Chemo Room Etiquette
This is short list of general rules and guidelines that should be followed when you accompany a chemo patient to the chemo room. They are based on my observations over the past few months and I will add to them as need be.
- If you aren’t a chemo patient, you don’t get a cushy chair. I don’t care if you have to pop a squat on the floor, we should never have to stand there waiting for a chair because your healthy butt is occupying one.
- Eat your Big Mac before you step foot into the chemo room, even if that means cramming it down while standing in the elevator. Most chemo patients walk the line between nausea and hunger - the smell of french fries will usually send us running for the bathroom.
- Don’t ask where a patient has been lately. Everyone has their own treatment routine and, often times that requires a few weeks of rest in between treatment. Don’t ask the nurses about a certain patient - they aren’t allowed to answer this question.
- Speaking of nurses, they’re here to help me, not you. I know the water fountain is all the way on the other side of the room, but get up from the floor and get your water. Get me some while you’re up!
- Never look cuter than the patients. That means no True Religion jeans, UGG boots, or Juicy shirts. The chemo room is not your runway and if you see us staring at you, it’s because we want your french fries.
- Finally, the chemo room is all about us. Whatever we want, we get. So hand over the UGGs and no one gets hurt.


