What things can raise my odds of getting germ infections when I’m being treated for cancer?
ANSWER
Cancer and cancer treatments can weaken your immune system and make it hard for it to protect your body against germs. For example, chemotherapy can lower the number of white blood cells you have. That makes it tougher for your body to fight germs.
Things that can make it easier for you to get an infection include:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Poor nutrition
- Cancer that affects the blood or lymph nodes, such as leukemia or lymphoma
- Cancer that has spread to other parts of the body
From: Tips to Avoid Germs When You Have Cancer WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by Neha Pathak on February 23, 2019
SOURCES:
American Cancer Society: "Preventing Infections in People With Cancer," "Nutrition for the Person With Cancer During Treatment."
PreventingCancerInfections.org: "Understanding Your Risk for Infection During Chemotherapy."
American Society of Clinical Oncology: "Infection."
SOURCES:
American Cancer Society: "Preventing Infections in People With Cancer," "Nutrition for the Person With Cancer During Treatment."
PreventingCancerInfections.org: "Understanding Your Risk for Infection During Chemotherapy."
American Society of Clinical Oncology: "Infection."
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