Do you feel that self-care measures aid in managing the side effects of chemotherapy?

In preparation for AML World Awareness Day 2023, Know AML spoke to Charlotte Tottman (Adelaide, AU), a clinical psychologist specializing in cancer-related distress.
Charlotte discusses how she believes self-care measures can aid in managing the side effects of chemotherapy and in living with AML. Firstly, she highlights the importance of understanding that AML chemotherapy is “rough and a tough gig.” Self-care measures can help; however, it is also a reasonable mindset to feel you cannot engage in these measures and just want to aim to survive. Charlotte emphasizes that having modest expectations in the self-care area is important and more achievable. She shares what she believes are the “four pillars of coping” - exercise, sleep, nutrition, and activities with purpose and meaning.