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.
Is there any risk to family and friends? You may worry about the safety of family and friends while you are having chemotherapy. There is little risk to visitors (including children, babies and pregnant women) because they aren't likely to come into contact with any chemotherapy drugs or body fluids.
But some normal cells will be damaged by the chemotherapy as well. These include cells in your blood, mouth, digestive system, and hair follicles. Side effects happen when chemotherapy damages these healthy cells. For example, you might lose your hair or experience nausea and vomiting.
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.
Don't socialize with sick people
When you're undergoing chemotherapy, your immune system may not work as well as it normally does. That can make you more vulnerable to infection. So, it's a good idea to wear a mask, especially when circulating levels of respiratory viruses like RSV, flu and COVID-19 are higher.
Don't let your pet lick your face.
Although pet kisses can be adorable, animal saliva can carry germs that cause illnesses. Avoid letting pets lick your face, especially your nose and mouth.
This is called the nadir. This usually begins around 7 to 14 days after each treatment. But the exact time can vary so ask your healthcare team when you will be at most risk. The levels usually return to normal between 21 and 28 days after your chemotherapy.
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.
There's usually no medical reason to stop having sex during chemo. The drugs won't have any long term physical effects on your performance or enjoyment of sex. Cancer can't be passed on to your partner during sex.
Wait 3 days after chemotherapy before having sex. Seventy-two hours is the average amount of time that it takes the medicine to leave the body. During that time, chemotherapy medicine is present in bodily fluids. Having sex (vaginal, oral, or anal) within 72 hours of chemo treatment may expose a partner to these drugs.
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.
At the end of 7 days after treatment, wash the toilet and bathroom floor. If you have a low flow toilet, put the lid down and flush the toilet twice. This helps make sure body waste isn't left in the toilet. Use a toilet rather than a bedpan or urinal when you can.
If possible, patients should use a separate toilet from others in the home. Always wash hands with soap and water after using the toilet. Caregivers must wear gloves when handling the patients' blood, urine, stool, or emesis. Dispose of the gloves after each use and wash your hands.
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.
After each chemotherapy session, the drugs may remain in your body for up to a week. This depends on the type of drugs used. The drugs are then released into urine, faeces and vomit. They could also be passed to other body fluids such as saliva, sweat, semen or vaginal discharge, and breast milk.
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.
If possible, you may want to use a separate toilet during this time. If this is not possible, wear gloves to clean the toilet seat after each use. Sit on the toilet when you use it to cut down on splashing. Keep the toilet lid down when you're not using it to keep pets from drinking the water.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) , chemotherapy medications will usually leave the body within 48–72 hours of treatment. 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.
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.
It is generally safe to kiss others after chemotherapy as long as no active infection is present. However, it is crucial to practice proper hygiene and avoid close contact with people who are ill, to reduce the risk of infection.
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.
"WOW, did they remove your breasts?" “I know so & so who had the same type of cancer and they were just fine!” ...or any variation of cancer stories. "You need to get chemo and surgery but not radiation." You're not my doctor. “You don't have it as bad as ____.” Please do not compare stories.
Chemo brain can also intensify feelings of frustration or anger. That's OK. These feelings can be managed. The National Cancer Institute lists common feelings that people with cancer have and offers helpful tips to cope.
During your nadir, the period of time beginning 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. During this time you should consider avoiding gardening.