1, avoid the occurrence of infection Try to avoid contact with people who have infectious diseases such as colds, measles, chicken pox, etc. If you go to public places where the crowd is more crowded, you need to wear a mask. Remember to wear protective gloves when planting flowers or washing animal and child excrement. Wash your hands frequently, especially before eating or after going to the bathroom. Avoid raw foods such as kimchi, fruits, pickles, raw fish, raw eggs, etc. Eat cooked foods and take plenty of vitamins A, C and E. Do not squeeze or scratch pimples and acne. Keep a balanced diet and adequate nutrition.
The majority of infections come from the normal flora of the skin, gastrointestinal tract and genital tract. Some patients are unable to identify the exact cause of the infection, so they must check their own mouth daily, paying special attention to the presence of red spots, ulcers or white puffy skin, and rinse their mouth with non-irritating mouthwash from time to time. Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush instead to avoid hurting your gums. Try to use an electric razor instead of a razor to avoid scratching your skin. Wash your shower with a mild soap and pat your skin dry afterwards, not by rubbing it dry.
If your skin becomes dry and cracked, use a lotion or oil to soften it. When cutting your nails, be careful not to cut your skin. Also be careful not to hurt yourself when using scissors, needles or kitchen knives.
3, keep the excretory system hygienic After each bowel movement, gently and thoroughly clean the anal area. If there is inflammation or hemorrhoids in the anal area, be sure to ask your physician or caregiver for some self-care tips. When using suppositories, it is important to avoid breaking the anal mucosa and causing infection. If you have an indwelling catheter, disinfect the urethral opening and urinary catheter at least twice a day. Female patients should be wiped from the front to the back after relieving urine and should not wipe back and forth. If you are menstruating, you should change the sanitary napkin from time to time to prevent infection.
If your white blood cell count keeps dropping during chemotherapy, your doctor may suspend your next chemotherapy treatment or temporarily lower the dose of the drug. In addition, if your white blood cell count is too low, your doctor may give you recombinant human granulocyte-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to maintain your white blood cell count to prevent it from dropping. (Note: Medicare has restrictions on the use of this drug.) A drop in white blood cells is a common occurrence during cancer treatment, but most of them return to normal after treatment is completed. As long as you increase your protein and calorie intake during treatment to prevent it from happening, strengthen infection prevention measures, and cooperate with your doctor, you can still safely pass the treatment period.