Cancer patient reveals the alarming reason you should never use the same toilet as someone undergoing chemo

Chemotherapy is an important part of cancer treatment. However, coming in contact with patients undergoing chemo can lead to unforeseen consequences for healthy people and one woman on TikTok is explaining how. Misty Myers, who goes by @lifewithmisty8 on TikTok, is a 28-year-old woman who has been battling stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer and documenting her health journey on the online platform. She recently made a video to issue a public service announcement that may or may not have been known to the majority of people. She had to undergo several sessions of rigorous chemotherapy and experienced side effects such as hair loss and tooth loss.

Myers is well aware of how other family members of a patient going through chemo treatment could become vulnerable to the chemo side effects too if they are using the same bathroom as the patient. "If you have someone in your family that has cancer and they're going through chemotherapy, it is recommended that the person that is receiving treatment use a separate toilet than everyone in the house," Myers mentioned in her video. Unfortunately, not every household with a chemo patient can afford to have separate toilets. In those cases, Myers suggested the patients follow some strict protocols to safeguard the rest of their family members.

"We not only flush the toilet three times with the lid down, but we clean that toilet immediately after using it," she continued. Their urine and feces could carry traces of chemo drugs and if a healthy person comes in contact with it, they can develop severe side effects too. "If we use the toilet and we don't close the lid, when you go to flush it and the water kind of sprays up and becomes airborne or gets on the surface of anything else," Myers shared. "Someone who does not have cancer and is not receiving treatment could end up with dizziness, rash, nausea, vomiting, skin conditions, all types of bad side effects."

She referred to how healthcare workers also end up suffering from potential long-term side effects after getting exposed to chemotherapy drugs. "Not everybody, obviously some people still have babies after receiving treatment but it is a higher risk," Myers added another warning, adding how people need to follow proper precautions in their house with chemo patients. "You're flushing your toilet with the lid down multiple times and then you're cleaning the toilet," she said, suggesting using Clorox wipes. "You're just being safe for everybody around you." People who saw Myers' video, thanked her for relaying a piece of important information to help people who are undergoing chemotherapy or have cancer patients in their homes. 

@raedesa81 commented, "When I was a hostess, I worked with a waitress going through chemo. I was pregnant at the time. I was not allowed to be scheduled with her, until 3 days after her treatment days." @miraaamonae mentioned, "As a nurse, they teach us but I hate that this info isn’t spread like wildfire to everyone around the patient." @cairolikesit cheered, "Yes girl speak on it! My aunt was taking chemo pills and she said she shouldn’t hold the baby because of radiation! I’m glad she knew because I didn’t know." @justinesantana added, "Thank you for this info! I want to say a little prayer. Heavenly Father, be the healer for those suffering from cancer. Lord restore Misty’s health and bring her comfort during this time."

You can follow Misty Myers (@lifewithmisty8) on TikTok for more videos on her cancer journey and donate to her on GoFundMe.