Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsChemo and InfectionsColdsThe FluTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Chemo and Infections
Colds
The Flu
Treatment
Prevention
People who are receivingchemotherapyare more likely to get sick with colds and influenza (the flu) because the treatments weaken the immune system. In serious cases, even a simple cold could be life-threatening for a cancer patient. This is why it’s important to work with your healthcare provider to manage and prevent these illnesses.
This article will discuss how to deal with a cold, the flu, or another infection while undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
How Does Chemotherapy Increase the Risk of Colds and Flu?
Chemotherapy weakens theimmune system, making people who are undergoing treatment more susceptible to colds, the flu, or other infections.
8 Things to Know Before Your First Round of Chemo
However, chemo cannot differentiate cancer cells from healthy cells, which means that it can also harm healthy cells. When this happens, people experience certain side effects.
Chemo can damage the bone marrow, which reduces its ability to producewhite blood cells. Your body needs white blood cells to help fight off infections.Neutropenia, a low level of a type of white blood cells called neutrophils, can occur in people getting chemotherapy.
When the body does not have enough white blood cells, it is more vulnerable to viruses and other pathogens.
An infection can lead to more severe symptoms and worse outcomes, which is why it’s important to let your healthcare provider know right away if you start to feel sick.
Colds and Chemotherapy
When you are receiving chemotherapy, it’s important to be on the lookout for symptoms of an infection—even a simple cold.
Symptoms of a Cold
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of a cold include:
The Flu and Chemotherapy
You might also be more likely to catch the flu when you are receiving chemo. The signs and symptoms of the flu can include:
Symptoms of the Flu
You may have some of these symptoms if you have a cold, but there are some differences between cold and flu symptoms that you should be aware of.
FluAbrupt onset of symptomsYou will be so sick that getting out of bed will be difficultAny symptoms that you do experience will be severeColdGradual onset of symptomsYou will feel unwell but can still function throughout the daySymptoms will often be mild and manageable
FluAbrupt onset of symptomsYou will be so sick that getting out of bed will be difficultAny symptoms that you do experience will be severe
Abrupt onset of symptoms
You will be so sick that getting out of bed will be difficult
Any symptoms that you do experience will be severe
ColdGradual onset of symptomsYou will feel unwell but can still function throughout the daySymptoms will often be mild and manageable
Gradual onset of symptoms
You will feel unwell but can still function throughout the day
Symptoms will often be mild and manageable
The Flu vs. COVID-19
You are also at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 if you are undergoing chemo.It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of COVID, as well as how it is different from other respiratory infections.
COVID, RSV, and the Flu: This Year’s Triple Threat
Both infections can cause a fever, body aches, and cough. COVID-19 can also cause loss of sense of smell and taste.
When to Call Your Healthcare ProviderInfections, including a cold, the flu, and COVID, can be life-threatening for people with weak immune systems.If you have symptoms of an infection while you are receiving chemotherapy, call your healthcare provider as soon as you start feeling unwell. If you cannot reach your healthcare team, you may need to visit the emergency department at your nearest hospital to get an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
Infections, including a cold, the flu, and COVID, can be life-threatening for people with weak immune systems.If you have symptoms of an infection while you are receiving chemotherapy, call your healthcare provider as soon as you start feeling unwell. If you cannot reach your healthcare team, you may need to visit the emergency department at your nearest hospital to get an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
Treating a cold, the flu, or another infection is different for people receiving chemo because they cannot take certain medications.
What Does “Flu-Like Illness” Mean?
Many people first reach for cold and flu remedies at their local pharmacies to soothe a cold, but if you’re having chemo, talk to your healthcare provider before taking any over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
The treatment that you receive for an infection while you’re undergoing chemotherapy will depend on the cause of the infection and how severe your symptoms are.
Treatment will typically last between seven and 14 days. If you do not respond to treatment within three to five days, your healthcare provider might give you more medication or a different medication.
Preventing Colds, Flu, and Infections
If you are undergoing cancer treatments, there are steps you can take to prevent colds, the flu, and other infections.
Practice Good Hygiene
Practicing good hygiene is important for anyone, but it’s especially crucial for those undergoing chemotherapy. To ensure that you are keeping yourself protected from infections:
The Right Way to Wash Your Hands
Diet
It is common for people receiving chemotherapy to experience changes in appetite. Being full faster, feeling nauseated, and experiencing a change in the way food tastes all affect how you eat.
However, to keep your general health as good as it can be while you are undergoing chemo, make sure you’re getting as many nutrients and vitamins as possible from your diet. Choose immune-boosting foods such as:
Activity and Rest
You should avoid anyone you think may have a cold, the flu, or another type of infection as well as large indoor crowds.
How Cancer Affects Sleep
Get Vaccinated
During chemotherapy, your healthcare provider may recommend that you getvaccinatedagainst the flu and COVID-19. Some studies have found that vaccination can help the body build up protection and help you avoid the illness while you are in treatment.
Is the COVID Vaccine Safe for People With Lung Cancer?
Summary
If you notice any signs of an infection while you are undergoing chemotherapy, call your healthcare provider right away.
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15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health (NIH).Cancer chemotherapy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing infections in cancer patients: Information for patients who are getting chemotherapy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cold versus flu.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu symptoms & complications.Crolley VE, Hanna D, Joharatnam-Hogan N, et al.COVID-19 in cancer patients on systemic anti-cancer therapies: outcomes from the CAPITOL (COVID-19 Cancer PatIenT Outcomes in North London) cohort study.Ther Adv Med Oncol.2020;12:1758835920971147. doi:10.1177/1758835920971147Johns Hopkins Medicine.COVID-19 vs. the flu.National Cancer Institute.Infection and Neutropenia during Cancer Treatment.American Cancer Society.Managing and treating infections.Canadian Cancer Society.Infection.Marinho EDC, Custódio IDD, Ferreira IB, et al.Impact of chemotherapy on perceptions related to food intake in women with breast cancer: A prospective study.PLoS One.2017;12(11):e0187573. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0187573Harvard School of Public Health.Nutrition and immunity.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Cancer diet: Foods to add and avoid during cancer treatment.Schmidt T, van Mackelenbergh M, Wesch D, Mundhenke C.Physical activity influences the immune system of breast cancer patients.J Cancer Res Ther. 2017;13(3):392-398. doi:10.4103/0973-1482.150356Souza RCDS, Dos Santos MR, das Chagas Valota IA, Sousa CS, Costa Calache ALS.Factors associated with sleep quality during chemotherapy: An integrative review.Nurs Open. 2020;7(5):1274-1284. doi:10.1002/nop2.516Vollaard A, Schreuder I, Slok-Raijmakers L, Opstelten W, Rimmelzwaan G, Gelderblom H.Influenza vaccination in adult patients with solid tumours treated with chemotherapy.Eur J Cancer. 2017;76:134-143. doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2017.02.012
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institutes of Health (NIH).Cancer chemotherapy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing infections in cancer patients: Information for patients who are getting chemotherapy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cold versus flu.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu symptoms & complications.Crolley VE, Hanna D, Joharatnam-Hogan N, et al.COVID-19 in cancer patients on systemic anti-cancer therapies: outcomes from the CAPITOL (COVID-19 Cancer PatIenT Outcomes in North London) cohort study.Ther Adv Med Oncol.2020;12:1758835920971147. doi:10.1177/1758835920971147Johns Hopkins Medicine.COVID-19 vs. the flu.National Cancer Institute.Infection and Neutropenia during Cancer Treatment.American Cancer Society.Managing and treating infections.Canadian Cancer Society.Infection.Marinho EDC, Custódio IDD, Ferreira IB, et al.Impact of chemotherapy on perceptions related to food intake in women with breast cancer: A prospective study.PLoS One.2017;12(11):e0187573. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0187573Harvard School of Public Health.Nutrition and immunity.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Cancer diet: Foods to add and avoid during cancer treatment.Schmidt T, van Mackelenbergh M, Wesch D, Mundhenke C.Physical activity influences the immune system of breast cancer patients.J Cancer Res Ther. 2017;13(3):392-398. doi:10.4103/0973-1482.150356Souza RCDS, Dos Santos MR, das Chagas Valota IA, Sousa CS, Costa Calache ALS.Factors associated with sleep quality during chemotherapy: An integrative review.Nurs Open. 2020;7(5):1274-1284. doi:10.1002/nop2.516Vollaard A, Schreuder I, Slok-Raijmakers L, Opstelten W, Rimmelzwaan G, Gelderblom H.Influenza vaccination in adult patients with solid tumours treated with chemotherapy.Eur J Cancer. 2017;76:134-143. doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2017.02.012
National Institutes of Health (NIH).Cancer chemotherapy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing infections in cancer patients: Information for patients who are getting chemotherapy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cold versus flu.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu symptoms & complications.
Crolley VE, Hanna D, Joharatnam-Hogan N, et al.COVID-19 in cancer patients on systemic anti-cancer therapies: outcomes from the CAPITOL (COVID-19 Cancer PatIenT Outcomes in North London) cohort study.Ther Adv Med Oncol.2020;12:1758835920971147. doi:10.1177/1758835920971147
Johns Hopkins Medicine.COVID-19 vs. the flu.
National Cancer Institute.Infection and Neutropenia during Cancer Treatment.
American Cancer Society.Managing and treating infections.
Canadian Cancer Society.Infection.
Marinho EDC, Custódio IDD, Ferreira IB, et al.Impact of chemotherapy on perceptions related to food intake in women with breast cancer: A prospective study.PLoS One.2017;12(11):e0187573. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0187573
Harvard School of Public Health.Nutrition and immunity.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Cancer diet: Foods to add and avoid during cancer treatment.
Schmidt T, van Mackelenbergh M, Wesch D, Mundhenke C.Physical activity influences the immune system of breast cancer patients.J Cancer Res Ther. 2017;13(3):392-398. doi:10.4103/0973-1482.150356
Souza RCDS, Dos Santos MR, das Chagas Valota IA, Sousa CS, Costa Calache ALS.Factors associated with sleep quality during chemotherapy: An integrative review.Nurs Open. 2020;7(5):1274-1284. doi:10.1002/nop2.516
Vollaard A, Schreuder I, Slok-Raijmakers L, Opstelten W, Rimmelzwaan G, Gelderblom H.Influenza vaccination in adult patients with solid tumours treated with chemotherapy.Eur J Cancer. 2017;76:134-143. doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2017.02.012
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