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After chemotherapy - discharge

Chemotherapy - discharge; Chemotherapy - home care discharge; Chemotherapy - discharge mouth care; Chemotherapy - preventing infections discharge

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.

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.

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.

Wash your hands with soap and water often, including:

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.

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:

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:

Related Information

Mastectomy
Cancer
Chemotherapy
Bleeding during cancer treatment
Dry mouth during cancer treatment
Eating extra calories when sick - children
Eating extra calories when sick - adults
Hypercalcemia - discharge
Oral mucositis - self-care
Safe eating during cancer treatment
When you have nausea and vomiting
Drinking water safely during cancer treatment
Central venous catheter - dressing change
Central venous catheter - flushing
Peripherally inserted central catheter - flushing
Chemotherapy - what to ask your doctor
Clear liquid diet
Full liquid diet
Diarrhea - what to ask your health care provider - adult
Diarrhea - what to ask your doctor - child

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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Review Date: 3/31/2024  

Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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