The experience ofchemotherapycan be different for everyone. Some people may feel fine afterward, while others may feel very sick. It’s good to remember that chemotherapy is a medical treatment that can be mentally and physically draining. So though you can drive yourself home, it may not always mean it’s a good idea.
Read on to find out more about the topic of driving yourself home after chemotherapy.
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Side Effects of Chemo
Your healthcare provider will tell you that the side effects ofchemotherapycan affect judgment, motor skills, and vision. These include common symptoms asfatigue, nausea, and vomiting, which affect your desire to drive and your concentration and alertness.
Your motor skills may be affected due to:
Some people receiving chemo also experience changes to their vision, including blurred or double vision. These vision changes can seriously impact your driving ability.
Drowsiness may also be a concern if you are on any pain medications. Drowsiness decreases your response time and can even cause you to fall asleep at the wheel. Altering dosing schedules, or even changing medications, can sometimes help alleviate the problem. Also, ask your healthcare provider if the chemotherapy has fatigue or drowsiness as a side effect.
In most cases, your healthcare provider will ask you to get a ride home after your first session to see how you will tolerate the chemo. If you feel well the first time, they may say that driving home for future sessions is okay.
Remember, how you feel after chemo can change from session to session. Always have a backup plan.
Making Contingency Plans
If you find that you cannot drive to and from your chemotherapy sessions, you may want to consider taking a taxi, public transportation, or asking a friend to chauffeur you. If none of these options are available, contact your localAmerican Cancer Society(ACS), and they can refer you to local patient transportation services.
If your healthcare provider gives you the okay, don’t assume that things will be fine if your first treatment goes well. Your side effects may vary as time goes on. Have backup plans ready if you need them.
Summary
Chemotherapy can affect different people in different ways. Wanting to maintain independence is natural, but it may not always be possible to drive independently to and from treatment. There are options that you can utilize rather than drive yourself. Ask your healthcare provider whether it’s safe to drive after chemotherapy treatments.
A Word From VeryWell
Wanting to maintain independence as you go through chemotherapy is understandable. Before chemotherapy starts, speak with your healthcare provider or treatment team about driving yourself to and from chemo. The treatment center might have rules about transportation to and from chemotherapy. Their advice might vary depending on the kind of chemotherapy you are having.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Adel N.Overview of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and evidence-based therapies.Am J Manag Care. 2017;23(14 Suppl):S259-S265.American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy side effects.Harman LE.Ophthalmic complications related to chemotherapy in medically complex patients.Cancer Control. 2016;23(2):150-156. doi:10.1177/107327481602300209Additional Readingten Tije A.Drug-interaction and formulation aspects of taxanes in the treatment of cancer. 2004;1-168; ISNB 90-9017845-7.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Adel N.Overview of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and evidence-based therapies.Am J Manag Care. 2017;23(14 Suppl):S259-S265.American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy side effects.Harman LE.Ophthalmic complications related to chemotherapy in medically complex patients.Cancer Control. 2016;23(2):150-156. doi:10.1177/107327481602300209Additional Readingten Tije A.Drug-interaction and formulation aspects of taxanes in the treatment of cancer. 2004;1-168; ISNB 90-9017845-7.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Adel N.Overview of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and evidence-based therapies.Am J Manag Care. 2017;23(14 Suppl):S259-S265.American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy side effects.Harman LE.Ophthalmic complications related to chemotherapy in medically complex patients.Cancer Control. 2016;23(2):150-156. doi:10.1177/107327481602300209
Adel N.Overview of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and evidence-based therapies.Am J Manag Care. 2017;23(14 Suppl):S259-S265.
American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy side effects.
Harman LE.Ophthalmic complications related to chemotherapy in medically complex patients.Cancer Control. 2016;23(2):150-156. doi:10.1177/107327481602300209
ten Tije A.Drug-interaction and formulation aspects of taxanes in the treatment of cancer. 2004;1-168; ISNB 90-9017845-7.
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