Medical Oncologist
Caretaker guide
What to carry to chemotherapy
The reports file, a list of every medicine, all current tablets, identity and insurance papers, water, plain food, a shawl, a phone charger, something to pass the time, and your questions on paper. Treatment days are often longer than expected, and the one document you did not bring is the one somebody asks for.
NG
Medically reviewed by Dr. Naresh GunduConsultant Medical Oncologist · MBBS, DNB (Internal Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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The short answer
What should you carry to a chemotherapy appointment?
The reports file, a list of every medicine being taken, all current tablets, identity and insurance documents, water, plain food, a shawl, a phone charger, something to pass the time, and your questions written on paper. Treatment days are frequently longer than expected, units are cold, and the one document you did not bring is the one somebody asks for.
Most of the stress of a treatment day comes from things that were left at home rather than from the treatment itself. Packing the bag the evening before, and keeping the documents in one file that never leaves it, removes most of that.
The reports file comes every time
Previous scans, biopsy reports, the treatment plan, the last blood results and any discharge summaries, in date order. Nobody should have to go home for a missing report.
Bring the medicines, not just the list
Including tonics, herbal preparations and anything bought over the counter. Staff need to see exactly what is being taken, and several products interact with treatment.
Plan for a long day
Blood results, pharmacy preparation and the infusion itself can add up to most of a day. Food, water, a charger and something to do make the difference between tolerable and miserable.
Ask your unit whether food is permitted during the infusion and whether one person may stay with you.Documents
The paperwork to have in the file
- Identity and address proof
- Aadhaar or equivalent, and copies. Needed at registration, for insurance and for scheme paperwork, and frequently asked for at the least convenient moment.
- Insurance or scheme documents
- The policy card, the pre-authorisation letter, any scheme approval and the reference numbers. Kept together with photocopies, since the insurance desk will usually want to keep a copy.
- Diagnosis and scan reports
- Biopsy reports, scan reports and images if you have them, in date order with the most recent at the front. Include anything done at another hospital.
- The treatment plan
- The written plan with drug names, cycle numbers and dates. Useful for you, for the pharmacy, and for any other hospital you might need to attend.
- The latest blood results
- Especially if the test was done at a laboratory near home. Carry the printed result in case it has not reached the unit.
- Discharge summaries and previous prescriptions
- From any admission during the course, including for an infection or a transfusion. These change what the team decides about the next cycle.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistPractical
Everything else worth packing
Packed the evening before, left by the door.
Medicines and the medicine list
Every current tablet in its original packaging, plus a written list with names and how each is taken. Include tonics, supplements and anything herbal or ayurvedic.
Also bring
- Anti-sickness tablets for the journey home
- Anything for diabetes or blood pressure
Food and water
Plain, freshly prepared food and a bottle of water, even if the hospital has a canteen. Many patients cannot face the canteen on treatment day, and queues cost time.
Warm, loose clothing
A shawl or a sweater, because day units are air-conditioned and infusions can make people feel cold. Loose sleeves, or an open neckline if there is a port, so access is easy.
Avoid
- Tight sleeves over the cannula arm
- Jewellery on the treatment arm
Something to pass the time
Phone and charger, headphones, a book, prayer beads, a newspaper. Treatment days are long and waiting is the largest part of them.
Your questions and a notebook
Questions written before you leave home, and a notebook for the answers. The attendant's job is to write down what is said, especially the instructions for home.
Tick before leaving
The door checklist
- Reports file, in date order
- Identity, insurance and scheme papers with copies
- All current medicines and the written list
- Water and plain food
- Shawl or sweater, loose sleeves
- Phone, charger and headphones
- Questions on paper and a notebook
- Money for pharmacy, transport and food
Being straight with you
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you your unit's rules. Whether food is allowed during the infusion, whether an attendant may stay, whether phones may be used, and what the hospital supplies all differ between centres. Ask on your first visit and note the answers.
It also cannot tell you which documents your insurer or scheme will ask for, because those requirements differ. The insurance desk will give you a list if you ask for one at the first visit, and it is worth asking.
Do not bring valuables you do not need
Jewellery, large amounts of cash and anything irreplaceable are needless worries in a crowded day unit. Bring enough money for the pharmacy, food and transport and leave the rest at home.
Keep the file in one bag, always
Files get left in autos, on pharmacy counters and in relatives' houses. One bag that the reports never leave, and photographs of the key documents on two phones, prevent almost all of that.
Crowded waiting areas matter on low counts
Bring a mask and hand sanitiser, and wait somewhere less crowded if the unit allows. The patient's counts may be low even on a treatment day.
Pack a small comfort kit
Lip balm, tissues, a small towel, mints or plain biscuits for nausea, and a spare mask. None of it is essential, and all of it makes a long day in a cold unit noticeably easier to sit through.
What to do next
Put all the reports into one file in date order, and photograph the key documents onto two phones. Write the medicine list. Pack the bag the evening before each appointment with the door checklist above, and ask your unit about food and attendants on your first visit.
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Commonly believed
Four packing mistakes
"The hospital has all our reports already."
Reports from other hospitals, recent local blood tests and discharge summaries often have not reached the unit. Bring the file every time; it is far quicker than a missing report.
"The medicine list is enough; we do not need the tablets."
Staff frequently need to see the actual packets, especially for tonics, herbal preparations and brands with unfamiliar names. Bring both the list and the medicines themselves.
"It is only a few hours; we will not need food."
Blood results, pharmacy preparation and the infusion commonly add up to most of a day. Pack plain food and water even if the appointment time suggests otherwise.
"Herbal tonics do not count as medicines."
They count, and several interact with chemotherapy or affect the liver and kidneys. Bring them and put them on the list, whatever the family thinks of them.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about treatment day
How long will I be at the hospital?
It varies by regimen, so ask your team for your own answer. Plan for longer than the infusion itself, because blood results and pharmacy preparation usually add time.
Can I eat during chemotherapy?
Usually yes, unless your team has said otherwise. Bring plain, freshly prepared food and water. Ask your unit on the first visit whether food is permitted in the treatment area.
Can somebody stay with me?
Often one person, depending on the unit. Ask on your first visit. Choose somebody who will take notes and stay calm rather than filling the room with worry.
Should I bring all my tablets?
Yes, in their original packaging, plus a written list. Include tonics, supplements and anything herbal or ayurvedic, since several interact with treatment.
What should I wear?
Loose, warm clothing with sleeves that roll up easily, and an open neckline if you have a port. Bring a shawl, since day units are cold and infusions can make you feel chilly.
Which documents does the insurance desk need?
Ask them for a list on your first visit, since requirements differ between insurers and schemes. Bring the policy card, any pre-authorisation letter and photocopies every time.
Should I wear a mask in the waiting area?
It is sensible, particularly if counts are low. Bring hand sanitiser too, and wait somewhere less crowded if the unit allows it.
What if I forget something important?
Photographs of the key documents on two phones cover most emergencies. Keep a door checklist and pack the evening before, so nothing depends on memory at six in the morning.
Meet the Specialists
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Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
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Sources
- National Cancer Institute — Chemotherapy and You: Support for People With Cancer
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Looking after someone with cancer
- Cancer Research UK — Caring for someone with cancer
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