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Published May 10, 2012, 09:30 AM

Health Notes: CDC launches program to help chemotherapy patients fight infections

The CDC launched a new program to help patients undergoing chemotherapy fight infections.

By: John Lundy, Duluth News Tribune

Cancer patients being treated with chemotherapy are at risk for infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The treatment damages the white-blood cells that are the key to the body’s immune system.

The CDC estimates that each year 60,000 cancer patients are hospitalized for chemotherapy-related infections and that one patient dies every two hours from this complication.

Because of that, the CDC launched a new program to help patients undergoing chemotherapy fight infections.

It stresses three musts for such patients:

  • Treat a fever as an emergency. If you develop a fever that is 100.4 F or higher for more than one hour, or a one-time temperature of 101 F or higher, call a doctor immediately.

  • Find out from your doctor when your white-blood cell count will be the lowest, because this is when you are most at risk for infections.

  • If you have to go to the emergency room, it’s important to tell the person checking you in that you have cancer and are receiving chemotherapy. If you have an infection, you should not sit in the waiting room for a long time. Infections can become very serious in a short amount of time.

    The CDC has compiled educational materials and additional information at www.cdc.gov/cancer/preventinfections.

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