Chemotherapy Safety
Chemotherapy (chemo) works by destroying cancer cells. Because it may also damage healthy cells, it can be hazardous to people who are exposed to it. This is why there are safety precautions for people who handle chemo.
Not all medicines and drugs to treat cancer work the same way or have the same safety precautions. The information below describes some safety concerns of traditional or standard chemotherapy. There are also other drugs that are used to treat cancer in different ways, including targeted therapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy.
Precautions the cancer care team will take
You may notice your cancer care team using special clothing and protective equipment during and after your chemo treatments. This is to help keep them safe and prevent accidental exposure. These may include:
- Multiple pairs of gloves
- Gowns
- Goggles or plastic face shields
- Special tubing
- Plastic-backed pads
Precautions when getting IV chemo at home
Sometimes, chemo can be given at home using special equipment. This requires precautions for storing, handling, and receiving the chemo. Steps to take may include:
- Storing chemo in a safe place away from the reach of children or pets
- Wearing gloves when touching the chemo bag or pump
- Keeping a chemo spill kit in a safe place with instructions on how to use in the event of a spill.
- Knowing how to properly dispose of hazardous waste
If you are getting IV chemo at home, talk to your cancer care team about any special precautions needed. To learn more, see Getting IV or Injectable Chemotherapy.
Precautions when taking chemo by mouth
Oral chemo (chemo you take by mouth) is usually taken at home. These types of chemo are as strong as other forms of chemo, and many are considered hazardous. There are usually special precautions for storing and handling oral chemo.
You might be told to prevent others from coming into contact with the chemo or your body fluids while taking it and for a time afterwards. Sometimes you need to wear gloves when touching the pills or capsules. Some oral chemo needs to be stored and disposed of in a certain way.
If you are taking an oral chemo, talk to your cancer care team about any special precautions needed at home. To learn more, see Getting Oral Chemotherapy.
Can I be around family and friends?
Unless your care team tells you differently, you can usually be around family and friends while you're getting chemo. On treatment days, family and friends can often come with you. However, some treatment centers only allow patients in the infusion area and visitors may need to stay in the waiting room. Also, most treatment centers do not allow children.
Ask your cancer care team if there are any special precautions you or your loved ones need to follow.
What to do during – and for at least 48 hours after – chemo
It generally takes at least 48 hours for your body to break down and/or get rid of most chemo. Some chemo passes more quickly while others take longer to leave your body. Talk to your doctor or nurse about how the chemo you are getting is passed and how long it may take.
Most of the chemo waste comes out in your body fluids, such as your urine and stool. The waste is also found in your blood and sometimes in vomit, saliva, sweat, semen, and vaginal fluids. Chemo and its waste can harm or irritate skin, and may cause damage. Other people and pets could be exposed to chemo waste for a few days if they come into contact with any of your body fluids.
Here are things you can do to help keep your family, visitors, and pets safe during this time:
- If possible, have others use a separate toilet during this time. If this isn’t possible, clean the toilet seat after each time you use it with a sanitizing wipe.
Put the lid down before flushing to avoid splashing. Flush the toilet twice after you use it, if you have a low volume flush toilet.
- Sit on the toilet when you use it to cut down on splashing.
- Always wash your hands with warm water and soap after using the toilet.
- Keep the toilet lid down when you're not using it to keep pets from drinking the water.
If you vomit into the toilet, clean off all splashes along the seat and rim using a sanitizing wipe. Then flush the toilet.
- If you vomit into a bucket or basin, carefully empty it into the toilet without splashing the contents. Wash out the bucket with hot, soapy water and rinse it; empty the wash and rinse water into the toilet, then flush.
- If others need to touch any of your body fluids or something that has been in contact with your body fluids (like a bucket or basin), they should wear 2 pairs of throw-away gloves. These gloves can be bought in most pharmacies. They should always wash their hands with warm water and soap afterward – even if they had gloves on.
- If others come in contact with any of your body fluids, they should wash the area very well with warm water and soap. It’s not likely to cause any harm but try to avoid this. At your next visit, let your doctor know this happened. Being exposed often may lead to problems, and extra care should be taken to avoid this.
- Any clothes or sheets that have body fluids on them should be washed in your washing machine – not by hand. Wash them twice in hot water with regular laundry detergent. Do not wash them with other clothes. If they can’t be washed right away, seal them in a plastic bag until they can be washed.
- If using throw-away adult diapers, underwear, or sanitary pads, seal them in a leak-proof, plastic bag and throw them away with your regular trash.
- Written by
- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hazardous Drug Exposures in Healthcare. Accessed at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/healthcare/hazardous-drugs/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hazdrug/default.html on March 6, 2025.
Dalton KA, Mason S. Patient and Family Member/Caregiver Education. In Olsen MM, Walton AM, eds. Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs. 4th ed. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society; 2024:97-101.
Gilson S. Chemotherapy. In Maloney-Newton S, Hickey M, Brant JM, eds. Mosby’s Oncology Nursing Advisor: A Comprehensive Guide to Clinical Practice. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2024:388-408.
Olsen MM, Fritzsche D, O’Connor SL. Chemotherapy. In Olsen MM, LeFebvre KB, Walker, SL, Dunphy EP, eds. Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Guidelines and Recommendations for Practice. 2nd ed. Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society; 2023:67-100.
Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). Toolkit for Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs for Nurses in Oncology. Accessed at https://www.ons.org/sites/default/files/2018-06/ONS_Safe_Handling_Toolkit_0.pdf on March 14, 2025
Yuki M, Sekine S, Takase K, Ishida T, Sessink PJ. Exposure of family members to antineoplastic drugs via excreta of treated cancer patients. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2013;19(3):208-217.
Last Revised: May 15, 2025
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