A need-to-know guide for those who have been diagnosed with cancer .
As a cancer patient, your healthcare provider may have recommended that you take chemotherapy, radiation, or medications to help fight your disease. A side effect of these therapies is that they may weaken your immune system. Cancer also may weaken your immune system over time due to its chronic disease process.
• A properly functioning immune system works to clear infection and other foreign agents from the body. However, cancer and its treatments can weaken your immune system—making you more susceptible tomany types of infections. These infections include those that can be brought on by disease-causing bacteria and other pathogensthat cause foodborne illness.
• Because you have cancer and are receiving cancer treatment, you are more likely to have a lengthier illness, undergo hospitalization, or even die, should you contract a foodborne illness.
• To avoid contracting a foodborne illness, you must be especially vigilant when handling,preparing, and consuming foods.
