I write not only as an oncology nurse, but also as someone whose professional duty has come at a profound personal cost. My experience underscores a critical yet often overlooked issue in health care: the safety of those who care for others.
Between 2007 and 2009, I was assigned to dilute and administer chemotherapy drugs, tasks beyond my formal nursing role and, by established safety standards, intended for a cytotoxic reconstitution unit with proper engineering controls.
During this period, I worked five days a week, spending approximately five hours per day preparing chemotherapy for five to six patients per session. This high-volume, high-risk work exposed me to cytotoxic agents far more frequently than recommended.
The preparation environment was inadequate. The room was poorly ventilated, relying on a small window and a single exhaust fan. While I wore personal protective equipment including an N95 mask, chemotherapy gloves, gown, and face shield, these measures were insufficient to fully prevent repeated exposure.
At the time, efficiency and patient throughput took precedence over staff safety. The lack of formal training, standardised protocols, and engineering controls meant that every shift carried a hidden risk over which I, like many colleagues, had little control.
Over the years, I developed troubling health issues: hair loss, persistent dry mouth, and recurrent urinary tract infections. The connection to my work was not immediately apparent.
Seventeen years later, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the very disease I had spent years helping patients fight. The realisation that my professional duties may have contributed to my illness was devastating, forcing me to confront the hidden hazards nurses face daily.
This personal journey has strengthened my commitment to advocating for safer chemotherapy practices. No nurse, technician, or health care worker should ever face repeated exposure to toxic agents without proper infrastructure, training, and protection.
Chemotherapy reconstitution must be restricted to trained personnel working in validated facilities that meet internationally recognided safety standards. Engineering controls, such as biological safety cabinets and adequate ventilation, alongside comprehensive training and rigorous enforcement of protocols, are not optional, they are essential.
I share my story not for sympathy but as a call to action. Health care institutions must prioritide staff safety with the same rigour as patient care.
Awareness, accountability, and adherence to occupational safety standards can prevent similar tragedies. Policies alone are insufficient if not actively implemented, monitored, and continuously improved.
Every nurse and health care worker deserves a safe working environment. Protecting those who care for others is not only a professional obligation but a moral imperative.
By sharing my experience, I hope to inspire meaningful change, raise awareness, and ensure that future generations of health care providers are protected while performing their vital, life-saving duties.
Parameswari Vadivalu is a lecturer at the School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Sunway University.
This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.