It is important to keep your house and your body as clean as possible while going through breast cancer treatment. You will receive instructions for managing your wounds after breast surgery, and if you have a port-a-cath surgically inserted. But during chemotherapy it is more important than ever to keep the home clean, not only for yourself in picking up bacteria and germs, but also for anyone living with you. Chemotherapy drugs are a poison, so as you expel them over time between treatments you need to take some extra precautions.
I was advised to flush the toilet twice for 4 days after treatment to make sure the toilet bowl is washed out well. Also, to wipe the toilet seat with cleaning wipes, like Clorox or Lysol disinfecting wipes once each day. Keep the shower and sinks clean (more than usual). Use your judgement.
You will be washing your hands all of the time. Keep them moisturized. You do not want them to dry out and crack.
Change your sheets regularly. It’s good to keep the sheets clean in general, but when the hair loss begins (approximately 3 weeks after chemo starts, give or take), you will want to change the pillow cases and sheets, or even wash the rest of the bedding more often. Even though I always wore a top to bed to cover my port completely, I was concerned about keeping it clean all of the time, including having clean sheets.
The hair loss also made me vacuum more often.
I steam cleaned my wooden floors more than I used to. It sterilizes them. I used a steam mop specifically for wooden floors.
I repeat because I cannot emphasize enough how important this is, you will be washing your hands all of the time. Keep them moisturized. You do not want them to dry out and crack.
In the kitchen, I wiped the kitchen counters down once a week with a very diluted mixture of bleach and water.
I used one-use Biodegradable Latex Medical and Food Prep Quality Gloves when handling all raw meat and seafood. I found them in the pharmacy section in my supermarket. If you are allergic to latex seek an alternative.
If you can get someone else to wash the dishes, all the better. One, it keeps your hands from drying out, two, it keeps you away from the liquid detergents and any bacteria, and three, it keeps your hands out of hot or warm water for extended periods of time. Heat can draw the chemo to your fingertips, which may cause numbing (my theory ever since an oncologist told me to hold ice in my hands to thwart it. She said it pushes the chemo away and to try it.)
Here’s a good link for more information on keeping your kitchen and foods clean and safe.
In terms of healthy items for the body it was recommended by my team to avoid scented soaps, deodorant, shampoos, hand creams, and so on. I already used Ivory Soap, the plain white bars, so I stuck with those. I bought a natural deodorant in the Natural Food section in my local grocery store (unscented). I purchased my all-natural biotin shampoo there as well. And if you need panty liners/pads, you can find all cotton, natural ones, like Natracare wherever organic products are sold. And if you do wear them, change them regularly.
Take care of yourself and protect your loved ones.
TIP: It’s a good idea to shower after hospital visits. And clean the bottom of your shoes. I remember talking with a nurse who was caring for my father years ago. She said that every day when she got home from her shift, she stripped off everything as soon as she walked through the door and dumped it all into the wash, then showered. That’s pretty much what I did. You can never be too safe.
TIP: To try to thwart off numbing hands and fingertips, which is a common side effect with chemotherapy, I washed them in warm water with soap, then while rinsing, I changed the water to cold for the last few seconds to push the blood away. Just an idea I had. I’m not far enough along after chemo to see if it killed the numbing 100%. I had very little numbing, and it is dissipating, or almost completely gone, but I’ll know more in the months and years to come. We all react differently, so it is not to say the cold water treatment worked for me even if it seems like it. It was just a precaution I used. Why not?
TIP: I always kept hand sanitizer in my purse at all times. And a small package of hand wipes (travel size Wet Ones), plus a larger sized container in my car. I always sanitized my hands right away after grocery shopping. You can use the sanitizers at the hospital, too. But with all of this washing and sanitizing, don’t forget to moisturize your hands throughout the day with hydrating creams. Cleaning your hands and sanitizing them will dry them out and your skin may crack. This exposes you to germs and infection.
TIP: Keep anything you bring with you into the chemotherapy treatment units clean. For your sake and for others. If you are coughing a lot, or have a cold, make sure you wear surgical masks to not expose others. They have them available at most hospitals, but you can buy a box for yourself. You may want to use them when you go out in public, especially if it is cold and flu season.
TIP: Cleaning is exercise! You need to try to get some exercise while on chemo to help fight fatigue and help to detox your body between sessions. It may seem very difficult to get motivated at times. Consider vacuuming, dust mopping, and doing the laundry exercise, because it is. Rest in between if you feel the need. Listen to your body. You won’t have the energy you are used to.
TIP: Use a soft toothbrush. The lining of your mouth and gums can become weak. Be careful when brushing and no flossing until you are well beyond chemo. You do not want your gums bleeding during this time when your immune system is at its weakest.
TIP: Rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free mouthwash. I used Biotene, a tip from a friend. It can be found in the mouthwash section of your supermarket.
TIP: Wash your kitchen dishrags daily. Don’t use sponges as they are bacteria-laden.
TIP: Avoid cut flowers, dried flowers and plants as much as possible.
TIP: Avoid dental work during chemotherapy. I had my teeth cleaned before chemo started.
TIP: Wash your hands after petting or playing with your pet. Let someone else handle the cleanup and litter boxes. Don’t take a chance. If you have no one to help, use a disposable mask and gloves.
TIP: Use lip balm to stop any cracking of your lips.
TIP: Wear slippers around the house to protect your feet.
Helpful Links
https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/basics/clean/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
https://www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/index.html
https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/cold-prevention-hand-washing#1
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/hand-washing/art-20046253