With flu season still in full swing, we have put together a listing of the top ten flu tips for cancer patients. One day the weather is unseasonably warm, and the next you have a foot of snow on the ground. These types of drastic changes in temperature are just a few of the reasons you may be sick with the flu. Keep reading to learn some handy tips for beating the flu.

  1. Get a Flu Vaccine – Take time to get a flu shot. Many local pharmacy’s offer flu shots, making it much easier to get a vaccine.
  2. Stay Healthy – Maintain healthy habits year round to avoid getting sick.
  3. Use a tissue to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, and be sure to throw the tissue away after you use it.
  4. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap is not available.
  5. Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, or mouth so germs don’t spread.
  6. Avoid crowds, but if you have to be around people be sure to stand six feet away from someone that is sick.
  7. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities.
  8. Keep a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and tissues.
  9. Take Your Meds – Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.
  10. Keep a written record of the type of cancer you have, treatment you have received and when you received it, the name and contact information for your doctor, and a list of medicines you are taking.

If you have the following symptoms call your doctor: top-ten-flu-tips

  • Earache or drainage from your ear
  • Pain in your face or forehead along with thick yellow or green mucus for more than a week
  • Any temperature 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in an infant less than 3 months of age
  • Temperature higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit in older children or adults
  • Hoarseness, sore throat, or a cough that will not go away
  • Wheezing
  • Vomiting
  • Persistent or worsening symptoms

Go to the doctor immediately if you have trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion, seizure, fainting, extreme fussiness or difficulty arousing.

Visit the CDC Website to read even more on tips for dealing with the flu.