Using the Logs

I kept a daily log during chemo and radiation, for I found that keeping logs during this time allowed me to track patterns in the effects of the treatments. That allowed me to prepare for future treatments, which reduced my fears and gave me a sense of control that my disease and chemo and radiation tired to take away. I ended up with a wealth of information custom made for me, and was even able to help my doctor trace back a chemo drug that I was allergic to. There is no way that I could have kept that information in my head, for my "Chemo Brain" lost it's ability to remember clearly early on!

The logs include information that is not only important to you as a patient, but also important to your doctor. For example, keeping track of your temperature is very important, for you will be on temperature watch during your entire treatment regimen. A high temperature can indicate an allergy or an infection, which can be critical to your survival. The logs will insure that you keep a close eye on this important piece of information.

I also included areas to log your food intake, for writing down what you eat tends to make you eat better. I learned the importance of logging meals when I was a fitness consultant during my bodybuilding days, and although it was for different reasons, the psychological result is the same. This process can also be helpful in tracing back foods that do not agree with you during such days as the first day of chemo or the fifth day of chemo when your gastrointestinal system is raw. For example, I found that eating tomatoes on the fifth day of chemo caused severe stomach insult and pain. I did not have to guess what the culprit was, I simply looked at my log.

When I was going through treatment, I printed out my logs and put them on a clipboard by my bed. No matter how bad I felt, I always found that I could lift a pen and fill in the bare minimum in my log. Then I would stare at it and feel proud. I hope it can do the same for you!