Hygiene: The first step to surviving cancer

Anil Nair, CEO, St. Jude India Childcare Centres highlights that minimising the risk of exposure needs to be a cancer patient’s top priority. To achieve this, one has to take hygiene very seriously

It is common knowledge that maintaining hygiene is necessary to avoid infection and disease. But every once in a while, we tend to throw caution to the wind or let our guard down. Unfortunately, a cancer patient cannot afford to slip up even once.

According to WHO, cancer is a leading cause of death globally, accounting for 1 in 6 deaths. Nearly 10 million people worldwide are estimated to have died from cancer in 2018. Cancer and cancer treatments tend to weaken the immune system. With a weakened immune system, one is at a higher risk of infection. Therefore, minimising the risk of exposure needs to be a cancer patient’s top priority. To achieve this, one has to take hygiene very seriously.

The human body is full of good bacteria that help with everything from breaking down food to fighting illness. These bacteria are called the microbiome and help keep us healthy and alive. Cancer treatment can disrupt the gut microbiome. Eating nutritious foods high in fibre and fresh fruits and vegetables can help feed the beneficial bacteria that already live inside your gut. To maintain a healthy microbiome, it’s essential to look after food safety and good personal hygiene.

Food safety is extremely important and is especially critical during and after cancer treatment. Foodborne illness can be caused by eating contaminated food with harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation weaken the immune system by reducing the white blood cell count, which is required to fight off infection. Since your body’s ability to combat infection is lowered, you are more likely to catch an infection in the lining of your mouth. Poor oral hygiene has been known to cause lung, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer and an increased risk of developing oral cancer.

We have established that a cancer patient is vulnerable to infections. During this time, the site of care or treatment plays an important role since it is a point of exposure for a cancer patient. Hence, it is essential that cancer care centres follow basic hygiene practices to ensure that patients are not at any risk of catching secondary infections. Cancer care centres and hospitals should follow a set of protocols that include using standardised gloves, masks, PPE suits, and sanitisation.

Hygiene elements for hospitals and childcare centres

• Hand hygiene is the most important measure to prevent the spread of infections among patients.

• Staff should be trained to select and put on appropriate PPE and remove PPE to reduce the chance of skin or clothing contamination.

• Respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette limits the transmission of respiratory pathogens spread by droplet or airborne routes.

• Safe injection practices to prevent transmission of infectious diseases between one patient and another or between a patient and hospital staff.

• Sterile instruments and devices to be used. Instrument processing requires multiple steps including cleaning, disinfection, and sterilisation, using specialised equipment.

• Every hospital should have policies and procedures for containing, transporting, and handling instruments and equipment that may be contaminated with blood or body fluids.

• All used disposable syringes and needles, scalpel blades, and other sharp items should be placed in appropriate puncture-resistant containers located close to the area where they are used.

• The environment and surface areas should be kept clean and disinfected.

• Clean water supply should be available

• Waste disposal process should be in place

The maintenance of the cancer care facility needs to be a priority for the management, down to the first and last person coming in contact with the patient. Proper hygiene and care during cancer treatment can limit exposure and amplify the results successfully.