Safe Handling of Chemotherapy

The guidelines below are for the safety of those living with a person getting chemotherapy:

  • Keep chemotherapy, times in direct contact with chemotherapy and bodily fluids from a person getting chemotherapy out of reach of children and pets.
  • Wear gloves when handling chemotherapy, whether it is through the IV, as a short or in pill form.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water after you take your gloves off.
  • Return all unused chemotherapy to the clinic or pharmacy you got it from. Do not throw it in the trash or into a water supply.
  • If you are a pregnant woman, do not:
    • Handle chemotherapy
    • Have direct contact with bodily fluids from a person getting chemotherapy
  • Handle bodily fluids with special care for 48 hours after a dose of chemotherapy is given.
    • Do not eat or drink with the same utensils or cup as the person getting chemotherapy.
    • Wear gloves when handling bodily fluids, diapers, urinals, vomit basins or dirty linens.
    • Carry dirty linens away from your body. Wash them right away in hot water separately from other laundry.
    • If possible, have the person receiving chemotherapy use a separate toilet. Close the lid prior to flushing and make sure to flush twice.
    • Place a plastic cover on the mattress where the person receiving chemotherapy sleeps to protect it from bodily fluids.
  • Wash other items that have come in contact with chemotherapy very well with soap and water.
  • Wash your skin with soap and water if you come in contact with chemotherapy.