CANCER DRUGS

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FACTSHEET

Safe handling of chemotherapy medicines

Information for patients, parents and carers

This factsheet provides information on the safe handling and storage of

chemotherapy medicines at home and the precautions needed for safe
disposal of bodily waste. Keep it somewhere safe so you can read it again.

For most medicines, information is provided by the manufacturer in the medicine package.
However, this does not always tell you everything you need to know about the use of this
medicine in children and young people. We have written this factsheet to give you some extra
information.

What is a chemotherapy medicine?

A chemotherapy medicine (also called a cytotoxic medicine) is a drug that is toxic to
cells. It is used to kill or damage abnormal cells. However, it can also damage healthy
cells so safe handling is required in order to minimise the risk. Chemotherapy medicines
can be used to treat cancer, leukaemia and other conditions. There are many different
chemotherapy medicines with many different uses.

How should chemotherapy
medicine be stored?
Keep all medication out of reach and sight of children.
If storage in a fridge is recommended on the label, place
the medicine in a hard, plastic container on the bottom
shelf of the fridge away from other foodstuff. Medicines
that need to be stored at room temperature should be
kept in a cupboard that cannot be easily reached
by young children.
What precautions should
be taken when handling
chemotherapy medicines?
Always handle the chemotherapy medicine with care. It
is important not to touch the tablets, capsules or liquid
directly with your hands. If you are likely to come into
contact with the chemotherapy medicine, then you must
wear a pair of non-sterile disposable gloves. Always
wash your hands thoroughly before and after giving the
chemotherapy medicine or handling any spillage.
Please refer to the specific patient information leaflet for
each drug for any further safe handling advice.
If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are
breast feeding, avoid handling the oral chemotherapy if
at all possible. Please discuss safe handling and disposal
of chemotherapy medicines with your nurse or pharmacist.
If the oral chemotherapy medicine looks different from
your usual prescription — do not use. Contact the hospital
at which you/your child is being treated for advice.

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 Safe handling of chemotherapy medicines
What should I do if a
spillage occurs?
Clean up any spillage immediately following
the details below. Always wear a pair of
non-sterile disposable gloves.
Spillage on the skin
• Put on the gloves
• Wash the affected area immediately with
plenty of soap and water
• Contact the hospital or shared care centre
at which you/your child is being treated for
advice if the skin becomes sore
Spillage in the eye(s)
• Put on the gloves
• Wash the eye(s) immediately with plenty
of water for at least 10 minutes
• Contact the hospital or shared care centre
at which you/your child is being treated for
advice if, after washing, the eye(s) remain sore
Spillage on the work surface or floors
• Put on the gloves
• Cover the spillage with paper towel
• Wipe the area clean with water and
then with soap and water
• Used paper towel, gloves and other items
used to clean the spillage should be
double bagged and disposed of with
the household waste
Spillage onto clothing
• Put on the gloves
• Blot the area dry with paper towel
• The soiled items should be put through
the machine wash cycle twice, without
removing the items from the drum after
the first wash. Soiled clothing should be
washed separately to other items
• Used paper towel, gloves and other items
used to clean the spillage should be
double bagged and disposed of
with the household waste
How should bodily
fluids be disposed of?
Chemotherapy medicines are passed out of the body in
urine, poo and vomit. The time taken for the drug to pass
out of the body varies and can be as long as 7 days.
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Always wear a pair of non-sterile disposable gloves
when handling urine, poo, vomit, soiled bedding and
nappies for 7 days following chemotherapy medicine.
Nappies should be double bagged and disposed of with
the household waste. The toilet lid should be put down
before flushing and ensure the toilet is flushed twice.
Any soiled bedding should be put through the machine
wash cycle twice, without removing the items from the
drum after the first wash. Soiled bedding should be
washed separately to other items.
How do I dispose of expired,
unused or part used medicines?
If your child is on a clinical trial or on ‘home maintenance’
for leukaemia treatment, then all medicines, including
empty containers, must be returned to the hospital at
which you/your child is being treated.
If you have not been asked to bring your chemotherapy
back to the hospital then:
• Empty chemotherapy tablet bottles and boxes
can be discarded in the household waste
• Empty chemotherapy liquid bottles, syringes and
medicine spoons used to give oral chemotherapy
medicine should be discarded in a chemotherapy
‘sharps bin’. When not in use, the chemotherapy
sharps bin must be closed, (but not sealed) and stored
out of reach of children. When the sharps bin is two
thirds full it should be sealed. At the next hospital visit,
please return the sharps bin to the hospital or shared
care centre at which you/your child is being treated
• Full or part used bottles of chemotherapy liquid,
tablets or injections must be returned to the
pharmacist at the hospital at which you/your
child is being treated
Practical points
• Always wash your hands thoroughly before
and after giving the chemotherapy medicine
or handling any spillage
• Always wear a pair of non-sterile disposable
gloves if you are likely to come into contact
with the chemotherapy medicine
• Gloves should be changed immediately
if torn or contaminated
• Gloves should be double bagged and
disposed of with the household waste
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If you have any questions or concerns about anything in this leaflet

then please contact the hospital at which you/your child is being
treated.

If you have any

questions about
chemotherapy medicines
please contact the hospital
at which you/your child
is being treated.
This factsheet only gives
general information.

Important contact numbers:

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Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group is a leading children’s cancer
charity and the UK and Ireland’s professional association for those
involved in the treatment and care of children with cancer. Each week
in the UK and Ireland, more than 30 children are diagnosed. Two out
of ten children will not survive their disease.
We bring together childhood cancer professionals to ensure all children
receive the best possible treatment and care. We fund and support
research into childhood cancers, and we help young patients and
their families with our expert, high quality and award-winning
information resources.
This factsheet was written by Judith Delaney (formerly Lead Pharmacist
at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and past Chair of the CCLG
Pharmacy Group) and Anna Kinsella (Advanced Clinical Pharmacist in
Paediatrics at Leeds General Infirmary) in conjunction with the CCLG
Publications Committee, comprising multiprofessional experts in the
field of children’s cancer.
CCLG makes every effort to ensure that information provided is
accurate and up-to-date at the time of printing. We do not accept
responsibility for information provided by third parties, including
those referred to or signposted to in this publication. Information
in the publication should be used to supplement appropriate
professional or other advice specific to your circumstances.

Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group 0116 252 5858 Publication of this factsheet was funded by CCLG.
University of Leicester info@cclg.org.uk
Clinical Sciences Building www.cclg.org.uk © CCLG 2016
Leicester Royal Infirmary ChildrensCLG
Leicester LE2 7LX Published by CCLG December 2016
CCLG_UK Next review date: December 2019
Registered charity number 286669