What to Take to Chemotherapy: A Practical Chemo-Day Bag Checklist

Preparing for your first chemotherapy appointment can feel overwhelming. Packing a chemo-day bag won’t remove every worry, but having a few familiar and useful things with you can make the day feel a little more manageable.

Every treatment, hospital and person is different, so always follow the advice from your chemotherapy team. This checklist is simply a practical starting point, based on the small, everyday things that can help during a long appointment.

A drink

Take a water bottle that is easy to open and refill. Your treatment unit may provide drinks, but having your own bottle means it is always within reach.

Your team will tell you if there are any particular instructions about eating or drinking before treatment.

Snacks

If your hospital allows you to bring food, pack a few simple snacks that you already know you enjoy. Treatment can affect appetite and taste, so a mixture of sweet and savoury options may be useful.

Crackers, cereal bars, fruit or individually wrapped snacks are easy to carry. Avoid putting pressure on yourself to eat—take what feels right for you and follow any guidance from your care team.

Something warm

Treatment units can feel chilly, and sitting still for a while may make you feel colder than usual. A soft extra layer, lightweight blanket or large scarf can help.

A comfortable beanie can also be useful if you experience hair thinning or hair loss, feel cold during treatment or want something warm to wear after using a cold cap.

Choose clothing that feels comfortable and allows your treatment team to reach your arm, cannula or line easily.

Entertainment and distractions

There may be periods of waiting, so pack something that can gently occupy your mind:

• A book or magazine
• Headphones and a downloaded podcast, audiobook or playlist
• A puzzle book
• A journal and pen
• A tablet or e-reader
• A small craft that is easy to carry

Download anything you want to watch or listen to before leaving home in case the hospital Wi-Fi is unreliable.

Your phone and charger

Your phone can help with entertainment, contacting someone for support or arranging your journey home. A long charging cable or small power bank can be particularly useful if the nearest socket is difficult to reach.

Remember to pack your headphones too.

A few comfort essentials

Small comforts can make a difference. You might want to take:

• Lip balm
• Tissues
• Unscented hand cream
• Hand sanitiser
• Mints or sweets
• A sleep mask
• A small cushion or travel pillow

Try to avoid strongly scented products, as smells may feel more noticeable during treatment and could affect other patients nearby.

Appointment information

Keep any appointment letters, treatment information and contact details together. It may also be useful to carry an up-to-date list of your medications and any questions you want to ask your team.

A bag with enough room

A good chemo-day bag needs to hold the practical things without feeling like a piece of medical equipment. A roomy tote with long shoulder straps and a flat base can make it easier to carry a drink, snacks, entertainment and an extra layer together.

The Anchor Tote was chosen with everyday life in mind. Its generous size makes it useful for treatment days, but it still looks and feels like an ordinary tote for work, shopping and everything beyond the hospital.

A simple chemo-day bag checklist

Before leaving home, check that you have:

• Water bottle
• Snacks, if permitted
• Warm layer, scarf or blanket
• Beanie, if wanted
• Phone
• Charger or power bank
• Headphones
• Book, journal or another distraction
• Lip balm and personal comforts
• Appointment information
• Medication list
• Transport or collection arrangements

There is no perfect chemo-day bag, and you don’t need to prepare for every possibility. Pack what feels comforting and useful to you, check anything you are unsure about with your treatment team, and remember that it is fine to learn what works as you go.