Ellen Campbell-Grizzle
WE KNOW that chemotherapy makes you more vulnerable to infection. This happens because most anti-cancer drugs affect the bone marrow, making it harder to make white blood cells, the cells that fight many types of infections. Your doctor will check your blood cell count often while you are getting chemotherapy.
We use medicines called Colony Stimulating Factors to help speed the recovery of white blood cells, shortening the time when the white blood count is very low. Raising the white blood cell count greatly lowers the risk of serious infection.
Most infections come from bacteria normally found on your skin and in your mouth, intestines and genital tract. Sometimes, the cause of an infection may not be known. Even if you take extra care, you still may get an infection. But there are some things you can do.
TWELVE GROUND RULES
1. Wash your hands often during the day. Be sure to wash them before you eat, after you use the bathroom, and after touching animals.
2. Clean your rectal area gently but thoroughly after each bowel movement. Ask your health care provider for help if the area becomes irritated or if you have haemorrhoids. Also, check with your doctor before using enemas or suppositories.
3. Stay away from people who have the cold, flu, measles, or chicken pox. Remember, children who recently have received 'live virus', vaccines such as chicken pox and oral polio, may be contagious to people with a low blood cell count.
4. Try to avoid crowds. You should go shopping or to the movies when the stores or theatres are least likely to be busy.
5. Do not cut or tear the cuticles of your nails or squeeze or scratch pimples.
6. Do not eat raw meat, seafood, or uncooked eggs.
7. Be careful not to cut or nick yourself when using scissors, needles or knives. Clean cuts and scrapes with warm water, soap, and an antiseptic immediately and each day until healed.
8. Maintain good mouth care.
9. Use lotion or oil to soften and heal your skin if it becomes dry and cracked.
10. Avoid contact with animal litter boxes, waste, bird cages, fish tanks, bird baths, flower vases or humidifiers.
11. Wear protective gloves when gardening or cleaning up after others, especially small children.
12. Do not get any immunisations, such as flu or pneumonia shots, without first checking with your doctor.
GOOD ADVICE
Be careful not to cut or tear the cuticles of your nails or squeeze or scratch pimples. It is wise to use an electric shaver instead of a razor to prevent cuts. Every day take warm, not hot, baths or showers. Dry carefully by patting yourself. Do not rub hard.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to cope with the mouth sores or mouth dryness that are common side effects of medicines used to treat cancer. Look out for those early warning signs of infection, such as:
Fever over 100° F or 38° C.
Chills
Loose bowel movements.
Frequent urgency to urinate or a burning feeling when you urinate.
A severe cough or sore throat.
Unusual vaginal discharge or itching.
Redness, swelling, or tenderness, especially around a wound, sore, pimple, rectal area or catheter site.
Sinus pain or pressure, earaches, headaches, or stiff neck.
Blisters on the lips or skin or mouth sores.
BE POSITIVE
Remember, you are the expert patient and know your body best. Call you doctor at the first sign of infection. Remain optimistic. There is solid research and many testimonials that support the link between a positive outlook and improved quality of life.
Ellen Campbell-Grizzle, president, Caribbean Association o f Pharmacists; director, information and research, National Council on Drug Abuse; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
