Protecting the household for 48 hours after each dose

Why this matters

Chemotherapy stays in body fluids for some time after each treatment. For most regimens that's ~48 hours; some agents stay up to 7 days; continuous-infusion pumps stay 7 days after the last dose.eviq · Chemotherapy safety at home

Children and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not touch chemotherapy medicines or body fluids that might contain them.

Toilet

• Sit down on the toilet seat to use it.
• Close the lid, then flush with a full flush.
• Wash hands with soap and water.
• Use sanitary / incontinence pads if needed; protect cushions and mattresses.
• Septic tanks, composting toilets, and eco-friendly systems may be harmed by body fluids containing chemotherapy — check with the manufacturer.

Vomiting (in a bowl or bag)

• Vomit into a plastic bowl or sealable plastic bag with no holes.
• Bowl: wear gloves, empty into the toilet, close the lid, full flush. If within 48 hours of treatment (or on a continuous pump), flush a second time. Wash bowl with soapy water, dry with paper towels, and reserve it only for vomit until treatment ends.
• Bag: seal it; double-bag if thin or damaged; put in general rubbish.
• Wash hands with soap and water afterward.

Cleaning spills (urine, stool, blood, vomit, chemo)

• Wear disposable gloves; soak up with paper towels.
• Wash the surface with disposable cloths and soapy water, then dry with paper towels.
• Bag the towels, cloths and gloves; tie the bag; put in general rubbish. Wash hands.

Laundry with body fluids on it

• Gloves on to handle. Wash straight away if you can.
• If not, seal in a plastic bag until it can be washed. Bag and bin gloves after loading the machine.
• No hand-washing. Machine wash on the longest cycle, hot or cold, with detergent.
• Run a second full wash cycle (twice in total).
• Dry outside if possible. Then use as normal.

Used pads, nappies, colostomy / urine bags

• Gloves on. Place items in a sealed plastic bag.
• Add the gloves into the bag, tie it, general rubbish.
• Wash skin with soap and water. Wash hands.

Skin / eye contact

• Eyes: rinse with water or eyewash for 10–15 min; call the team immediately.
• Skin: wash with soap and water; if redness or stinging, call the team.

Sex and protection

• Use effective contraception during treatment — chemo can harm an unborn baby.
• Use a condom, dental dam, or other physical barrier for any sex during the precaution window (usually 48 h, up to 7 days for some agents — confirm with the team).
• Clean sex toys / aids with soapy water and dry with paper towels.
• No open-mouth kissing for 48 h (up to 7 days for some agents); saliva may contain chemotherapy.

If you take medicines at home

• Store all tablets, capsules, liquids and injections in a safe place away from children and animals; follow the label.
• Dispose of needles and syringes in the sharps container the team gave you. Return leftover medicines to your hospital pharmacy.
• Family / carers should not touch the medicines bare-handed; use gloves if needed.
• Wash hands after every dose or waste handling.

Common questions

• Hugs and touch? Yes, safe.
• Same toilet as the rest of the household? Yes. If body fluids splash on the seat, gloves on, soapy-water wash.
• Same drinking glass / utensils? Yes — washed with detergent in between.

Source

All advice on this page is drawn from eviq · Chemotherapy safety at home — Cancer Institute NSW (September 2025). Chemotherapy safety at home — patient information sheet. ID 3095, Version 7. SC252600473.

eviq · Chemotherapy safety at home