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About This Site

3 Steps Toward Preventing Infections During Cancer Treatment (3 Steps) is an evidence-based, interactive online program designed to help assess a cancer patient’s risk for developing both a low white blood cell count during chemotherapy and subsequent infections. After completing a short questionnaire, cancer patients and caregivers will receive messages designed to educate them about keeping themselves healthy while receiving chemotherapy.

What Is Infection Risk?

Risk describes a person’s chance of getting a condition or a disease. The 3 Steps tool estimates the risk for getting a low white blood cell count and possible infections while receiving chemotherapy.

Of course, this tool only provides an estimate. Determining an individual’s risk of disease or a specific condition is not an exact science. You should speak with your doctor or nurse about your specific risk.

How Does the Risk Assessment Tool Estimate Your Risk?

The tool will look at each answer you provide and decide if you have any risk factors that may put you at a high risk for getting a low white blood cell count during chemotherapy. Depending on your risk factors, you will then be placed in either a low-risk or high-risk category and will be given helpful tips on how to help lower your risk for developing infections during cancer treatment.

Who Developed this Website and Overall Program?

The content for this website was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with experts in the fields of oncology and infection control. The Website is part of a larger program called Preventing Infections in Cancer Patients, a comprehensive program focused on providing information, action steps and tools for patients, their families, and their healthcare providers to reduce the risk of developing potentially life-threatening infections duringtreatment. This program was made possible through a CDC Foundation partnership with, and funding from, Amgen. As part of the partnership, the CDC Foundation considered oncology expertise provided by Amgen. Learn more about the program at https://www.cdcfoundation.org/what/program/preventing-infections-cancer-patients Learn more about CDC's work to prevent infections in cancer patients at http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/preventinfections

For more information on the science behind this Website as well as additional resources, please review the Helpful Websites and References located in this section.

Helpful Websites >

Helpful Websites

A wide range of expert resources was used to develop this program, including relevant Web sites, medical journals, and guidelines.

American Cancer Society. (2020). Infections in people with cancer. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_1_2X_Infections_in_People_with_Cancer.asp

American Cancer Society. (2014). Nutrition for children with cancer. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from http://www.cancer.org/acs

Amgen. (2021). Chemo and your white blood cells. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from https://www.neulasta.com/low-white-blood-cell-count-cancer/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Does cancer put me at risk for sepsis. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/sepsis-cancer/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). The most common diseases associated with dogs that can cause human illness. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/dogs.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). When and how to wash your hands. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from http://www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Cancer and you. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/flu/#4

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Diseases that can be spread from pets to people. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/BSI/index.html

Chemocare. (2021). What is infection. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from http://www.chemocare.com/managing/infection.asp

Journal of the American Medical Association. (2006). Patient information sheet: Granulocyte Stimulating Factor. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/295/9/1088.full.pdf

KidsHealth. (2018). Chemotherapy. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/chemotherapy.html

Macmillan Cancer Support. (2018). Side effects of chemotherapy. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from https://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/treating/chemotherapy/side-effects-of-chemotherapy/possible-side-effects.html#12693

Mayo Clinic (2019). Cuts and scrapes: First aid. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-cuts/FA00042

Mayo Clinic (2020). Germs: Understand and protect against viruses and infection: First aid. Retrieved October 5, 2021, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/germs/ID00002

Mayo Clinic. (2021). Low blood cell counts: side effect of cancer treatment. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cancer-treatment/CA00066/NSECTIONGROUP=2

Medline Plus. (2020). Chemotherapy. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002324.htm

Medline Plus. (2020). Pets and the immunocompromised person. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003967.htm

National Cancer Institute. (2018). Chemotherapy and You: Support for people with cancer. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping/chemotherapy-and-you/

National Cancer Institute. (2019). Skin and nail changes during cancer treatment. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/chemo-side-effects/skin-and-nail

National Cancer Institute. (2020). Infection and neutropenia during cancer treatment. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping/chemo-side-effects/infection

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. (2021). Fever and neutropenia. Retrieved October 5, 2021. https://www.stjude.org/treatment/patient-resources/caregiver-resources/patient-family-education-sheets/prevent-control-infection/fever-and-neutropenia.html

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. (2021). How to prevent infection. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from https://www.stjude.org/treatment/patient-resources/caregiver-resources/patient-family-education-sheets/prevent-control-infection/how-to-prevent-infection.html

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. (2021). The signs of infection. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from https://www.stjude.org/treatment/patient-resources/caregiver-resources/patient-family-education-sheets/prevent-control-infection/the-signs-of-infection.html

WebMD. (2021). Chemotherapy: How it works and how you will feel. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from http://www.webmd.com/cancer/questions-answers-chemotherapy?page=3

Education Materials

CDC created a variety of resources for patients, caregivers and healthcare providers, including fact sheets and posters.

"I never thought seriously about the risk of infection until I was hospitalized and unable to fight a fever. It’s so important to understand what steps you can take to help protect yourself."Donna Deegan, News AnchorBreast Cancer Survivor

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