Prompt: Chemotherapy Side-Effect Patient Guide

Chemotherapy Side-Effect Patient Guide

Use this prompt to draft a patient-facing information guide covering common side effects for a patient starting chemotherapy. Review the output against your unit's current protocols before use.

Write a patient information guide about common side effects for a patient aged 
[[patient_age — e.g. "52"]] starting [[treatment_category — e.g. 
"platinum-based chemotherapy"]].

Cover these side effects: [[side_effects — e.g. 
"nausea and vomiting, fatigue, hair changes, increased infection risk, 
mouth soreness"]].

For each side effect:
- Explain what to expect
- Explain what is normal and manageable at home
- Explain what would warrant contacting the clinical team

Also include:
- A brief introductory paragraph acknowledging that starting treatment 
  can feel daunting
- A note that anti-nausea medication will be provided (without naming 
  specific medications)
- A reminder to contact the team with any concern they are unsure about

Do not include specific drug names, doses, or clinical thresholds 
(I will add those separately).
Tone: calm, clear, and reassuring without minimising. Maximum 500 words.

Why this works

Separating side effects into "normal and manageable" versus "contact the team" mirrors the mental model patients need to navigate their treatment safely. Asking the tool to omit specific thresholds prevents it from including guidance that may not match your unit's protocols — you add those yourself.

How to tweak it

• To adjust for immunotherapy instead of chemotherapy, replace [[treatment_category]] with "immunotherapy (checkpoint inhibitor treatment)" and add to the side effects list: "immune-related reactions — explain that these can affect different body systems and may need prompt assessment."
• To produce a version for a patient with low health literacy, add: "Use the simplest possible language. Aim for a reading level suitable for a 12-year-old. Use short sentences and avoid all medical terminology."

Remember: AI is a helpful assistant, not a clinician. You make the call.