Chemotherapy Information 

How your doctor decides which chemotherapy drugs to give you

This choice depends on:

• The type of cancer you have. Some types of chemotherapy drugs are used for many types of cancer. Other drugs are used for just one or two types of cancer.
• Whether you have had chemotherapy before.
• Whether you have other health problems, such as diabetes or heart disease.

Where you go for chemotherapy

You may receive chemotherapy during a hospital stay, at home, or as an outpatient at a doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital (which means you do not stay overnight). No matter where you go for chemotherapy, your doctor and nurse will watch for side effects and make any needed drug changes.

Home Safety After Chemotherapy Treatments

After receiving chemotherapy, you and your caregivers need to take special care to prevent contact with your body fluids. These fluids include urine, stools, sweat, mucus blood, vomit, and those from sex. Your doctor or nurse will suggest home safety measures that you and your caregivers should follow such as:

• Closing the lid and flush twice after using the toilet.
• Sitting on the toilets to urinate if you are male.
• Washing your hands with soap and water after using the restroom.
• Cleaning splashes from the toilet with bleach wipes.
• Using gloves when handling body fluids and washing your hands after removing the gloves.
• Wearing disposable pads of diapers if incontinence is an issue and wearing gloves when handling.
• Washing linens soiled with body fluids separately.
• Using condoms during sex.

The length of time that you and your caregivers need to follow these guidelines might differ depending on the policy where you receive treatment and the drugs that your receive. Your doctor or nurse will tell you how long you and your caregivers need to practice these safety measures.

Click here for additional information about chemotherapy.