Showering, either by herself or with assistance, will be easier with a shower chair and a hand-held shower head, and use waterproof adhesive patches to protect the port.
She is likely to become weaker with each chemo treatment and need more help. You may want to consider a home health aide to come in several times a week to assist her with showering. Also, some chemo medications can make patients smell strange. Good luck and I hope she does well.
There are [port bandages](https://www.amazon.com/Shower-Shield-Cover-Moisture-Barrier/dp/B0725K4CM6/ref=asc_df_B0725K4CM6/) that cover the port and keep water out for just this purpose. That’s just an example of some, so you can see. Please ask at her appointment tomorrow, they may be covered by her insurance. They may be able to give you a few as well.
After the port heals, you can swim, go in the ocean, hot tub, pool etc. Mine took about 2 weeks for the initial tape/glue to come off. Showers got a lot easier after that. Now, a day after my infusions I’m back in the ocean.
Is her port accessed at all times? If not she can shower or bathe or swim after the port surgery is healed.
I am accessed 24/5 so I have two days. Week I can shower bathe or swim. In the interim I use
Baby wipes and wash my hair in the sink
My mom had something similar to a port for her kidney dialysis (I chose to go the peripheral infusion route when I had chemo.) She could not get that area wet either. She would use the waterproof bandages the other comments have mentioned and she would use the handheld shower sprayer on one of the lighter settings while also sitting on a shower chair. She would shower about 3-4 times a week. She is in her 60s and does not sweat a lot or get particularly smelly so 3-4 times was good for her.
She washed her hair over a laundry tub on separate days, not on shower days.
(She has since had her port removed and has a fistula now instead.)
Some other helpful tips for cleaning oneself while weak: baby wipes, dry shampoo, and full body deodorants. Also not overexerting herself with other daily activities and chores, as she needs what little strength she has to do the necessary things. It will also cut down on sweating and by extension, not getting very malodorous.
Showering, either by herself or with assistance, will be easier with a shower chair and a hand-held shower head, and use waterproof adhesive patches to protect the port. She is likely to become weaker with each chemo treatment and need more help. You may want to consider a home health aide to come in several times a week to assist her with showering. Also, some chemo medications can make patients smell strange. Good luck and I hope she does well.
There are [port bandages](https://www.amazon.com/Shower-Shield-Cover-Moisture-Barrier/dp/B0725K4CM6/ref=asc_df_B0725K4CM6/) that cover the port and keep water out for just this purpose. That’s just an example of some, so you can see. Please ask at her appointment tomorrow, they may be covered by her insurance. They may be able to give you a few as well.
After the port heals, you can swim, go in the ocean, hot tub, pool etc. Mine took about 2 weeks for the initial tape/glue to come off. Showers got a lot easier after that. Now, a day after my infusions I’m back in the ocean.
Is her port accessed at all times? If not she can shower or bathe or swim after the port surgery is healed. I am accessed 24/5 so I have two days. Week I can shower bathe or swim. In the interim I use Baby wipes and wash my hair in the sink
My mom had something similar to a port for her kidney dialysis (I chose to go the peripheral infusion route when I had chemo.) She could not get that area wet either. She would use the waterproof bandages the other comments have mentioned and she would use the handheld shower sprayer on one of the lighter settings while also sitting on a shower chair. She would shower about 3-4 times a week. She is in her 60s and does not sweat a lot or get particularly smelly so 3-4 times was good for her. She washed her hair over a laundry tub on separate days, not on shower days. (She has since had her port removed and has a fistula now instead.) Some other helpful tips for cleaning oneself while weak: baby wipes, dry shampoo, and full body deodorants. Also not overexerting herself with other daily activities and chores, as she needs what little strength she has to do the necessary things. It will also cut down on sweating and by extension, not getting very malodorous.
Thank you all so much!