Caregiver

Caring for someone who has cancer is difficult, especially when it comes to dealing with some of the side effects of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy has many side effects that are difficult to manage. One of the most important side effects of chemotherapy is one you can’t see. Chemotherapy can weaken the immune system by lowering the number of white blood cells in the body and this increases the risk of getting a life-threatening infection.

This website will provide you with practical measures you can take to lower your loved one's risk of getting an infection. In this section of the website, you will be asked a few questions about your loved one and their treatment. After answering a few questions about your loved one, he or she will be placed in either a low-risk or high-risk category based on their risk for getting a low white blood cell count during their treatment. You will then receive tips on how you and your loved one can lower their risk for getting an infection.

You are less than 10 questions away from taking the right steps toward preventing infections!

 

Has your loved one ever or is your loved one scheduled to get a Stem Cell Transplant (SCT) or a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)?

At this time, is your loved one getting or scheduled to get chemotherapy?

Age?

Gender?

Does your loved one have any of the following conditions?

What type of cancer does your loved one have?

What is your loved one’s stage of cancer?

Has your loved one received chemotherapy/radiation/biotherapy treatments in the past?

Which choice best describes your loved one?

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 

Find Out Your Risk Now >