Even though chemotherapy treatment can cause unpleasant side effects, some people still manage to lead an almost normal life during their treatment. Chemotherapy can make you feel better by relieving the symptoms of the cancer. Even if you feel unwell during your course of treatment, you may find that you recover quickly between each cycle and can take up your usual activities again as you begin to feel better.

You may be able to go to work and carry on with your social activities as usual, but may need to take rests during the day or shorten your working hours.

Social life

While you are having chemotherapy you may find that you can’t do some of the things you used to take for granted. Depending on how well you feel, there is no reason to stop going out or visiting friends, especially if you can plan ahead for social occasions. For example, if you are going out for the evening, you could make sure that you get plenty of rest during the day so you have more energy for the evening. If you are planning to go out for a meal, you may find it helpful to take anti-sickness tablets before you go.

If you have an important social event (such as a wedding) coming up, discuss with your doctor whether the time of your treatment can be changed so that you can feel as well as possible for the occasion.

Alcohol

For most people, having the occasional alcoholic drink will not affect the chemotherapy treatment, but it is best to check with your doctor beforehand.

Holidays and vaccinations

If you are going abroad on holiday, it is important to remember that you should not have any 'live' vaccines while you are having chemotherapy. These include polio, measles, rubella (German measles), MMR (the triple vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella), BCG (tuberculosis), yellow fever and typhoid vaccine. There are, however, vaccines that you can have if necessary. If you are travelling abroad, ask your doctor if you need any vaccines and whether it is safe for you to have them.

Sometimes people who have, or have had, cancer can find it difficult to get travel insurance to travel abroad. We have a list of insurance companies that may offer travel insurance for people with cancer.