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Definition

You had chemotherapy treatment for your cancer. Your risk for infection, bleeding, and skin problems may be high. To stay healthy after chemotherapy, you'll need to take good care of yourself. This includes practicing mouth care, preventing infections, among other measures.

What to Expect at Home

After chemotherapy, you may have mouth sores, an upset stomach, and diarrhea. You will probably get tired easily. Your appetite may be poor, but you should be able to drink and eat.

Mouth Care

Take good care of your mouth. Chemotherapy can cause dry mouth or sores. This can lead to an increase in bacteria in your mouth. The bacteria can cause infection in your mouth, which can spread to other parts of your body.

• Brush your teeth and gums 2 to 3 times a day for 2 to 3 minutes each time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles.
• Let your toothbrush air dry between brushings.
• Use a toothpaste with fluoride.
• Floss gently once a day.

Rinse your mouth 4 times a day with a salt and baking soda solution. (Mix 1/8 teaspoon or 0.7 grams of salt and 1/4 teaspoon or 1.25 grams of baking soda in 8 ounces or 240 milliliters of water.)

Your health care provider may prescribe a mouth rinse. Do not use mouth rinses with alcohol in them.

Use your regular lip care products to keep your lips from drying and cracking. Tell your provider if you develop new mouth sores or pain.

Do not eat foods and drinks that have a lot of sugar in them. Chew sugarless gums or suck on sugar-free popsicles or sugar-free hard candies.

Take care of your dentures, braces, or other dental products.

• If you wear dentures, put them in only when you are eating. Do this for the first 3 to 4 weeks after your chemotherapy. Do not wear them at other times during the first 3 to 4 weeks.
• Brush your dentures 2 times a day. Rinse them well.
• To kill germs, soak your dentures in an antibacterial solution when you are not wearing them.

Preventing Infections

Take care not to get infections for up to one year or more after your chemotherapy.

Practice safe eating and drinking during cancer treatment.

• Do not eat or drink anything that may be undercooked or spoiled.
• Make sure your water is safe.
• Know how to cook and store foods safely.
• Be careful when you eat out. Do not eat raw vegetables, meat, fish, or anything else you are not sure is safe.

Wash your hands with soap and water often, including:

• After being outdoors
• After touching body fluids, such as mucus or blood
• After changing a diaper
• Before handling food
• After using the telephone
• After doing housework
• After going to the bathroom

Keep your house clean. Stay away from crowds. Ask visitors who have a cold to wear a mask, or not to visit. Don't do yard work or handle flowers and plants.

Be careful with pets and animals.

• If you have a cat, keep it inside.
• Have someone else change your cat's litter box every day.
• Don't play rough with cats. Scratches and bites can get infected.
• Stay away from puppies, kittens, and other very young animals.

Ask your provider what vaccines you may need and when to get them.

Other Self-care

Other things you can do to stay healthy include:

• If you have a central venous line or a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line, know how to take care of it.
• If your provider tells you your platelet count is still low, learn how to prevent bleeding during cancer treatment.
• Stay active by walking. Slowly increase how far you go based on how much energy you have.
• Eat enough protein and calories to keep your weight up.
• Ask your provider about liquid food supplements that can help you get enough calories and nutrients.
• Be careful when you are in the sun. Wear a hat with a wide brim. Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on any exposed skin.
• Do not smoke.

Follow-up

You will need close follow-up care with your cancer providers. Be sure to keep all your appointments.

When to Call the Doctor

Contact your provider if you have any of these symptoms:

• Signs of infection, such as fever, chills, or sweats
• Diarrhea that does not go away or is bloody
• Severe nausea and vomiting
• Inability to eat or drink
• Extreme weakness
• Redness, swelling, or drainage from any place where you have an intravenous (IV) line inserted
• A new skin rash or blisters
• Jaundice (your skin or the white part of your eyes looks yellow)
• Pain in your abdomen
• A very bad headache or one that does not go away
• A cough that is getting worse
• Trouble breathing when you are at rest or when you are doing simple tasks
• Burning when you urinate

References

Doroshow JH. Approach to the patient with cancer. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 164.

Freifeld AG, Kaul DR. Infection in the patient with cancer. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 34.

Majithia N, Hallemeier CL, Loprinzi CL. Oral complications. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 40.

National Cancer Institute website. Chemotherapy and you: support for people with cancer. www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/chemotherapy-and-you.pdf. Updated January 2024. Accessed May 28, 2024.

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