It is safe to touch other people while on chemotherapy. You can hug and kiss. But you do need to protect others from coming into contact with your medicine.
Chemotherapy can be found in saliva and vaginal secretions for 48-72 hours after treatment. During this time, do not do open-mouth kissing and use a condom or dental dam for oral sex or intercourse (vaginal or anal) so that your partner is not exposed. (This includes IV and oral chemotherapy).
Safety concerns for partners
Be assured that it is not possible for your partner to transmit cancer through intimate activities such as kissing or intercourse. Sexual activity will not make cancer spread, nor will it make the cancer come back. Chemotherapy drugs may stay in your partner's body fluids for some days.
Cancer is NOT contagious
Close contact or things like sex, kissing, touching, sharing meals, or breathing the same air cannot spread cancer.
Having Sex During Your Cancer Treatment
We recommend using a barrier device (condom or dental dam) during treatment and for a week after each treatment during oral, vaginal, or anal sex to prevent your partner from being exposed to any medication that may be in your bodily fluids.
So you need to make sure caregivers and others close to you are not exposed to your body fluids during chemo and for a few days after treatment. It's OK to have normal contact with other people, including hugging and kissing.
One important option you'll want to bring that won't fit in the chemo bag is a companion—a supportive friend, spouse, loved one or family member who can help keep up your spirits during your infusion or just be a reassuring presence for you during the chemotherapy appointment.
Tips for rebuilding intimacy during cancer care. Give yourself time. You and your partner will need time to adjust to the physical and emotional changes cancer causes. Be patient with yourself if certain side effects, such as stress, pain, depression or fatigue lower your desire for sexual activity.
Here are things you can do to help keep your family, visitors, and pets safe during this time: If possible, have children use a different toilet than the one you use. Flush the toilet twice after you use it. Put the lid down before flushing to avoid splashing.
Although it is unlikely that family members will come into direct contact with chemotherapy medicine, drug waste may still be present in bodily fluids, such as urine, vomit, and sweat. There are some precautionary suggestions for people who are in close contact with individuals taking chemotherapy at home.
During your first IV chemotherapy appointment, you should bring a friend or family member. They can support you and help you remember information. Sometimes you will be given medication before your chemotherapy treatment that can make you tired, so you may need someone who can drive you home.
Social life, alcohol and other activities during chemotherapy. With a bit of planning and a few precautions, your social life can still go ahead. You might like to plan a holiday.
This is especially important: During cold and flu season, when more people are sick. During your nadir, the period of time beginning about 7-12 days after you finish each chemotherapy dose-and possibly lasting for 5-7 days-is when you may be at the greatest risk for infection.
Short, planned delays in chemotherapy for good-risk GCT patients (less than or equal to 7 days per cycle) appear to be acceptable since they may prevent serious toxicity in this curable patient population. Delays of longer than 7 days are strongly discouraged except in extraordinary life-threatening circumstances.
If your loved one is receiving chemotherapy or other similar medications, wash their laundry -- including sheets and towels -- separately from the rest of your household's laundry.
It is safe to touch other people while on chemotherapy. You can hug and kiss. But you do need to protect others from coming into contact with your medicine.
Cancer doctors and complementary therapists usually advise you to try gentle massage and avoid vigorous, deep tissue massage.
If you're not a geek but prefer more intellectual entertainment, get a book of word puzzles or number games like Sudoku. If you have enough table space, spread out a jigsaw puzzle and work it over. Even your nurses or your chemo buddy may help you out!
Chemo may cause a loss of blood cells. Low red blood cells, called anemia, can make someone tired so they need more rest. Low white blood cells, called neutropenia, can raise the risk of infection. Protect the person you're caring for from germs by washing your hands often and limiting their contact with other people.
Listening to music or a meditation app, or watching a movie or TV show, can be a good distraction from chemo and help you stay relaxed. Don't forget to pack your charger and ear plugs/headphones. Journal/notebook or coloring book/sketchpad. Journaling can be a great outlet for expressing your thoughts and feelings.
Here are some tips that can help keep you safe during cancer treatment. Avoid very close contact, such as kissing, snuggling, or sleeping with your pet in the same bed.
Acute exposure to body fluids or the cancer medicine itself can cause rash, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, abdominal pain, headache, nasal sores and allergic reactions.