Chemotherapy and Infection
We'll look at some ways to remain as healthy as possible throughout your
treatment, and provide tips for avoiding infections.
When you are on chemotherapy, your body can become more prone to infection.
This happens because chemo can harm white blood cells - the cells that fight
against infection. Part of staying strong and healthy during treatment means you
will need to take extra precautions.
Living with the Risk of Infection
Having cancer and being treated with chemotherapy can suppress your immune
system. Getting a cold or coming down with the flu can put you at risk for
developing a serious infection, and could impact your treatments.
Managing the Risk of Infection
Fortunately, there are some simple precautions you can take to help prevent
infection:
1. Wash your hands often, especially before eating, after using the bathroom,
and after touching items handled by other people.
2. Avoid people with a cold or the flu and especially children recently
immunized. Don't get immunized yourself (even a flu shot) without your
doctor's okay.
3. Be careful when using everyday things like scissors and nail clippers, and use
an electric shaver instead of a razor to avoid cuts.
4. Take a warm bath or sponge bath everyday. Pat dry; do not rub too hard.
5. Clean cuts thoroughly with antiseptic and bandage them.
Infection and Your Continuing Treatment
Your risk of infection can continue for several months after treatment ends, so it's
important to remain cautious even after chemotherapy ends. Always talk to your
doctor or nurse about any side effects you experience so they can provide
immediate care.
Anemia & Cancer
If you have cancer, you may just think that feeling tired is part of the disease.
However, feeling unusually tired may be due to anemia, a common side effect of
many chemotherapy regimens.
Chemotherapy helps eliminate cancer cells, but it also eliminates good, healthy
cells, such as blood cells. It can decrease your red blood cell (RBC) levels, causing
anemia. Because it is the hemoglobin in your RBCs that carries oxygen throughout
your body, a fall in these oxygen-rich cells can cause your energy level to drop.
Also, cancer patients with myelosuppressive disease (those that inhibit bone
marrow function) who are not undergoing chemotherapy also can develop
anemia.
Many patients who experience fatigue and have been diagnosed with anemia
have not been treated for it, although there are ways to combat it.
At one time, blood transfusions were the only way to treat low red blood cell levels.
Options today include erythropoietic therapy, which uses a drug that helps rebuild
the supply of red blood cells to fight anemia
Treating Chemotherapy-Related Anemia
Anemia can be treated. Blood transfusions are used to treat severe
anemia, but may cause allergic reactions, fevers, chills, infections, and
headaches. In addition, blood transfusions may be inconvenient and timeconsuming. Another way to treat anemia due to chemotherapy is with
erythropoietic therapy, which builds your red blood cell supply.
Typically, erythropoietic therapy uses a copy of a natural hormone
produced by your body, which stimulates your bone marrow to produce
the red blood cells. Your body may not produce enough erythropoietin
when you have cancer or are receiving cancer treatment, particularly
chemotherapy. Therefore, your body may not produce enough red blood
cells. As a result, anemia occurs. Erythropoietic therapy can stimulate your
bone marrow to increase its production of red blood cells, just like your
natural erythropoietin.
Managing Chemotherapy
Anemia, a low level of red blood cells, is characterized by feelings of weakness,
fatigue, dizziness, irritability, shortness of breath, and chills.
Why does it happen? Because chemotherapy drugs can reduce the bone
marrow's ability to make red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts
of the body, providing the energy needed for normal activities.
Chemotherapeutic
agents kill rapidly
dividing cells, both
cancerous and
healthy, including
blood cells
Chemotherapy not
only destroys red
blood cells, it
suppresses the
bone marrow's
ability to produce
new ones, causing
anemia
The hemoglobin in
red blood cells
carries and
releases oxygen
throughout the
body. Oxygen acts
like fuel for the
body, providing
energy for muscles
and organs to work
Energy levels can
plummet due to
lack of oxygen-rich
red blood cells
Your body may not produce enough erythropoietin
when you have cancer or are receiving cancer
treatment, particularly chemotherapy. Therefore, your
body may not produce enough red blood cells. As a
result, anemia may occur.
Your doctor will check your blood count often during
treatment. If your red count falls below normal levels, you
may need medication. Erythropoietic therapies work to
increase the number of red blood cells in your body.
Erythropoietic therapy stimulates your bone marrow to
increase production of red blood cells, just like your
natural erythropoietin. More Red Blood Cells means More
Strength…
This therapy can prevent the need for a blood transfusion
Did You Know?
Did You Know?
Laughing lowers cortisol, an
immune suppressor, allowing
your immune system
to work better?
Frequent hand-washing
reduces the risk of infection
A hand-washing program
reduced respiratory infections
by almost 50%.