How can I prevent infection during cancer treatment?

Your healthcare team will talk with you about ways to prevent infection. The main steps NCI describes are washing your hands often and well, staying extra clean, and avoiding germs.

Wash your hands with soap and warm water, especially before eating, and have people around you do the same. To stay clean, keep any catheter area clean and dry, clean your teeth well, check your mouth for sores each day, and clean any scrape or cut. To avoid germs, stay away from people who are sick, avoid crowds and people who have just had a live vaccine, and follow food safety guidelines—making sure meat, fish, and eggs are well cooked and washing or peeling raw fruits and vegetables as advised.

These steps matter because some cancers and treatments such as chemotherapy lower the white blood cells that fight infection, and infections during cancer treatment can be life threatening. Your healthcare team can share the steps that fit your situation and tell you which signs of infection to call about.