Can cancer patients swim in the sea - during and after chemotherapy?

In summer, we often hear “can a cancer patient swim in the sea?” A patient not receiving active chemotherapy and in good general condition may enter a sea known to be clean, provided a relative accompanies them. Sea bathing and swimming even benefit general health and are excellent exercise. The rest of this article explains the conditions under which chemotherapy patients may swim in the sea.

However, swimming in outdoor or indoor pools, thermal waters and lakes may increase infection risk, particularly during chemotherapy. Treatment may weaken immunity and increase susceptibility to waterborne germs.

Chemotherapy

A type of cancer treatment, chemotherapyusually consists of various drugs administered through veins. Despite different mechanisms, these drugs generally kill cancer cells, shrink tumors and prevent their spread through the body or metastasis . However, chemotherapy drugs not only kill cancer cells but can also damage healthy cells, causing chemotherapy side effectsthat can be easily managed today.

Infection

Infection occurs when a germ (pathogenic virus, bacterium or fungus) enters and multiplies. In treating blood and bone marrow cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma , immunity is much more strongly suppressed, so infection as a side effect is more common. Special preventive measures are therefore taken during hematological cancer treatment. Treatment of organ cancers usually does not suppress immunity intensely.

The body has various defenses against invading germs: skin and mucous membranes act as barriers. Lymph nodes are small guard organs where infection-fighting white blood cells gather.

When cancer treatment causes very low white blood cell counts, infection becomes more likely. This is called leukopenia and neutropenia . Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may also reduce the skin's defenses against germs.

Curative (long-term, approximately 1 month) radiotherapy patients should avoid the sea, Turkish baths, saunas and pools during this period and for 1 month afterward.

Safe swimming advice for cancer patients

• A sea known to be clean should be the first swimming choice.
• A relative must accompany you.
• With neutropenia or leukopenia, meaning very low white blood cells, or thrombocytopenia, meaning low levels of clotting cells, avoid the sea until blood values return to normal.
• Take sun protection precautions. Prefer early mornings and evenings and use sunscreenregularly.
• Do not swim far out (because of cramps or fainting), and swim parallel to shore.
• Some oral and intravenous chemotherapy drugs make skin much more sun-sensitive. Discuss their elimination times with your oncologist when planning sea bathing.
• On sandy or rocky shores, choose sandals or beach shoes to protect feet against cuts and burns (neuropathypatients may not notice hot sand or cuts).