Avoiding people is nearly impossible while on chemotherapy, but there are ways to help prevent infections and keep yourself healthy during your treatment.
Here are some tips:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water. Be sure to wash your hands before eating and before touching your face or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth, etc.).
- Wash your hands after using the bathroom, blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- Wash your hands after touching animals, collecting trash, or taking out garbage.
- Wash your hands after visiting a public place or touching items used by others.
- Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands when you’re out.
- Use moist cleaning wipes to clean surfaces and things that you touch, such as door handles, ATM or credit card keypads, and any items that are used by other people.
- Stay away from anyone with a fever, the flu, or other infection.
- Get your flu shot every fall. Encourage other members of your household to get it, too. DO NOT get the nasal mist flu vaccine.
- Bathe every day. Be sure to wash your feet, groin, armpits, and other moist, sweaty areas.
- Do not get manicures or pedicures at salons or spas (you can use your own personal and well-cleaned tools at home). Do not use false nails or nail tips.
- Wear shoes all the time – in the hospital, outdoors, and at home. This helps you avoid injury and keep germs off your feet.
- If you cut or scrape your skin, clean the area right away with soap and warm water. Cover the area with a clean bandage to protect it. If the bandage gets wet or dirty, clean the area and put on a new bandage. Tell your doctor if you notice redness, swelling, pain, or tenderness.
- Stay away from all standing water, for example, in vases, denture cups, and soap dishes. If you store your dentures in a cup, wash the cup and change the water with each use.
- Stay away from chicken coops, caves, and any place where dust from the ground is being blown into the air, such as construction sites.
- Talk with your doctor or nurse if you are planning any travel during this time.
- Try to not go to the grocery stores during peak hours.
- Sit in the less corwded area at churches or events.
- Wear a mask!
The moral of the story? WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY!!!
**Some info taken from the American Cancer Society website**
