Frequently Asked Questions
VCSS’s
Home Safety for Pet Owners & Patients Receiving Anti-Cancer Medications
If your pet has received anti-cancer medications at our clinic, your care team wears gloves, a mask, a gown, and eye protection, while giving your pet’s cancer treatment. These items are called personal protective equipment (PPE). This equipment keeps your care team from being exposed to the medications.
It’s important to also keep yourself and your loved ones safe from being exposed to the medication. Before starting treatment, ask your care team about any steps you may need to take while at home.
Your oncology team will talk with you about the medications your pet is getting and how to handle bodily waste, trash, laundry, and spills. Below, we will give some general tips for safely handling bodily waste at home.
What are anti-cancer medications?
How do I handle body waste after cancer treatment?
Many anti-cancer medications will leave your pet’s body through urine, bowel movements, vomit, and blood for about 48 to 72 hours (2 to 3 days) after a treatment is given. The steps below should be followed during that time:
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Try to avoid high human- traffic parts of the yard for eliminations (near play structures, eating areas) and pick up feces immediately. Wear gloves and dispose of waste in a plastic bag in the trash.
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After handling waste, wash your hands well with soap and water.
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Wear gloves when cleaning up any urine, stool, or vomit, or changing diapers/incontinence pads. Wash your hands with the gloves on, then remove the gloves, throw them in the trash and wash your hands again with soap and water.
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Paper towels used in cleaning and diapers can be thrown out in the regular trash.
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We recommend spraying household cleanser on a paper towel and then wiping up mess, rather than spraying directly on waste.
How do I handle trash and laundry?
Research is ongoing about the best and safest ways to handle trash and laundry that have bodily waste on them after cancer treatment. Unless told otherwise, for 48 to 72 hours after your treatment you should:
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Wear gloves to handle contaminated (dirty) trash or laundry. Wash your hands before and after removing the gloves.
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Place contaminated trash in doubled up plastic leak-proof bags and place them in your regular trash.
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If possible, wash contaminated laundry right away. If you cannot wash it right away, place it in a leak-proof plastic bag and wash it as soon as possible.
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Wash contaminated and soiled laundry by itself, separately from other laundry. Use regular laundry detergent and warm or hot water. Some cancer groups recommend washing heavily contaminated laundry (soaked through in spots) two times with bleach and hot water to make sure it has all been washed. If you have any questions about how to clean up bodily waste, call your care team.
How do I handle a spill?
If anti-cancer medications or body fluids are spilled or splashed within 48 to 72 hours after treatment:
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Wear gloves to clean up the spill/splash.
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Wipe up the spill with paper towels.
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Clean the area with soap and water. Rinse using paper towels.
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Throw out trash by double bagging in leak-proof plastic bags.
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Wash hands before and after removing gloves.
How do I keep my loved ones safe?
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Hugging and kissing are safe for you and your partner or family members. However, if your pet drools excessively or licks you, please wash the area of contact with soap and water.
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You can visit, sit with, hug, and kiss your furry friends.
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If you are pregnant, you can be around your pet, though (if possible) you should not clean up any of your bodily fluids after their treatment.
Home safety while taking anti-cancer medications is important. Be sure to talk with your care team about any questions or concerns you might have about being home after cancer treatment. The goal is to help you feel relaxed, safe, and prepared while at home.