Should I avoid shopping centres during Chemo?

Riki_BCNA

Hello @Ellie_Goli and welcome. Please don’t hesitate to call us at BCNA on 1800 500258 for any information or support. Wishing you all the best for your next cycle of chemo.

Beryl C.

Eucalyptus oil is one of natures 'anti-bug' gifts. It only takes a drop in a cup of water to be anti-bug, I put this into a small spray bottle, like the Orange Power spray bottles, and carry it in my hand bag. Lavender is also pretty potent. I made sure I bought a pure essence lavender but the eucalyptus is off the supermarket shelf from the laundry dept. I have become very sensitive to all artificial scents/perfumes since beginning treatment. I also spray the handles of shopping trolleys - is that going to far? Ellie_Goli sounds as though you are set up and feeling better is always a good place to be.

Sarnicad

I didn’t avoid the shops or functions we had so many in the initial round of chemo. I went a sell out football match caught public transport, had about 5 school functions and didn’t use hand sanitizer once!  If I was going to get sick sleeping n3xt to my husband who has had a non stop sinus infection was going to be my problem. The only place I took precautions was at the gp - that’s where the sick people are

obviously I didn’t go out of my way to get infected but I didn’t put my life on hold except for when I was feeling too ill to move

Sister

I had forgotten about the GP - mine told me that whenever I had an appointment to ring reception and tell them I was waiting outside until I was called.

Patti J

@Sister. When I  go to see my G.P. every month, for my Xgeva injection, I wait in the nurse's room. Doctors' rooms and hospitals are the worst places for catching an infection.

Zoffiel

I agree with Patti and Sister. The GP waiting room is best avoided during chemo, set up a system where you wait outside or in your car and have them call you when they are ready to see you. Same applies in the waiting room at your oncologists. This should be simple enough, though the door bitch at my oncologist didn't want to do it. She's a horrible cow, but she's an amateur compared to me so in the end I got my own way. I had to laugh "If we do it for you, we have to do it for everyone.' Yep, you just might. Suck it up.

Blossom1961

My GP clinic takes me to my own separate waiting space. Usually an unoccupied doctors room.

Brenda5

I would suck on an antibacterial strepsils when I had to go shopping. I also stuck to areas where there were seats handy for if I got a little light headed.