Second-hand chemo danger?
I will be starting chemo soon, and my husband and I are surprised that we had never heard of the danger of second-hand chemo... The chemo that I will be losing in bodily fluids for at least 48 hours following the treatment.
Is it really something to be so cautious of? I searched and could not find a topic on this.
Using separate bathrooms, laundering clothes and sheets/ towels, eating utensils washed separate, etc....
Overkill? or Real danger?
Comments
-
I haven't heard of that for chemo, but guess it could be so. I have heard of precautions like those after radioactive tests.
-
I was specifically told about it, however it was in regard to the following:
If you are vomiting or have diarrhea and someone else is cleaning up for you, make sure the person who is your caregiver is using precautions, gloves etc. and that they don't get any of your bodily substance on them. If they do, ensure they was promptly with plenty of soap and water.
When you use the toilet, close the lid and flush twice.
If you are going to have intercourse ensure that your spouse wears a condom and that they have a shower afterward. The chemicals that you are being treated with will come out in your bodily fluid, mostly vomit, urine, saliva.
-
I checked this with my oncologist after reading an ACS pamphlet and she was very explicit about it--the dire warnings online and in ACS publications are about the chemo used for leukemia. The precautions in Molliefish's reply are all that's necessary.
-
I did sleep in a separate bed for three nights following an infusion, but that was because my 12 year old Italian greyhound sleeps in our bed and I was mostly worried about the effect it could have on him if I sweated a bunch in the middle of the night. The other reason was for me, for comfort mainly, in case I couldn't sleep, wanted to be up, was tossing and turning, I didn't want the anxiety of disturbing my husband. And honestly, I wanted to be left alone in a quiet space. I did the two flushes of the toilet with the lid closed, and didn't engage in sex for about five days after chemo. The only other precaution was I washed the clothes I wore the two days following chemo separately and I double washed them. I also tried not to slobber and drool on my grandkids for two days, but I still saw them.
The last comment was meant to be funny! I wouldn't get too worried. A pregnant woman did a few of my infusions, so it can't be that big of a concern. Just take whatever precautions make you comfortable, and highly consider just giving yourself a separate space for a few nights, just for comfort. I had a bed and tv in a room, that way if I woke up and wanted to watch tv, nobody cared but me
-
My MO said you are only dangerous for 48 hrs after chemo-after that it's out of your system. And no special washing or cleaning or flushing necessary. Unless you are superwoman, you won't feel like having sex the first few days after chemo anyway. Not to worry!
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team