Should I arrange a ride home from chemo?

Yes, it is a good idea to arrange a ride to and from your chemotherapy session rather than planning to drive yourself. Fatigue — feeling unusually tired or worn out — is the most common side effect of chemotherapy, and it can show up during or after a session, even one that goes smoothly.

Your care team watches you throughout treatment and helps manage side effects as they come up, but you will not always know ahead of time exactly how you will feel afterward. Planning for a ride removes one thing to worry about on treatment day.

It also helps to plan rest time for the day of your session and the day after, and to ask for help with things like meals or childcare if you can. These are simple steps that make treatment days easier, whether it is your first session or one further along in your course of treatment. Ask your care team or a social worker if you need help finding transportation to and from appointments.