Do I need to follow any special lifestyle regime?

The treatment you will need to follow does not require you to confine yourself or isolate yourself.

In this document, we aim to provide recommendations to help you adapt to the new situation, but we believe that good advice is to try to change your habits or activities only when you consider it necessary, and to strive to continue your family, social and even work life as normally as possible. This will be of great assistance to you.

However, there are some aspects you should bear in mind regarding nutrition and personal hygiene:

• Nutrition
• In principle, you should not follow any special diet, but it is advisable to eat 5 or 6 meals a day, spread out as evenly as possible. The aim is not to go long periods without eating.
• Foods that are overly spicy or contain sauce are difficult to digest, so it is best to avoid them.
• Try to drink as much as you can during your treatment, as this will help your body eliminate the medicines you have been given. It is recommended to drink between 1.5 and 2 litres of water or other liquids every day.
• Alcoholic beverages are not recommended, but if you feel like it, you may have a small amount of wine with a meal or a glass of cava on a special occasion.

• Personal hygiene and skin care
• Try to keep your skin moisturised, using moisturising creams or body oils if necessary, because chemotherapy causes dryness of the skin and mucous membranes.
• For this reason, try to maintain good oral hygiene, keeping the following guidelines in mind:
• Brush your teeth after every meal.
• Use a soft brush.
• Do not use mouthwashes or any type of mouthwash because the mucous membrane will be particularly sensitive. A good alternative is to rinse with water and bicarbonate of soda (one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda per glass of water).
• Whenever possible, we recommend that you visit your dentist before starting chemotherapy treatment.
• Keep your lips moisturised by using cocoa butter or Vaseline lip balm.
• If you want to sunbathe, avoid long exposure and use high protection sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) because chemotherapy greatly increases the skin's sensitivity to solar radiation. During the summer, avoid the hours when radiation is most intense (between 12 noon and 4 p.m.).
• It is not advisable to shave or wax with razor blades. Use electric machines that are gentler on the skin and significantly reduce the risk of infection.
• It is very important that you consult us before undergoing any cosmetic treatment or hair removal, or if you wish to have a massage.
• Tattoos, piercings, or any other aggressive procedures involving the skin are not recommended.