra blankets are always good. There are also hand warmers that activate when you crack them in your hands. Some can be used over and over again and don't require batteries or electricity to work. I believe Amazon carries some.

Help with side effects

Having extra over-the-counter (OTC) medicine ready to go isn't a bad idea. You would buy this before hand and store it somewhere to only be used for emergencies. Dreamine helped me a lot with the nausea I experienced from being overheated. Ibuprofen as well for headaches or body aches. (Always talk to your doctor before starting new medications!)

Sometimes when I don't feel good, using disposable plates and utensils can help a lot. That way I don't have to do a lot of clean up. I would recommend paper plates and plastic utensils. The dollar store has a great selection for cheap. Straws can be helpful too if you have a hard time drinking water. It's important to stay hydrated.

Maybe also having a special item that you're familiar with to hold close to you. A loved ones shirt or stuffed animal. I like wearing my fiance's shirts when I'm not feeling good. They just feel better.

I hope these give you some ideas for the next time mother nature rolls through.

Warm wishes, Katelynn