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Nutrition and daily life

Clothing and bedding: comfort and cleanliness

During treatment skin becomes sensitive, and night sweats and fevers can happen. Clean, soft clothing and bedding give comfort and protect the skin from infection. This section gives simple rules.

Last updated: ~1 min read
Fresh linen in a sunny room.
Figure 1.A clean bed — Clothing and bedding: comfort and cleanliness

01Short answer

Choose soft, loose cotton clothing that does not press on a central line. Change underwear and pyjamas daily, more often if you sweat. Change bed linen at least weekly, and straight away after sweating, vomiting or diarrhoea. A warm wash with ordinary detergent and thorough drying is enough. Keep dirty laundry apart from clean. Handle laundry soiled with body fluids using gloves. Keep pillows and the mattress dry and clean.

02Simple explanation

Soft cotton.

Clothes daily.

Bedding at least weekly.

Dry it well.

03Scientific explanation

Studies: ordinary washing and warm drying remove most germs from fabrics; special disinfectants are usually not needed at home.

WHO: foodborne illness is more severe in people with weakened immunity; the five keys are keep clean, separate, cook thoroughly, keep food at safe temperatures, and use safe water and raw materials.

04What happens in the body?

Night sweats

Keep spare pyjamas and a towel nearby; take your temperature and report it.

Folded cotton clothes on a chair.
Figure 2.Soft clothes — Clothing and bedding: comfort and cleanliness

Skin

Unscented detergent reduces irritation.

Laundry drying by a window.
Figure 3.Drying — Clothing and bedding: comfort and cleanliness

Neutropenia

When neutrophils are low, even ordinary germs can cause serious infection, which is why the rules are stricter.

General rules

This section is part of the general food-safety rules in “Handwashing: the simplest protection” and “Eggs and dairy: safe choices” and “Food safety: four simple rules”.

05Safety: four steps

Check, swap the risky, prepare properly, use in time.

Check — Date and condition.1CheckDate and condition.
Swap — A safe choice.2SwapA safe choice.
Prepare — Clean and thorough.3PrepareClean and thorough.
In time — No delay.4In timeNo delay.
CleanHands and surfaces.
CookGerms die.
ColdGrowth slows.

06Key points at a glance

TopicIn brief
Night sweatsKeep spare pyjamas and a towel nearby; take your temperature and report it.
SkinUnscented detergent reduces irritation.
NeutropeniaWhen neutrophils are low, even ordinary germs can cause serious infection, which is why the rules are stricter.
General rulesThis section is part of the general food-safety rules in “Handwashing: the simplest protection” and “Eggs and dairy: safe choices” and “Food safety: four simple rules”.

07Key terms

Night sweats
Heavy sweating during sleep.
Body fluids
Blood, urine, faeces, vomit.
Foodborne infection
An infection spread through food or water.
Neutropenia
Low neutrophils.

08Key points

  • Clean and soft.
  • Change often.
  • Keep apart.
  • When in doubt, throw it out.
  • Call if you have a fever.

09Frequently asked questions

Is a wool blanket OK?

If clean and dry, yes.

Should laundry be washed separately after chemotherapy?

After some drugs, laundry soiled with body fluids is washed separately for the first days; ask your team.

Are these rules for ever?

No. They are usually relaxed as blood counts recover; your team will say.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

  1. Is a wool blanket OK?

  2. Should laundry be washed separately after chemotherapy?

  3. Are these rules for ever?

My questions

12Sources

  1. World Health Organization. Five Keys to Safer Food manual
  2. World Health Organization. Food safety fact sheet
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Safe Food Handling
  4. National Cancer Institute. Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment
  5. Macmillan Cancer Support. Tiredness (fatigue) and cancer
  6. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2024. Management of Fatigue in Adult Survivors of Cancer: ASCO–Society for Integrative Oncology Guideline Update
  7. Annals of Oncology, 2020. Cancer-related fatigue: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment
  8. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2016. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in cancer survivors
  9. CDC. Preventing Food Poisoning
  10. American Cancer Society. Food Safety During Cancer Treatment
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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