I always like to share my info: Just got finished with a great conversation with an oncology physician, a hospital pharmacist and a chemotherapy compounding technician. The conversation confirmed the following information. Please note that the population Im referring to is inpatient, hospital chemotherapy, but the physician and pharmacist gave recommendations for private practice. The reason for gloving in hospitals while massaging chemo patients has nothing to do with drug absorption. The only drug currently used that requires no contact orders is radioactive iodine for Thyroid cancer. The reason for gloving is to ensure protection of the patients health. Some patients do not understand that anyone in the room (even with hand washing) is a potential caution for their bodies with compromised immune systems. Leukocytopenia (low WBC count) is common and the therapist should make every effort to protect the patient. In-home or private practices are only at risk of absorption of chemo therapeutic agents if exposed to blood, saliva or urine in which universal precautions dictate the use of gloves. There is no risk of absorption from sebum or sweat. The physician wanted me to emphasize that when dealing with patients with decreased immune functions that the massage therapist has an ethical responsibility to ensure every possible protective mechanism has been used to protect the patients health. There are some of us that have been trained with the above information, but I love disseminating the information to new therapists! Thanks Amy Ard for your chemo compounding expertise as well.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Jun 2014 16:29:22 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015