Chemotherapy and immunocompromised

One common question which my patients who went for chemotherapy would ask "Do I need to avoid crowded places during this period of chemotherapy"?

Chemotherapy functions by killing off cancer cells, but in the process, it would also kills off normal cells, which include the white blood cells and its precursors and these white blood cells function as "police" to kill the infections.

There is a risk of lower resistance against infection in patients in chemotherapy, especially around 1 week after the chemotherapy when the risk of infection is highest. what you normally need to do, is you need to balance between trying to lead a normal life as much as possible and yet to avoid crowded places or sick people in case you are infected during this period. Of course, you are not expected to be "bubble boy" as in this picture.