Key takeaways

  • Maintaining cleanliness is crucial. Regular handwashing and keeping the living environment clean can significantly reduce the risk of infection.
  • Avoiding contact with sick individuals and staying updated on vaccinations are important preventive measures for those with compromised immune systems.
  • Practicing safe food and water habits, including potentially following a neutropenic diet after consulting with a doctor, helps minimize exposure to harmful bacteria and viruses.

Infections are common. Millions of adults in the United States develop infections from cold viruses and the flu every year. In individuals with healthy immune systems, the body is strong enough to fight off these infections.

But cancers, such as B-cell lymphoma, can weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to infection and making common infections more severe.

In individuals with cancer, these opportunistic infections can worsen over time and even enter the bloodstream, leading to potentially life threatening effects.

In this article, we discuss some practical ways for individuals with B-cell lymphoma to protect themselves against infection.

Keeping your hands clean is an essential part of preventing infection and should be a routine practice for people with cancer. Doing so limits the risk of surface-borne germs reaching your face through contact with your hands.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing your hands in circumstances such as:

  • before eating
  • after using the restroom
  • after touching an animal
  • after blowing your nose
  • after handling trash

Carry hand sanitizer for periods when you’ll be in public without access to a sink, such as while traveling.

Further, it’s important to look after your skin. If you have cuts and scrapes, bacteria can enter and cause infection. Keep skin clean and moisturized to prevent cracking, and keep any cuts or scrapes covered with an appropriate medical dressing.

If you’re feeling weak or having trouble with balance, consider wearing shoes for added stability. This can help you avoid falling, which could lead to scrapes or other more serious injuries.

Avoiding gatherings and close contact with others can be difficult, particularly in the colder months when the weather necessitates being indoors.

But steering clear of people who are sick — or potentially sick — is an important piece of preventing infection.

Do your best to avoid contact with individuals you know who are sick. If this means requesting that friends or family visit you at another time, don’t be afraid to ask.

If you’re going to be in a crowd or contact is unavoidable, wear a mask and wash your hands regularly.

Another consideration for people living with B-cell cancer is their home environment. Keeping the home clean can reduce the risk of contact with germs, bacteria, viruses, or parasites that can cause infection.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends focusing on the kitchen, bathroom, and high traffic areas (e.g., counters, door handles, and light switches).

Important note: Take precautions to avoid exposure while cleaning. Wear disposable gloves. Wash laundry in warm water. Use a mask if the area is especially dusty. And wash your hands when finished.

Just as you’d want to ensure that your environment is clean, you’ll also want to make sure your food is clean. There are a few steps you can take to accomplish this:

  • Clean and disinfect surfaces where you’ll prepare food.
  • Separate foods that pose a risk of contaminating others.
  • Cook meat and eggs thoroughly before consuming them.
  • Wash your fruits and vegetables prior to eating.

It’s also best to avoid buffets, street foods, and other venues where the hygiene practices are unclear.

In addition to following standard food safety practices, some doctors may recommend that individuals with weakened immune systems consider trying a neutropenic diet.

This is an eating plan that aims to reduce the risk of foodborne illness by eliminating certain foods and using specific preparation techniques.

Some of the hallmarks of a neutropenic diet include avoiding:

  • raw fish, meat, and eggs
  • unpasteurized dairy items, such as milk and cheese
  • packaged foods that are beyond their expiration date
  • raw sprouts
  • leftovers that are more than 2 days old

However, recent research suggests that neutropenic diets do not reduce the risk of infection in people with cancer. It’s best to speak with your doctor about what makes sense given your immune status, your infection risk factors, and other personal factors.

Vaccination helps your immune system identify potentially harmful substances in the body and fight them. If you have a blood cancer like B-cell lymphoma, you’ll likely avoid live vaccines, which are those that contain a weakened but live form of the virus.

Speak with your doctors about which vaccines may be right for you, given your circumstances. Staying current on your vaccinations can help you avoid infection.

Possible vaccinations may include:

  • flu
  • COVID-19
  • shingles
  • pneumonia

Live vaccines that you’ll likely avoid include:

  • MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella)
  • rotavirus
  • BCG
  • oral typhoid
  • chickenpox
  • yellow fever

Listen to your body and report any signs of infection to your healthcare team as soon as they appear.

Be on the lookout for symptoms such as:

  • fever of 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher
  • sore throat
  • chills
  • cough
  • redness or swelling around a wound

According to the CDC, developing a fever during chemotherapy is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate attention from a healthcare professional.

If you’re living with B-cell lymphoma, you’ll likely receive a range of instructions from your doctor. Among these may be tips on avoiding infection during your treatment. It’s incredibly important to follow these instructions. If anything is unclear, ask questions.

In addition to your doctor’s orders, there’s much you can do in your daily life to reduce your exposure to potentially harmful germs. Steps include washing your hands, avoiding sick people, keeping your food and environment clean, and watching for signs of infection.