Preventive measures to follow when receiving chemotherapy:

Maintain your normal life style. Include the following measures in your daily routine:

• Practice good body and oral hygiene
• Stay out of the sun. Use a moisturizer with an SPF of 15
• Use moisturizing lotion for dry skin
• Use a deodorant without antiperspirant
• Rest often. Pace your activities according to your level of energy.
• Ask family members to help with household chores
• Eat a nutritious diet
• Inspect your skin daily, especially under your arms, in the genital and rectal areas and skin folds. Call your doctor if you notice any redness, swelling, itching, or pain.
• Protect yourself from cuts or injury to the skin
• Avoid use of rectal suppositories, enemas, and vaginal tampons
• Avoid possible sources of infection:
• Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them.
• Do not share eating utensils and drinking cups or glasses
• Avoid people who have an infection or contagious illness (chicken pox, herpes, flu)
• Avoid children or adults who have just received the live polio vaccine for one month following the vaccination.
• Check with you doctor before getting any vaccination
• Avoid contact with animal excreta, litter boxes, and bird cages
• Notify your doctor if you develop a sore throat, cough, fever, unusual bleeding, or bruising

The above information is a guideline to follow. Other side effects may occur. Please report any problems to your doctor or nurse.