Your First Chemotherapy Cycle: — What Happens on the Day
The first chemotherapy session is the one most people dread for weeks beforehand. Most of that dread is about the unknown. This page tells you what actually happens, in order, from the moment you arrive.
Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed September 2026
- The sequence is predictable — The same steps happen in the same order at every cycle. Knowing them in advance removes a large part of the uncertainty.
- First sessions take longer — Your team watches you more carefully the first time to see how you respond. Plan for most of the day.
- Side effects come later — You will most likely feel broadly normal while in the unit. Nausea and fatigue usually begin after you get home.
- You are not alone in the unit — Nurses check on you throughout. If anything feels wrong during the infusion, you tell them immediately — that is why you are there, not at home.
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Your first chemotherapy session follows a predictable sequence: check-in, blood tests, a nurse review, an IV line, premedicines to reduce nausea and allergic reactions, then the chemotherapy itself. First sessions often take most of a day. Side effects usually begin in the first day or two after you get home, not in the unit.
How long will you be in the unit?
First sessions are often longer than later cycles. Your team is establishing how you respond, so they watch you more carefully and may adjust the infusion speed. Plan for most of a full day and try not to schedule anything important for the evening.
Side effects most commonly begin after you leave the unit, not while the drip is running. Nausea, fatigue and changes in appetite typically start in the hours or first day after the session.
While the infusion is running, some people notice a mild metallic taste or feel slightly tired. Most feel broadly normal. If anything feels wrong at any point — warmth, itching, breathlessness, or pain at the IV site — tell your nurse immediately.
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What happens during your session, in order?
Arrival and check-in
Staff confirm your name, date of birth, and the treatment planned for today. This identity check happens at every session and is a patient safety step.
Blood test
A blood sample is taken, usually from a vein in your arm. Your oncologist or nurse reviews the result to confirm your blood counts are safe to proceed before the session begins.
Nurse review
Your nurse goes through any symptoms since your last visit, checks your current health, and explains what you will receive. This is the right time to ask any questions.
IV access
A cannula is placed in a vein in your hand or arm. If you have a central line, PICC line or port, it is accessed here instead. Your nurse will explain which applies to you.
Premedicines
Medicines to prevent nausea and, in many regimens, to reduce the chance of an allergic reaction are given before the chemotherapy starts. The chemotherapy does not begin until these are complete.
Chemotherapy infusion
The chemotherapy medicines are given through the IV, one at a time. A nurse checks on you at regular intervals. Tell them immediately if you feel warmth, itching, breathlessness, tightness, or pain at the IV site.
Assessment and discharge
When all medicines are finished, the IV is removed. Staff check briefly that you are safe to go home. You leave with written instructions about what to watch for and who to call.
Did you know?
Before antiemetic medicines were given routinely before chemotherapy, severe nausea was one of the most commonly reported side effects — and one of the most common reasons people found treatment hard to complete. ASCO and MASCC guidelines now specify preventive antiemetics for most regimens. The premedicines given to you before the chemotherapy drip starts are part of that standard of care.
Source: ASCO/MASCC Antiemesis Clinical Practice Guidelines
Explore 82 more How Chemotherapy Is Given: Regimens, Cycles & Infusion Days topics
Your First Cycle
Chemotherapy Regimens by Name
- 7+3 and Induction Regimens for Acute Leukaemia
- ABVD Regimen for Hodgkin Lymphoma
- AC and EC Regimens
- AC-T Regimen for Breast Cancer
- BEP Regimen for Testicular and Germ Cell Cancer
- CAPOX and XELOX Regimens
- CHOP Without Rituximab
- Carboplatin-Paclitaxel Regimen
- Cervical Cancer Chemotherapy and Chemoradiation Regimens
- Chemotherapy Regimens: What the Acronyms Mean
- Cisplatin-Pemetrexed and Platinum-Pemetrexed
- Comparing Two Regimens: How the Choice Is Made
- DCF and FLOT Regimens for Stomach Cancer
- Doxorubicin-Ifosfamide and Sarcoma Regimens
- EP and Carboplatin-Etoposide for Small Cell Lung Cancer
- FEC and CMF Regimens
- FOLFIRI Regimen
- FOLFIRINOX and Modified FOLFIRINOX
- FOLFOX Regimen for Colorectal Cancer
- GemCis and MVAC for Bladder Cancer
- Gemcitabine-Nab-Paclitaxel for Pancreatic Cancer
- R-CHOP Regimen for Lymphoma
- Salvage Lymphoma Regimens: ICE, DHAP and ESHAP
- TC Regimen (Docetaxel and Cyclophosphamide)
- TPF and Cisplatin Regimens for Head and Neck Cancer
- VRd, VCd and Myeloma Regimens
- Weekly Cisplatin With Radiation (Chemoradiation)
- Which Regimen Is Used for Which Cancer?
Cycle Delays, Dose Reductions & Changes
- Does a Delay Mean the Cancer Is Growing?
- Does a Reduced Dose Still Work?
- Growth Factor Support to Keep the Schedule
- How Many Delays Are Too Many?
- Infection Delaying a Cycle
- My Counts Were Too Low and the Cycle Was Postponed
- Organ Function Problems Delaying a Cycle
- Stopping Early: What Happens If You Do Not Complete the Course?
- Transfusion During Chemotherapy
- What If I Cannot Tolerate the Treatment?
- What Is a Dose Reduction and Why Was Mine Reduced?
- What to Ask If Your Plan Changes
- Why Chemotherapy Gets Delayed or Reduced
- Why Was My Regimen Switched?
HUB — Chemotherapy Regimens
HUB — Cycles, Schedules and What Happens on Infusion Day
How Chemotherapy Is Given
- Can Chemotherapy Be Given at Home?
- Can Chemotherapy Be Given at a Local Hospital?
- Continuous Infusion Chemotherapy and Portable Pumps
- Day Care vs Admission for Chemotherapy
- How Is Chemotherapy Given? All the Routes Explained
- How Long Does Each Chemotherapy Session Take?
- Intra-Arterial and Regional Chemotherapy
- Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy
- Intrathecal Chemotherapy: Into the Spinal Fluid
- Intravenous Chemotherapy: What the Drip Involves
- Intravesical Chemotherapy for the Bladder
- Is Oral Chemotherapy Weaker Than Injections?
- Oral Chemotherapy: Tablets Instead of a Drip
- Subcutaneous and Intramuscular Chemotherapy
- Topical Chemotherapy Creams
- What Safety Checks Happen Before Each Dose?
- Who Actually Gives Your Chemotherapy?
- Why Does the Route Sometimes Change During Treatment?
Regimens, Cycles & Schedules
- A Printable Chemotherapy Cycle Calendar
- Adding or Removing Cycles Mid-Course
- Blood Tests Before Every Cycle: What They Check
- Day 1, Day 8, Day 15: What the Day Numbers Mean
- Does Delaying a Cycle Reduce the Benefit?
- How Many Cycles Before the First Assessment?
- How the Dose Is Calculated for You
- Keeping a Chemotherapy Symptom Diary
- Planning Your Life Around Chemotherapy Cycles
- Rescheduling or Missing a Chemotherapy Appointment
- Weekly, Two-Weekly and Three-Weekly Schedules
- What Happens Between Cycles?
- What Happens at the Last Cycle?
- What Is Dose Intensity?
- What Is a Chemotherapy Cycle?
- What Is the Nadir and Why Does It Matter?
- Which Days of the Cycle Will I Feel Worst?
- Why Was My Cycle Postponed?
The Infusion Day
All How Chemotherapy Is Given: Regimens, Cycles & Infusion Days →
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Frequently asked questions
What should I bring to my first chemotherapy session?
Start with the essentials: your ID and any hospital documents, a list of medicines you currently take, and anything your centre asked you to bring. Beyond the paperwork, plan for a few hours of sitting still — a book, phone, or earphones helps. Some people bring a light blanket because units can feel cold. A small snack is usually fine, though ask your nurse whether your specific regimen requires you to eat or avoid eating beforehand.
Can a family member come with me?
Most day-care units allow one person to accompany you, at least for part of the session. Check your centre's policy when you confirm your appointment — space is sometimes limited during busy periods. Many people find it reassuring to have someone with them for the first cycle, even if they come alone for later ones. If your companion is present, the nurse will usually explain the process to them as well.
Will I feel sick during the session itself?
Most people do not feel significantly unwell while the drip is running. The premedicines given at the start are intended to prevent nausea during the session. You might notice a mild metallic taste or feel slightly tired — both are common. Nausea and fatigue most commonly start in the hours after you get home, not in the unit. If anything does feel wrong while you are there, tell your nurse immediately — that is exactly why a nurse is with you throughout.
Should I eat before my chemotherapy session?
For most people and most regimens, a light meal before coming is sensible. Arriving on an empty stomach can make nausea harder to manage. Some regimens have specific instructions about eating or fasting — your nurse or oncologist will mention it at your pre-treatment appointment if yours does. If you have not received any specific advice, a light meal a couple of hours before is generally reasonable, but confirm at your appointment rather than assuming.
What happens if I have a reaction during the session?
Allergic and infusion reactions can occur with some chemotherapy medicines, which is one of the reasons you are observed closely throughout — especially during the first session. If you feel warmth, flushing, itching, tightness in your chest, breathlessness, or a sudden feeling of panic, tell your nurse immediately without waiting to see if it passes. The infusion can be slowed or stopped, and medicines to manage a reaction are available in the unit. Being in a supervised setting is exactly the protection this creates.
Chemotherapy Topics
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