Premedications are drugs you take before your chemotherapy. Premedications help to prepare you for your chemotherapy and lower your chance of having certain side effects. They are prescribed to you when you see your Oncologist for an appointment.
Your healthcare team will tell you if you need premedications. They will go over what they do and when to take them. Some need to be taken as early as 1 day before treatment. Others may need to be taken right before your treatment starts. You will need to pick up your premedications from the Cancer Centre Retail Pharmacy ahead of time.
IV Chemotherapy can get into your body fluids. The drugs will stay in your body fluids for 48 hours (2 days).
While you are on IV chemotherapy it’s important to safely handle your body fluids. Your family and care partners can be exposed to small amounts of the drug by touching your body fluids. The drugs will help you, but could be harmful to a parson who does not need it. You need to follow special steps when dealing with chemotherapy and body fluids.
Body fluids are liquids made from inside your body. They can include:
For your first day of chemotherapy treatment:
After your treatment ends you can go home. Chemotherapy has possible side effects that you need to be aware of while at home. Refer to your Side Effects to Watch for on Chemotherapy handout for more details on what to do if you have side effects.
At home, you will still have chemotherapy in your body for 48 hours (2 days) after the treatment. You will need to follow steps for safety while using the bathroom, being intimate, and cleaning up body fluids. This will help to keep you, and your loved ones, safe.
Your treatment plan may also include taking an oral chemotherapy or having an infuser pump after you finish IV chemotherapy in the chemosuite. This will extend how long you will have to follow the safety Precautions in this booklet. Your nurse will give you more information if your treatment plan includes oral chemotherapy or an infuser pump. These resources include safety and spill clean up information.
You can also refer to each treatment guide online or visit the J. Wesley Graham Patient & Family Resource Centre for a printed copy.
The items below are good to have on hand at home while you are on chemotherapy.
When on IV Chemotherapy you will have to follow special steps to throw items away that have come in contact with your body fluids. Try to use disposable (one-time use) items. This allows you to throw them away easily and safely. For example:
To safely throw these items away you should:
Remember: Children and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not handle or clean up spills from someone on chemotherapy.
It is safe to share a bathroom with others as long as you clean up splashes or spills safely.
When going to the bathroom:
You should also follow the above information if you vomit into a toilet, bucket, or bowl. Always wear disposable gloves when cleaning any of these items.
If you need to use a reusable urinal or bedpan:
When you are at home, you might get body fluids on clothing, bed sheets, or undergarments. If they are soiled you will need to wash them safely.
Before you begin to clean up:
If you have gotten body fluids on your clothing or bed sheets, you should:
During cancer treatment, you and your partner might need to change how you express intimacy.
You may not be able to have sex the same way as before. If you are planning to have sex:
The amount of chemotherapy that transfers into saliva (spit) is very small. Kissing is safe at any time while on chemotherapy.
Learn more about chemotherapy through the Princess Margaret Cancer Classes “Chemotherapy Series”. These classes are free and created for patients who are starting treatment.
These are common questions you might have when starting chemotherapy. If you don’t see your question here, write it down and ask your doctor or nurse at your next visit.
Yes, there are 3 bathrooms for patients to use. Family or care partners can use the bathrooms in each clinic area or across from the Cancer Centre Main Registration.
Yes, you can bring 1 care partner with you. This can be a family member, friend, caregiver, etc. Children under the age of 18 are not allowed in the chemotherapy suite. If you need support with childcare, talk to your Oncology Nurse.
Your Oncologist will renew the prescription for your next round of premedications when you see them in person for follow-up. Pick up your premedications before your next treatment from the pharmacy.
Yes, there is free WI-FI across the cancer centre.
The need to wear a mask in the WRHN Cancer Centre can change at any time. When you register for your appointment, staff will let you know if you need to put a mask on.
If you are a patient and are feeling unwell or have a known infection, call your care team as soon as possible. Do not wait until you get to the cancer centre. If you are a visitor and are feeling unwell or have a known infection, stay home. If visiting your loved one is important, please tell the care team and wear a mask.
Yes, you can eat and drink while you are getting treatment in the chemosuite. Your nurse may ask you to pause eating while they start your treatment. Care partners are encouraged to eat their meal in the waiting room, resource centre, or WRHN cafeteria.
Throughout your treatment try to eat a balanced diet to get enough energy and protein to fuel your body.
Some natural health products or supplements can affect how well your treatment works. In people getting treatment for cancer live vaccines, probiotics, and some natural health products can pose a risk to your health. Before starting any new products, always talk to your healthcare team. You can also ask the pharmacist in the chemosuite if you have questions about natural health products.
No, you cannot leave the chemosuite while you are getting treatment. But, you can stand up and walk around the chemosuite. This is so that your chemosuite nurse can monitor you.
No, you can continue to wash your dishes and cutlery the normal way. There is no need to wash separate from other dishes.
About This Resource
Author: Waterloo Wellington Regional Cancer Program
Revised: December 2025
PEM#: WRHNCC0048
Use this resource for your information only. It does not replace medical advice from your doctor or other healthcare professionals.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cancerwaterloowellington.ca
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