The general rule is to provide support according to what is required by their point in the chemo process, which includes being up to date with all information provided to the patient, side-effects at different points and how far into the process they are. It is also important to keep your own health (mental, physical and spiritual) in check so that you can provide the best support.

 

• If you are close to them, get to know their condition, side-effects, treatment protocol, which includes any extra treatment for  their side-effects. Some of these like condition and side-effects of course can be done by research, but the more personal ones should be led by them telling you. It is probably best to keep a diary of this process for yourself for reference. This will help with reminding the patient of their routine/treatment protocol, because it's important they follow this for the best outcome of the entire process.

 

• Be there for them in the capacity they need, which may be just to provide company, as some of the best medicine can be just by someone just being present.

 

• If you are a health professional and close to the person undergoing treatment, make sure to only give general advice and encourage them to see their own specialists. This way not only are you safe ethically , but also from them taking your advice over their own specialists, or hounding you on every occasion. As the best advice they can get is from their medical support team. 

 

• If you are the person to take care of their home/work duties and/or drive them to and from chemo treatments, be sure to understand why you need to do this and balance these with your own work/tasks and health (mental, physical and spiritual), so that the person undergoing chemo doesn't have to add this to their worries during this time.  

 

•  Encourage them with them keeping up with their hobbies, faith and normal tasks they are able to undertake. Note though that because of some side effects, not all these things will be possible, so this also needs to be taken into account, but they'll need to tell you this. It is important though they do have a way to occupy their time and provide a distraction from the process, allowing them to relax and feel more like themselves.