Cancer drug treatments

Before starting treatment, it is a good idea to think about your work or study commitments, such as college or university. Talk to your cancer team about how much time off you might need so you can make arrangements during treatment.

Some treatments can make you tired, so you may need help with everyday tasks. Although you may find it hard to ask, family and friends often want to help. If you live alone or are caring for someone else, you can ask to talk to the hospital social worker about getting help.

If you have children, you may need help with taking them to and collecting them from school or clubs. Family and friends usually want to help, so accept their offers to help or ask for any support you need. It is also useful to know who you can contact at short notice to look after your children. We have more information about childcare when you have cancer.

Some cancer drugs affect fertility – this is the ability to get pregnant or make someone pregnant. If this is a concern for you, it is very important to talk to your cancer doctor before treatment starts. Sometimes your fertility can be preserved by storing sperm or eggs before treatment begins.

It is important not to get pregnant or make someone pregnant while having cancer drug treatment and for some time afterwards. The drugs may harm a developing baby. It is important to use contraception to prevent pregnancy. Talk to your cancer team or GP about:

• what types of contraception to use
• how long after treatment you should continue to use contraception.

If you are pregnant and have been diagnosed with cancer, you may still be able to have some SACT drugs. But this depends on:

• the stage of the cancer
• how far along you were in your pregnancy when the cancer was diagnosed.

We have more information on being diagnosed with cancer when you are pregnant.

Some SACT, such as some chemotherapy drugs, can cause hair loss or hair thinning. You might decide to have a wig fitted. You can have the wig fitted before you start treatment. We have more information about wigs for cancer treatment.

If you need medical treatment for any reason other than cancer, always tell the healthcare professional that you are having cancer treatment. Give them the contact details for your cancer doctor or cancer team so they can ask for advice.

If you have appointments with a dentist, always tell them you are having cancer treatment. Talk to your cancer team before you have any dental treatment.

Always tell your cancer doctor, nurse or pharmacist about any prescription and other drugs, vitamins, herbal remedies or supplements you are taking or plan to take. Some drugs may interact with SACT or make treatment less effective.

Doctors usually recommend that people with cancer have vaccinations for flu and for coronavirus (covid). These help reduce your risk of serious illness from these infections. Most people can have these vaccines, including people with weak immune systems.

If your immune system is weak, you should not have live vaccinations. This is because they can make you unwell. Live vaccines, such as the yellow fever vaccine, contain a very weak version of the illness they will protect you against. It is important to ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice about having vaccinations. They can explain what vaccines are right for you and when it is best to have them.