Taking care with infections during chemotherapy

Reduce your risk

When to seek help

To prevent the spread of infection:

• check your temperature daily and any time you feel unwell
• avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands
• check with your doctor about having flu and COVID-19 vaccines
• ask people close to you to consider having the flu and COVID-19 vaccines
• ask family and friends with a cold, flu or other contagious infection (e.g. COVID-19 or a cold sore) not to visit while they have symptoms
• try to avoid crowded places, such as shopping centres; if this is not possible, wear a face mask
• try to avoid crowded places, such as shopping centres; if this is not possible, wear a face mask
• wash your hands with soap and water before preparing food and eating, and after using the toilet
• avoid drinking or cooking with untreated water (e.g. from rainwater tanks, bores and rivers); if you rely on rainwater for drinking or cooking, boil and cool the water before using it
• eat freshly cooked foods; avoid raw foods (fish, seafood, meat and eggs) and soft cheeses; wash fruits and vegetables well before eating; prepare and store food properly.

Contact your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately if you experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• a temperature of 38°C or higher
• chills or shivering
• sweating, especially at night
• burning or stinging feeling when urinating (weeing)
• a severe cough or sore throat
• shortness of breath
• vomiting that lasts more than a few hours
• severe abdominal (belly) pain, constipation or diarrhoea
• unusual bleeding or bruising, such as heavy nosebleeds, blood in your urine (wee) or black faeces (poo)
• feeling faint or dizzy for a long time and having a
  rapid heartbeat
• any sudden worsening of your health.