If you bleed easily

Use a soft toothbrush or mouthwash to prevent bleeding from the gums.

If you suffer constipation due to a lack of dietary fiber in life at a shelter, take a laxative instead of straining yourself.

Avoid manual labor such as lifting heavy objects, and ask for help from other people.

Avoid actions with a risk of injury or of hitting your body.

If you need to have medicines prescribed by other doctors, tell them in advance that you are undergoing anticancer drug treatment, and that your platelets may have decreased due to the side effects.

If bleeding from the injured part or bleeding in the nose donft stop, cool the part with a cooling bag, and consult a doctor immediately.

Use a soft toothbrush. Avoid using dental floss until your blood cell counts return to normal.

If you wear artificial teeth, be sure that they match your mouth so they wonft stimulate the gums too much.

After taking off your artificial teeth, rinse your mouth with mouthwash that doesnft contain too much alcohol, otherwise your mouth can get dry and be more liable to bleed.

If you receive dental treatment, consult your doctor in advance.

When you wipe your nose, wipe gently.

Avoid burdensome actions such as lifting heavy objects, or bending your body at the waist.

When you defecate, donft strain yourself too much. Control your defecation. It is important that you keep the stools soft, and avoid forced defecation (i.e., hard stools), because it may lead to tearing the capillaries around the rectum, and cause hemorrhoids. Straining yourself also raises the blood pressure in the brain, and could cause bleeding there, too. Try to eat digestible foods every day, keep the stools soft, and ensure regular defecation. Laxative may help you.

Avoid any injections unless it is essential. If you have to get an injection, be sure to tell the nurse or doctor that your platelet count is low.

If your blood has been taken, or youfve had an IV, press the injected part at least five minutes to prevent any bleeding from the needle mark. When your blood is taken, ask the nurse or doctor not to use the avascularization belt (a rubber belt tied around the arm when injecting).

Avoid using aspirin or drugs containing aspirin. When you take a prescribed steroid preparation, be sure to take it with milk, food or antacid (e.g., Maalox).

Take protein-rich foods and beverages, and avoid uncooked vegetables.

Avoid drinking beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages, because they slow down the clotting of blood.

Take sufficient care not to injure your skin (i.e., avoid intense exercise, use of tools and cutlery, electric shavers and nail clippers, gardening, etc.).

Take care not to hit your body against objects, or falling.

Donft scratch or rub your skin roughly. Donft bind yourself tightly with clothes, belts or underwear.

Donft take oral medicines freely, because some painkillers and antipyretics inhibit the clotting function of platelets.

Be sure not to get burned when you use an iron or when you cook. Wear protective gloves when you put your hands in an oven.

Avoid sports that have a risk of getting injured.

Wear thick gloves when you do gardening, or work near thorny plants.

If youfre a woman, use sanitary napkins instead of tampons to reduce the risk of infection.

When you have sexual intercourse, use appropriate lubricant and avoid thrusting hard.