Hi everyone
I would google this, but you know, not doing that anymore.
Did anyone else have a deep clean of their home before starting chemo? I'm assuming this is a good idea. If you did, any tips, things to remember, how did you keep on top of it etc.
My kids are always bringing home germs from school but I know I can't live in a bubble
Thanks for reading,
C
Hi Cheryl523989e66c0 …… I (and my family) have been navigating my cancer journey for over 25 years..
15 years of various Ultraviolet Skin Treatments, years oral targeted therapies, over 750hrs of chemo, 45 radiotherapy zaps and 2 Allograft (donor) Stem Cell Transplants…… so as a family we understand the infection risks well.
Unless your home is a tip…… there is no need to deep clean. Just normal hygiene protocols are the way forward.
But there is still an infection risk so care needs to be taken to control infection contacts. Generally it takes about 48 to 72 hours for the body to break down and/or get rid of most chemo drugs.
But the effects of the chemo on growth areas and general immune system will last for weeks and is important to remember that you may well be more open to infections at about days 7-14 as this tends to be the window when your immune system is at its lowest……. then the body recovers in time for the next cycle….. but the more chemo you have the longer the recovery can take so by the end of treatment it could take a few months this to recover completely.
I was given this simple rule for keeping eye on infections…… If my temperature is 37.5°C, repeat in one hour. If my temperature has increased, whether I feel unwell or not, I must call it in…….
This is especially important with regress to Sepsis as sepsis doesn’t always cause a high temperature though, especially if someone is taking steroids……. below 35°C could be a sign of infection which your immune system may be unable to fight so this needs to be called in.
It is VERY important to have accurate contact information/names/numbers for reporting in issues especially during out of hours and weekends.
Based on my long experience we were not hermits….. we went out……. our mental health is importantly to consider.
Just not crowded places like supermarkets, restaurants etc. We would meet up with family and friends in a quiet corner of a garden centre….. fresher is a good healer…….
We had family (4 granddaughters) and friends visit the house regularly. The main thing is check that folks visiting are not carrying a bug…. coughing, sneezing etc….especially children.
Our daughters were extra careful to keep an eye out first bugs and viruses doing the rounds in the school and kept the kids away or even off school if needed.
We would open the windows and let some fresh air in, good hygiene control…… We did this all the way through my main 2 years treatment and I did not have one infection.
I was only sick a few times during my years of treatment and this was down to a bad food choice…… I just wanted some takeaway food….. believe me it’s not a good idea. A normal healthy immune system can fight a small food bug…… but when in treatment our bodies may not be able to fight small food bugs.
All the best with your treatment.
