Joe Harker
A woman has explained why people with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy treatments should use a different toilet to other people if possible, and why it needs to be cleaned after every use.
TikToker Misty has been documenting her treatment for breast cancer through videos on the site, and she's advised viewers on toilet habits.
It's perhaps not something that would be at the forefront of someone's mind during such a time in their lives, as they would understandably have very major concerns about the cancer.
However, part of the treatment will have ramifications for the home, health, and hygiene, as Misty explained that if you wanted to prevent other people from getting sick, you'd need to get used to certain bathroom behaviours.
Advert
She explained that, if possible, someone undergoing chemotherapy should 'use a separate toilet than everyone in the house', and if that wasn't possible, then they should endeavour to reduce contamination as much as possible.
That meant flushing it multiple times with the lid down, and then cleaning it right after use.
"The reason for this is if we use the toilet and we don't close the lid and when you go to flush it the water kind of sprays up and becomes airborne or gets on the surface of anything else," she said.
Indeed, it's true that if you flush with the lid up, it can cause a 'faecal fountain', where the rushing water sprays all sorts of particles around your bathroom.
Advert
"Someone who does not have cancer and is not receiving treatment could end up with dizziness, rash, nausea, vomiting, skin conditions, all type of just bad side effects.
"Long term effects to being exposed to chemotherapy, and this is especially serious for health care workers, is you have a higher probability of having cancer down the line."
There is good grounding for this advice, as it's pretty much what Cancer Research UK advises you to do.
They explained that some of the by-products of treatments for cancer, known as systemic anti cancer therapy (SACT), could come out of the body in bodily fluids and waste, even several days after your last treatment.
Advert
According to them you should close the toilet lid when flushing and do it multiple times, just as Misty instructed, then wash yourself thoroughly with soap and water in any spots where something splashed onto your skin.
Afterwards you should pop on a pair of gloves and clean the toilet thoroughly, then wash your hands with the gloves before disposing of them and then washing your hands again.
Other advice includes cleaning the toilet on a daily basis with a product containing bleach, and if you're a man going through chemotherapy then it's safer to pee sitting down.