Before Treatment: What to Pack + Prepare

A calm, practical guide for getting ready before a treatment day. This page is for patients, carers and whānau who want the day to feel a little less rushed and a little more supported.

Start here: If you only read one thing, use our packing guide: What to Pack for Treatment Day & What to Keep Nearby Afterwards.

Before you leave home

Most treatment days are easier when the basics are already sorted. You do not need a perfect system — just a few things that reduce decision-making when energy is low.

  • Check the appointment time, parking, transport and how long you may be there.
  • Pack any appointment letters, medication list, treatment card, notes from your team and emergency contact numbers.
  • Charge your phone and pack a charger or power bank.
  • Choose soft, layered clothing that is easy to remove or adjust.
  • Take water, simple snacks and anything your care team has recommended.
  • Keep fragrance-free lip balm, hand cream, tissues and a soft cloth close by.

What to prepare at home

The days after treatment can feel different for everyone. Preparing a small comfort station before you leave can help when you come home tired, nauseous, cold, hot, dry, sore or overwhelmed.

  • Fresh water bottle or jug beside the bed/couch.
  • Plain crackers, ice blocks, electrolyte drinks or food your treatment team says is suitable.
  • Thermometer in an easy-to-find place.
  • Medication chart or notes app ready for anti-nausea medicine, pain relief or other prescribed medicines.
  • Soft face cloth, tissues, lip balm and fragrance-free moisturiser.
  • Clean bedding, loose clothing and a low-light resting space.

For carers + whānau

The most helpful support is often ordinary: driving, waiting, filling a bottle, sorting dinner, taking notes or making the room quiet. Try asking, “Do you want company, quiet, or practical help today?”

Read: For Carers & Whānau

Before-treatment skin comfort

Skin may already feel dry, tight, itchy, sensitive to scent, or easily irritated before treatment begins. Keep skincare simple and low-fragrance. Avoid introducing lots of new active products right before a treatment day unless your care team says it is appropriate.

  • Use gentle, fragrance-free cleansing where possible.
  • Moisturise dry-feeling areas before they become cracked or uncomfortable.
  • Do not apply skincare to wounds, ports, broken skin, dressing areas, or radiation areas unless your treatment team has approved it.

When to get help

This page is general comfort information, not medical advice. If you feel suddenly unwell, have a fever, chills, shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, uncontrolled vomiting or diarrhoea, new bleeding, signs of infection, or any symptom your oncology team told you to watch for, contact your treatment team urgently or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Tell them you are receiving cancer treatment.

In a critical or life-threatening emergency in Aotearoa New Zealand, call 111.

Helpful NZ support links

Last reviewed by Tonic & Thyme: September 2026. Always follow your oncology team’s instructions first.