29 . For people with weakened immune systems Cancer and its treatment can weaken your body’s immune system by affecting the blood cells that protect the body against disease and germs. As a result, your body can’t fight infection as well as a healthy person’s body can. A weak immune system also puts you at increased risk for food-borne illness. Ask your cancer care team or dietitian for tips, and ideas about foods or drinks you should consume or avoid. Here are some tips on how to help protect yourself: Handling food • Wash your hands with warm, soapy water for 20 seconds before and after preparing food and before eating. • Refrigerate foods at or below 40° F. • Keep hot foods warmer than 140° F and cold foods cooler than 40° F. • Thaw meat, fish, or poultry in the microwave or refrigerator in a dish to catch drips. Do not thaw at room temperature. • Use defrosted foods right away, and do not refreeze them. • Rinse leaves of leafy vegetables one at a time under running water. • Use different utensils for stirring foods and tasting them while cooking. Do not taste the food (or let others taste it) with any utensil that will be put back into the food. • Throw out foods that look or smell strange. Never taste them!
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