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About This Site

About This Site

3 Steps Toward Preventing Infections During Cancer Treatment (3 Steps) is an evidence-based, interactive online program designed to help assess a cancer patient’s risk for developing both a low white blood cell count during chemotherapy and subsequent infections. After completing a short questionnaire, cancer patients and caregivers will receive messages designed to educate them about keeping themselves healthy while receiving chemotherapy.

What Is Infection Risk?

Risk describes a  person’s chance of getting a condition or a disease. The 3 Steps tool estimates the risk for getting a low white blood cell count and possible infections while receiving chemotherapy.

Of course, this tool only provides an estimate. Determining an individual’s risk of disease or a specific condition is not an exact science. You should speak with your doctor or nurse about your specific risk.

How Does the Risk Assessment Tool Estimate Your Risk?

The tool will look at each answer you provide and decide if you have any risk factors that may put you at a high risk for getting a low white blood cell count during chemotherapy. Depending on your risk factors, you will then be placed in either a low-risk or high-risk category and will be given helpful tips on how to help lower your risk for developing infections during cancer treatment.

Who Developed this Website and Overall Program?

The content for this website was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with experts in the fields of oncology and infection control. The Website is part of a larger program called Preventing Infections in Cancer Patients, a comprehensive program focused on providing information, action steps and tools for patients, their families, and their healthcare providers to reduce the risk of developing potentially life-threatening infections duringtreatment. This program was made possible through a CDC Foundation partnership with, and funding from, Amgen. As part of the partnership, the CDC Foundation considered oncology expertise provided by Amgen. Learn more about the program at https://www.cdcfoundation.org/what/program/preventing-infections-cancer-patients Learn more about CDC's work to prevent infections in cancer patients at http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/preventinfections

For more information on the science behind this Website as well as additional resources, please review the Helpful Websites and References located in this section.


Helpful Websites >

Education Materials

CDC created a variety of resources for patients, caregivers and healthcare providers, including fact sheets and posters.

"I never thought seriously about the risk of infection until I was hospitalized and unable to fight a fever. It’s so important to understand what steps you can take to help protect yourself."Donna Deegan, News AnchorBreast Cancer Survivor 

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