Antineoplastic Handling: Safe Practices for Cancer Drugs in Healthcare

When healthcare workers handle antineoplastic handling, the process of safely preparing, administering, and disposing of cancer chemotherapy drugs. Also known as hazardous drug handling, it's not just a procedure—it's a lifeline for staff and patients alike. These drugs are designed to kill fast-growing cells, but they don’t stop at tumors. Without proper care, they can damage bone marrow, harm reproductive health, and even cause long-term illness in nurses, pharmacists, and technicians.

Antineoplastic handling isn’t optional—it’s regulated. The OSHA, the U.S. agency that enforces workplace safety standards and USP <800, the national standard for handling hazardous drugs in healthcare settings require strict controls: ventilated cabinets, double-gloving, spill kits, and sealed containers. Skipping these steps isn’t just risky—it’s illegal. Real cases show nurses developing rashes, infertility, and even leukemia after years of unprotected exposure. The science is clear: exposure adds up, even at low levels.

It’s not just about gloves and masks. Proper PPE for chemotherapy, personal protective equipment designed to block hazardous drug exposure includes gowns that resist permeation, eye protection, and respirators when aerosols are possible. Training matters too. One hospital cut exposure incidents by 70% after switching from yearly lectures to hands-on drills with real drug vials. And disposal? You can’t toss chemo waste in the regular trash. It needs special containers, labeled clearly, and picked up by certified haulers.

What you’ll find below are real, practical guides from people who do this every day—pharmacists checking vial labels, nurses documenting spill responses, and labs tracking exposure levels. No theory. No jargon. Just what works when the stakes are high.