Always follow the advice of your care team.
Precautions Outside Your Home
Follow these guidelines for 100 days after your stem cell infusion (Day 0) unless noted or directed otherwise by your care team. Speak with your care team about any specific questions you have.
Outdoor Activities
We encourage you to go outside, take walks, and exercise. Below are some safety guidelines.
Swimming:
Yard work:
Sun exposure:
Avoid sun exposure. After you’ve had chemotherapy or radiation therapy, your skin becomes sensitive to sunlight. Exposure can cause skin reactions, serious burns, and can increase your risk of skin cancer. Whenever possible, stay in the shade and follow these sun protection guidelines:
Shopping and/or Going to Public Places
Do not go shopping (indoor or outdoor) or enter public buildings unless absolutely necessary. Your care team will tell you when it is safe to do so. If you need to go to public places or places where you may be exposed to crowds, take the following precautions.
Dining Out
Your transplant physician will tell you when it is safe for you to dine out at a restaurant.
Travel
Ask your care team when you can travel on public modes of transportation, such as buses, trains, planes, etc. Traveling in a car is allowed but be very careful when using ridesharing services such as Uber or Lyft. Wear a mask and gloves while in someone else’s car and wash your hands thoroughly after riding in someone else’s car.
Return to Work
Discuss with your care team when you may be able to return to work. This will depend on the nature of your job and how you are feeling.
Please refer to the comprehensive guide - Stem Cell Transplantation: An Information Guide for Patients and Caregivers - for more information.
Outdoor Activities
We encourage you to go outside, take walks, and exercise. Below are some safety guidelines.
Swimming:
- Swimming in a private pool or the ocean is permitted.
- Wear water or beach shoes to protect yourself from cuts
- Avoid swimming pools used by children or people with open wounds.
- Do not swim in a lake or pond for at least 100 days after your stem cell infusion. Check with your care team before doing so.
- Do not use a Jacuzzi or hot tub for at least 100 days after your stem cell infusion. Check with your care team before doing so.
Yard work:
- Avoid yard work that may expose you to bacteria or fungus until your care team advises that it is safe. In general, you should avoid the following activities for at least 6 months after your transplant:
- Mowing the lawn
- Raking leaves
- Chopping wood
- Gardening
- Once you have been told it is ok to resume some of these activities, wear gardening gloves.
Sun exposure:
Avoid sun exposure. After you’ve had chemotherapy or radiation therapy, your skin becomes sensitive to sunlight. Exposure can cause skin reactions, serious burns, and can increase your risk of skin cancer. Whenever possible, stay in the shade and follow these sun protection guidelines:
- Avoid being outside or in direct sunlight when the sun’s rays are strongest, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., without protective clothing and/or sunscreen.
- Cover as much skin as possible with light-colored clothing and a hat with a wide (about 4 inches) brim. Several organizations sell sun-protective clothing designed to block ultraviolet rays.
- Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and apply it every morning.
- Apply to all exposed areas, paying special attention to your face, ears, back of neck, hands, and feet.
- Use a mineral-based sunscreen. Look for this description on the label.
- Reapply sunscreen every two to three hours or if you’ve sweat heavily.
- When using high SPF sunscreen, you may want to supplement your diet with vitamin D3/cholecalciferol. Speak with your care team about taking a vitamin D supplement.
- Use a lip balm with sunblock, to protect your lips.
- Wear sunglasses with UVA/UVB protection.
- Do not use tanning booths.
- Be aware of sun exposure from a sun roof or other open window.
Shopping and/or Going to Public Places
Do not go shopping (indoor or outdoor) or enter public buildings unless absolutely necessary. Your care team will tell you when it is safe to do so. If you need to go to public places or places where you may be exposed to crowds, take the following precautions.
- Wash your hands often and thoroughly.
- Avoid touching handrails and doorknobs.
- Wear gloves.
- Avoid crowds.
- Wear a facemask if you cannot avoid contact with people.
- Avoid contact with people, especially those who are sick or have a cold.
- Reference the “Eating Safely at Home After Transplant” booklet for guidelines on dining outside of your home once your care team has said it is ok to do so.
Dining Out
Your transplant physician will tell you when it is safe for you to dine out at a restaurant.
Travel
Ask your care team when you can travel on public modes of transportation, such as buses, trains, planes, etc. Traveling in a car is allowed but be very careful when using ridesharing services such as Uber or Lyft. Wear a mask and gloves while in someone else’s car and wash your hands thoroughly after riding in someone else’s car.
Return to Work
Discuss with your care team when you may be able to return to work. This will depend on the nature of your job and how you are feeling.
Please refer to the comprehensive guide - Stem Cell Transplantation: An Information Guide for Patients and Caregivers - for more information.