Why Hydration Is so Important During Chemotherapy

My hope is that after reading this article I can convince you to drink more water while you're undergoing chemotherapy. If there is 1 thing that can make your chemo day easier, it's to have at least 1 to 2 liters of water right next to you.

How hydration helps ease chemotherapy side effects

During infusion days your body is under a tremendous amount of stress. Chemotherapy drugs are extremely toxic to your body. They are infused to kill cancer cells ASAP. However, in the process, the drugs kill healthy cells as well.

The common side effects of chemotherapy treatment are:¹

• fatigue
• joint aches/stiffness
• neuropathy in your hands/feet
• dry eyes

Chemotherapy drugs can dehydrate you because your body needs so much water for the detoxication process. If you choose to replace fluids with processed fruit juices, soda, coffee, and/or tea while undergoing chemotherapy, you are adding more stress to your body. That's because those fluids require more water and energy to process than pure water.²

Overcoming the biggest hurdles to hydration

So why doesn't everyone just drink pure water? Why do we add more fluid stress to our bodies in the form of processed sugar and caffeine? These are the 2 biggest reasons people give for not drinking water:

• it's tasteless
• frequent trips to the bathroom

I get that pure water is tasteless and makes you pee, but when you are fighting to extend your life, why not do everything possible to recovery from chemotherapy treatments easier?

Use a straw or add fresh fruit

The good news is that you can make water more tasty without adding processed ingredients. Simply add fresh fruit to a pitcher of water to infuse it with the fruity flavors. Let the water and fruit sit overnight and then drink a glassful, preferably through a straw. Straws can be really helpful in encouraging hydration while undergoing chemotherapy. It's incredible how much more fluid you will drink if you sip it through a straw.

Using the bathroom makes you move

The "old way" to fight cancer was to rest. Not anymore. Now, doctors encourage patients to move as much as possible. If your movement for the day is to get up out of your bed and to use the bathroom, then that is your movement for the day. Hydrating with water will get you up out of bed every hour. And that's a good thing. Your oncologist will be happy to hear that you are maintaining your strength. Getting out of bed every hour will enable you to stay strong and hydrated.

Our bodies need fresh water

When your body is fighting cancer and trying to process powerful drugs, it's a double whammy on your system. Hydrating your cells with fresh water during chemotherapy will enable your body to work better.

Freshwater also helps your body flush the chemotherapy drugs out of your system. It's a win-win.

Chemo day hydration

Drinking only water on chemo days forces you to get up out of your chemo chair. Using the bathroom is just part of the chemo process and moving around is something your body will really enjoy. Physical activity helps circulate the drugs much faster than sitting still. The oncology nurses loved it when I got out of my chair every hour and walked around with my IV pole. I noticed they tried to encourage other patients to get up and walk around (if they felt comfortable and steady on their feet).

I always felt stronger and more fluid (No pun intended.) when I got up and went for a short walk to the bathroom. The more I sat, the stiffer I became in my chemo chair.

Did I convince you that drinking water is a habit you need to develop while undergoing chemotherapy? I hope so.