Helping People with Cancer Stay Physically Healthy

If you are providing care for someone with cancer, we offer some helpful tips below.

Going to the Doctor

If you take the person with cancer to the doctor, you can do some very important tasks—

• Before the visit, write down questions and information you want to share with the doctor, like new symptoms or possible side effects.
• Bring a list of medicines the patient is taking.
• Write down what the doctor says.
• Make sure you both understand what to do next.

Preventing Infections

Cancer patients treated with chemotherapy are more likely to get an infection. That’s because chemotherapy can weaken the immune system.

To help make sure the person with cancer doesn’t get an infection—

• Stay clean and wash your hands often.
• Get a flu shot every year, and encourage the patient to get one, too.
• Get the COVID-19 vaccine and any booster doses to stay up-to-date.
• Practice good health habits to help stop germs from spreading.
• If you notice any cuts or scrapes on the patient’s skin, help clean and bandage them.

Call a doctor right away if you notice that the patient has any signs of an infection, especially a fever.

Reporting Possible Side Effects

Cancer treatments can cause many side effects. A side effect is a problem that occurs when treatment affects healthy tissues or organs. It’s important for you to watch for possible side effects. Encourage the person with cancer to talk to the doctor about any physical, mental, or emotional changes.

Making Choices to Stay Healthy

You can also encourage the person with cancer to make healthy choices like—

• Staying away from tobacco.
• Limiting the amount of alcohol he or she drinks.
• Protecting his or her skin from overexposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun and tanning beds.
• Eating lots of fruits and vegetables.
• Keeping a healthy weight.
• Being physically active.

Getting Follow-Up Care After Treatment Ends

You can help the person with cancer get follow-up care—checkups and tests to find early signs of new or the same cancer. After each visit to the doctor, make sure you understand what the patient needs to do next.