CHEMO PRECAUTIONS – FOR YOU!
As you may know, chemotherapy may weaken your immune system and may lower your ability to fight infections.
Therefore, if you were to get sick while on chemo, it may be much harder for your body to fight the infection. You may get sicker than you typically might and/or it may take much longer to recover from an illness.
As such, it is very important to take precautions during chemotherapy to keep yourself as healthy as possible.
The best ways to avoid getting sick are through:
education
preparation
follow-through
smart choices
BELOW IS INFORMATION ON HOW TO KEEP YOURSELF SAFE.
While the following suggestions may reduce your chances of getting ill, life happens. Nonetheless, you can take these measures and give yourself the best chance of staying healthy, knowing you did all you could.
Stay Well!
We want to minimize our risk of infection - be it, covid, colds, flu, pneumonia, etc. Since the covid-19 pandemic, much of this information is well-known, but here are gentle reminders:
Wash hands often.
Washing your hands is the best way to avoid illness spread by others.
1
Wear a mask.
Consider wearing a mask when in crowded, public places or smaller, enclosed spaces (such as elevators), or if you are in a public setting for a long period of time.
2
POSITIVE NOTE
Since the covid-19 pandemic, wearing a mask in public has become somewhat “normal.” Which is really wonderful. You can wear a mask anytime you are in public setting with less self-consciousness. Wear it with pride knowing you are your own best advocate. Wear it for you!
3
Avoid crowded venues.
Keep a physical distance from individuals who are ill or unwell.
Advise coworkers, friends and family of your immunocompromised condition. Let them know that if they feel unwell, to keep a distance or visit another time. Many times, covid, colds, etc. are caught from those we know rather than strangers.
4
TIP: Avoid touching your mouth and nose after using public facilities.
TIP: Keep hand sanitizer on your person at all times.
Avoid Injury
Unfortunately, the side effects of chemotherapy may actually make you more susceptible to injury. Please be mindful of the following side effects as you proceed through your chemotherapy journey:
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HOW THESE SIDE EFFECTS
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Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is a potential side effect of chemotherapy. You may experience tingling, numbness and/or pain in your hands and feet. This is due to the chemotherapy attacking the nerves of your hands and feet.
TIP: Do you find yourself dropping your keys or having difficulty tying your shoes or zipping a jacket? These may be symptoms of neuropathy.
Be careful with sharps! You may have diminished sensory in your hands due to peripheral neuropathy.
Due to potentially lowered platelet counts, may increase risk for bleeding and/or decrease your body’s ability to clot post-injury.
Be vigilant around hot surfaces: use protective oven mitts, have others check water temp.
FATIGUE
Fatigue is one of the most common and most debilitating side effect of chemotherapy. Even sleep and rest may not provide relief.
How can fatigue lead to injury?
As time goes by, with continued side effects, you may become deconditioned with reduced stamina, balance, and activity tolerance. These impacts can lead to challenges while completing ordinary daily activities.
TIP: Be extra careful on those days when you feel better!
Sounds counter-intuitive, but when you start to feel better emotionally, spiritually and issues like diarrhea or nausea may have subsided, you naturally may want to go out and do all the things you have not felt up to doing before. Unfortunately, your body may not work as well as you remember.
It is easy to overdo it because it feels so good to feel good again…
Be mindful.
Go slow.
FALLS
Individuals going through chemotherapy may be more prone to falls due to weakened large muscle groups in their lower extremities and/or a weak core.
Strategies:
Go slow. Do not rush.
Pace yourself. Take a seated rest break at the first sign of fatigue.
Prioritize… pick one or two important tasks and delegate, defer or eliminate the remaining tasks.
MUSCLE/TENDON STRAIN
Individuals going through chemotherapy may be more prone to pulling muscles or tendons/ligaments due to inactivity over time. You may have some imbalances due to inactivity caused by fatigue. Again, go slow, do not force, and try to listen to cues from your body.
Strategies:
Go slow. Do not rush.
Warm up prior to exercise.
Be careful stretching muscles.
CHEMO BRAIN/FOG
While undergoing chemotherapy, you may find yourself feeling forgetful, cloudy and foggy. This side effect can be subtle or quite severe and frustrating.
You may wonder how being not sharp could lead to an injury, but it can in some pervasive ways.
You may leave a stove burner on and the house may become smokey and make you ill.
You might forget to take your medication when you need it, which could lead to other complications and poor health.
You might forget that you left a pile of laundry on the floor and trip and fall.