Chemotherapy is a way of treating cancer using specific drugs. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells but can also damage normal cells. Chemotherapy drugs can be in your body fluids for up to 7 days after each chemotherapy treatment. Hence, there is a very small chance that your family or carers could come in contact with chemotherapy drugs.

It is thus important for you and your family to know what safety precautions you should take to reduce this risk.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Can I hug and touch my family?

Yes, it is safe to touch other people, and hug and cuddle your family. However, make sure they do not contact with your body fluids.

How to protect your family and carers?

Clean up body fluids as soon as possible. 

Cleaning up spills of body fluid

• Use disposable cloths.
• Wash down any surfaces with water and detergent.
• Put the used cloths in a plastic bag and tie it up.
• Put this bag inside another plastic bag and tie that up. This is called ‘double bagging’.
• Throw the bags in the household bin.

Getting rid of body fluids

• Double bag any incontinence pads, nappies, catheter bags or stoma bags before throwing them away.

Washing clothing or bedding with body fluids on

• Wash any clothing or bedding straight away.
• Wash them separately on a long washing machine cycle.

Vomiting

• It is a good idea to keep a plastic bowl or bag (without holes in it) handy for this.
• If a bowl is used, wash it out with soap and water afterwards. Don’t use it for anything else.
• Throw it away at the end of the chemotherapy treatment.

Going to the toilet

• After going to the toilet, close the lid and flush the toilet on the full flush.
• Men should sit down when using the toilet so there is no splashing.

Having sex

• You and your partner should always wear condoms when having sex as low amount of chemotherapy drugs may be passed in the semen or vaginal secretions.

Safety information for patients taking oral chemotherapy at home

Keep the chemotherapy drugs in their original packaging.

For patient

Wash your hands right before taking drugs.

• After taking the drugs, wash your hands before touching anything else.
• If you are prescribed with tablets or capsules, swallow whole. DO NOT crush, chew or bite the tablet. DO NOT open the capsule or dissolve the tablet.
• If you experience swallowing difficulty, discuss with your doctor or pharmacist.

Important

Contact your doctor immediately if you have:

• A temperature of 38°C or higher
• Chills, sweats, shivers or shakes
• A headache or stiff neck
• A sore throat, cough or cold
• Shortness of breath
• Sores in your mouth
• A rash or redness on your skin
• Swelling, redness or tenderness, especially around a wound, a catheter site or your rectal area
• Uncontrolled diarrhoea
• Pain or blood when you pass urine
• Leaking from your chemotherapy medication pump.

If you can’t contact your doctor, go to FV Accident & Emergency department without any delay

What if you miss a dose or vomit after taking your medicine?

• Take your next dose at normal time or as directed by your doctor.
• Tell your doctor at your next appointment if you have missed taking a dose. 

What if I vomit a dose after taking my medicine?

• If you vomit directly after taking your medicine, do not take a replacement dose.
• Take your next dose at normal time.
• Take prescribed antiemetic medicines to prevent nausea and vomiting. If you still vomit after taking prescribed medicines, talk to your doctor.
• Tell your doctor at your next appointment if you have vomited a dose. 

For family and carers

• Patient’s family or carers should never touch chemotherapy medicines with bare hands.
• DO NOT crush or dissolve the tablets or open the capsules unless instructed by your doctor or pharmacist.
• You should always wear a pair of disposable rubber gloves and mask to touch or handle chemotherapy drugs. Wash your hands before wearing gloves.
• Be careful when taking off the gloves. Do not let the outside of the gloves touch your hands as chemotherapy drug could be absorbed into your body through your skin. if your hands touch the outside of the gloves while removing them: wash carefully your hands.
• Wash your hands after taking off the gloves.
• Gloves, mask and tablet packaging (i.e. blister, bottle) should be placed in a plastic bag before put in household bin.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to be pregnant SHOULD NOT touch chemotherapy medications, body fluids of someone having chemotherapy, any bedding, clothing or cleaning cloths with body fluids.

How to store oral chemotherapy drugs at home

• Oral chemotherapy drugs should be kept out of reach of children and away from pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• Store medicine as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.

What to do with my leftover medications?

• If you have unused tablets or capsules, please return to FV Hospital Pharmacy for discard.
• DO NOT flush them down the toilet or wash them down the sink or throw them into the rubbish bin.

References 

1. Cancer Institute NSW. Chemotherapy Safety at home. NSW, Australia: Cancer Institute NSW; 2015 [Cited 2017, December].
2. Cancer Institute NSW. Oral anticancer medicines. NSW, Australia: Cancer Institute NSW; 2017 [Cited 2018, April]